The sign over the door reads WOMAN'S CLUB, which would seem to rule out the male population, but the attractive red building on First Street has been as important to men as to women. Constructed by PWA workers during the Great Depression, it has served as an incubator for some of Vidalia's most important new born services and organizations, nursing them into strength.

Here were born, or nourished: the city library; Vidalia's first garden club; the Girl Scouts, the Girl Scout nursery; Episcopal Church; Jewish snynagogue; Vidalia Senior Citizen; Vidalia's Fine Artists Series; and the Craft Festival that is so important to our annual Onion Festival.

Here was located the Red Cross; Christmas Seal headquarters; a youth canteen; a repository for clothing for Russia during World War II and class rooms for First Street Elementary School.

Here were held art shows; musicals; dances; receptions; parties; proms; reunions and political gatherings that brought many famous people to our community.

It all began at the home of Mrs. J.B. Warthen on Jackson Street. The day was cold, January 19, the birthday of Robert E. Lee. The years was 1921. The ladies who met had in mind to play a part in helping their community advance. What a part they played! To accomplish all they undertook to do required two meetings a month instead of the usual one, and those meetings were held in the homes of the members.

First, under the guidance of their president, Mrs. L.B. Godbee who piloted the group in the beginning, they helped get the Ellis Health Law passed. They then turned their attention to the roads leading into Vidalia, all of which were unmarked. This corrected, they helped beautify the area along the railroad tracks through the center of town, and in getting the removal of the freight depot, also in the middle of town.

They sponsored a general clean-up program for the community enlisting the aid of local officials, and they initiated the drive that made Vidalia a bird sanctuary.

Since Vidalia had no library facilities the club began collecting books to give to the city school and the county school, and organized a Book Lovers Club. From this club grew the Vidalia City Library.

Those facilities, like so many other things earned by the club were the result of a lot of hard work on the member's part, and a lot of cooperation from others who believed in what they were doing. They were the result of a long held dream of a club house for their own. They had not always met in the homes of members. When Vidalia's Boy Scouts acquired a club house on Church Street they permitted the Woman's Club to meet there, and in turn the ladies helped furnish the building. It was a step forward, but not the end of their dream.

When the Vidalia Kiwanis Club chose to meet in the Scout Hut also, the ladies arranged a deal. The ladies would serve meals to the Kiwanis members, and the money would go toward a building of their own. Miss Susie Mae Jackson faithfully headed this project for years, although she ahd only one leg and was on crutches. The Methodist Church wooden annex building behind the present First United Methodist Church on Church Street later provided a meeting place but it wasn't theirs. They wanted their own.

Then out of the bad came something good. Out of the Great Depression in the 1930's came a Public Works Program (PWA) through which they were able to obtain a building that graces First Street at the corner of College and serves so many purposes. It was, in a sense, the "child" of Inez (Mrs. Ober D.) Warthen, who is said to have "hovered over it was a young mother hovers over a new baby."

Once it was completed and the members took possession, they sought to repay the many groups and individuals who had helped them in so many ways, by sharing it with them. In a town where there was no country club, Elks, Moose or other similar club the building became the center of social activity. Here thousands met, and from those meetings came many worthwhile projects, and many lasting friendships.

Not all of the projects that trace their beginning to the club house were club sponsored. The Senior Citizens organization is an example of a group that rented the building as a meeting place before it constructed a club house of its own, and some youth canteens and dances are others.

But the club only charged to raise enough money to pay expenses and keep the building in good repair. Not all of the groups who used it appreciated it. Often times it would be left with damages that exceeded the rent paid and money for repairs was hard to raise. After the Kiwanis Club began to meet at lunch, and moved to another location the income from meals served to them was lost, and money raised by members was needed for club projects, not upkeep.

In the early 1950s emphasis was placed on youth, and the Youth Committee, chaired by Eloise (Mrs. George) Shiplett was so active it always won the trophy, presented to the club by Fred Peterson for the most outstanding committee. Money raised by the committee from entertainments that spotlighted local youth, and featured them on television provided a sizable savings account, opened in anticipation of the city's building a youth center. A quarter century — and no youth center — later, the club used the money to help renovate the building and restore its beauty.

On the south side, a room with an entrance of its own is in reality an incubator. Here was born Vidalia's first city library. There, under the guidance of C.B. Sharpe it served until it outgrew the room and moved to the old city hall on Church Street in the block now occupied by Belks Department Store.

After the library moved out area members of the Episcopal denomination moved in, and there met on Sundays until they were able to build a church of their own in Meadows Estates.

Again empty it provided a place for members of the Jewish faith to meet and grow in numbers, and establish the synagogue located on Aimwell Road.

Then came the Girl Scouts and a nursery for preschool children. This nursery, which followed material prepared by Estelle (Mrs. Hugh) Thompson, not only provided an exceptionally outstanding program for youngsters, but taught the older scouts valuable lessons about working with children.

From that south side room came some of Vidalia's finest.

At the other end of the building in an overflow room, students who over-filled the school across the street (First Street Elementary) matriculated for a time, and back during World War II ladies used it to roll bandages. Here the club housed the Red Cross, and worked on war projects. When word came that our ally, Russia, was in trouble club members rallied with help. With Lenningrad, Russia, under siege by the Nazis for 900 days, and the winter bitterly cold the Russian people were suffering. To show their concern the Vidalia ladies sent boxes of clothing and included notes of sympathy.

Womens Club members do not claim credit for completion of projects that they did not sponsor, although they have supported and contributed to most of the worthwhile civic undertakings. There are few organizations that do not owe something to the club as was shown in an earlier Advance story this year about the work of the club during the past twelve months. That work included agencies and institutions that are not mentioned in this article.

Before the new people moved to town and spearheaded drives for a drama theater, and an art gallery the club was used for both. Art shows arranged by Frances (Mrs. R.E.) Ledford, brought outstanding painting to Vidalia, and inspired many students to become interested in art.

Music also inspired members and guest, as well as entertaining them, and among those performing there was Rubinoff with his magic violin, a variety of other famous entertainers brought to Vidalia by the Artist Series, local and visiting Glee Clubs, numerous choirs and instrumentalists.

The roster of famous people who have visited there as guests of the club or with groups renting the clubhouse include college presidents, governors, congressmen, bishops, entertainers, models, writers, and world travelers.

Although not political as an organization the Womans Club emphasizes the importance of strengthening the nation through individual contributions, and has spearheaded many voter registrations and carried many voters to the polls. In addition the club has been rented to groups concerned with the outcome of elections and some of the most illustrious candidates have been included. Among those were a president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, and a cabinet member, Jimmy McIntyre.

It is to this club, its members and the many other groups and individuals who have worked with the club that Vidalia owes a better part of its security. Its club house, on First Street, was indeed, a COMMUNITY HOUSE, as it was called, in those days before other club houses were built, and for that reason it will always be an important part of Vidalia.

The Advance, Wednesday.