Our History

Following The Depression in the late twenties, Beach Park development and the Beach Park Company came to an end. The families that remained worked together with the new residents to organize The Beach Park Civic Association and Garden Club, later becoming the Beach Park Women’s Club (BPWC) in 1930. The Beach Park Company turned its sales office over to the residents to be used for meetings and social purposes. Dues were assessed and every month the ladies of the club called on homeowners to support cleanup and beautification projects across Beach Park. The BPWC hosted bridge and outdoor supper parties under strings of lights hung for the occasion.

Following World War II, new homes in the neighborhood were built. The increase in club activities and membership presented the need for a larger building. However, the club did not want to put money into property for which it had no title. BPWC members Jean Lancaster and Ethel Brorein called upon Judge O.K. Reaves who owned the property, having bought the unpaid mortgage from the Beach Park Company, to donate the property to the BPWC. . When the women explained the club’s situation and wishes, Judge Reaves agreed for as long as it was maintained as Beach Park Women's Club.

In 1950, the clubhouse was expanded to include a large meeting room, restrooms, and kitchen. The “new room” was named for Mrs. Lancaster who raised the $1,500 required to build it. Club activities continued to grow, and in the 1960s a larger kitchen with modern equipment was needed. A cheerful, roomy kitchen was built, allowing club members to host philanthropic events. Mrs. Brorein summed up the other benefit of the new kitchen, remarking “It has given us friendship and fun. What better time to get acquainted and make friends than bumping elbows and washing dishes!”

Today, the Beach Park Women's Club continues to provide a welcoming space for women to form new bonds, continue education, and give back to the community. As our 90th anniversary approached, the milestone was marked with the release of our first cookbook, Welcome to the Neighborhood, a celebration of favorite recipes from club members. It was a huge success. Our 90th anniversary was celebrated in February 2020 with a party and a proclamation from Mayor Jane Castor. The mission set out by club members all those years ago still holds today ― to promote education and philanthropy and to preserve the natural and architectural beauty of Beach Park, the neighborhood we call home.