Kearney Women’s Club House
Part 1
Wallace A. (W A) Downing
Came to Kearney from Wisconsin in mid 1870’s
Brother co-owner of Kearney Flour
Mill
Mother, Jane, lived here also.
Was still in
her own home at age 71
Dec. 9, 1891 – Eyesight May Be
Impaired
Mrs. Downing, of 5th ave between 21st & 22nd was injured when a
piece of wood flew up and hit her in the eye when she was cutting
kindling wood. She is mother of W A & R L Downing.
Harness maker
1882 – Built brick 2-story building on Central for his harness making
business (2106 & 2108 Central)
Downing House
- located in the Ashland Addition of Kearney
Junction at 723 W 22nd St.
1885 – construction began – House built by Charles Hanson
about year
later had financial problems
1887 – Wallace Downing purchased it for $10,000
1912 – W. A. died, widow continued to live in the house
1927 – Susannah Downing died
1930, Nov. 5 – Women’s Club Pres. Beulah Wirsig announced gift of the house
Given by Maren Downing Morrison as a
memorial to her parents
Named Downing Memorial Club Home
What the original deed said
Deed filed on Dec. 12, 1930 by “Maren D.
Morrison, as Trustee under and by virtue of the terms and conditions of the
last will and testament of Wallace A Downing”
“At any time the use of said property be discontinued as a women’s club and
memorial to my parents, it shall revert to me or my daughter, Georgianna
Morrison Ely and Maren Downing Morrison or their children.”
Kearney Women’s Club (Timeline)
1887 – Clio Club organized
– One project was to study the equal
rights of women in public affairs.
1888 – Mrs. Elizabeth Saxon, VP of Nat. Women’s Suffrage Assoc. spoke Clio
Club
Some members formed a new group
Named 19th Century Club – not because
it was started in the 9th century
Because
Victor Hugo said “The Nineteenth century is pre-eminently the age of women.”
[Outside France, his best-known works are the novels Les Misérables and The
Hunchback of Notre-Dame).]
10 Charter members
Study women’s work with municipal
suffrage, culture and education
Rebecca Hamer first president, wife
of first lawyer, Dist. Judge by this time
Limited membership to 50
1898-99 yearbook – “15 minutes of each meeting to be devoted to current
events; general conversation will close each meeting”
1899 – Joined the Nebraska State Federation of Women’s Clubs
(had been formed at state level in
Dec. 1894)
1901 – Lifted membership restriction
Formed 3 departments – Am. Lit.,
household economics, Music
Met once a week, 4th week general
meeting
1903 – added History
Others added since then, esp. Civics
& Child Welfare
1911 – Joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (national level)
1921 – Changed name from 19th Century Club to Kearney Women’s Club
Met in homes, Midway Hotel, Kearney Opera House top floor, Ft. Kearney Hotel
Meeting in Ft. Kearney Hotel when announcement about house was made
Some remodeling done to open up main floor
1980 – House placed on National Register – Alice Howell wrote application
2004 – Quit Claim deed removed former restrictions
As owners with complete control they
could now proceed with much needed repair and restoration
Community Projects
(not a complete list)
Civic
Planted trees in 3rd Ward park; carried water to them
Planted a tree on Longfellow school grounds for each Kearney soldier
killed in WWI
Maintained a rose garden at the cemetery for many years
transferred to Downing House yard when cemetery needed the space.
Planted trees in Centennial Park
Planted trees and roses in Harvey Park
Installed drinking fountains downtown
Culture
Donated to Chautauqua fund 1906 and later
Give music scholarships to high school students
Education
Scholarships
Sponsor Practical Nursing School and have receptions do capping and
graduation
Children
Conducted Tuberculosis Christmas Seal campaign for many years
Held first baby clinic, in 1915
During depression bought shoes and clothing for needy children
Led move to get school nurse in public schools
Poor Farm
[previous information – closing date not given, sometime about 1920]
– “At a meeting in 1921 a report was made on the county poor farm where
pasture land was rented at $5.00 an acre, and cultivated land for one-third
of the crop. The county poor were cared for at the WCTU Hospital at $6.00
per week for nursing care. The Women’s Club made donations of bedding and
food.”
General Federation of Women’s Clubs
(also from Wikipedia on line)
Organized in 1890 by Jane Cunningham Croly
Author & journalist
Used pen name Jennie June
Wrote for newspapers and magazines
1868 – Organized “Sorosis”, first
professional women’s club
Because women
were not allowed in to a NY Press Club (all-male) banquet honoring Charles
Dickens
1889 – Organized NY Women’s Press
Club
Chartered by Congress in 1901
Made headquarters in Washington DC in 1922
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