Valparaiso Woman's Association

Valparaiso Woman's Association Organization founded in 1895
In our Historic Location since 1925! The Valparaiso Woman’s Club began in 1895 as the Harriet Beecher Stowe Reading Circle.

Our mission is to promote, support, and advance educational, social welfare, and charitable causes for women while maintaining stewardship of a historic Valparaiso landmark. Women interested in educating themselves met together in their living rooms to discuss literature and review writing. Within a few years membership in the group skyrocketed. Departments were added concerning everything from ga

rdening to civic causes. By 1906 the group had so many members and was involved in so much in the community that it began looking for a club home. The house at 102 North Washington Street, was built in 1906 as the home and office of Dr. D.J. Loring. In 1925, the club purchased this beautiful house with its distinctive red clay tile roof. It was listed on the National Historical Register in 1984. Generations of club women and their families have decorated and cared for this building over the years. Today, the house contains eight sleeping rooms and one apartment that the club rents to single women referred to us from several social services agencies. The rent is kept as affordable as possible. The clubhouse also contains an office space that is rented out and an apartment for the caretaker/manager. Our beautiful club room is available for rent to other small groups for meetings, wedding or baby showers, and piano recitals. In addition to the shelter we provide, the club is an active organization that provides several college scholarships to graduating seniors. The club also sponsors a yearly short story contest, poetry contest and art contest for Porter County students. The club holds three major fundraisers every year: the annual Porch Sale held the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day, the “Popcorn Fest” Lunch on the Veranda, and the “Holly Days” Bake Sale. The Woman’s Club underwent reorganization and the Internal Revenue Service recognizes us as a 501(c)(3) organization under the new name of Valparaiso Woman’s Association, Inc. Association meetings are held on the second Tuesday (and occasionally the fourth Tuesday) of each month from September through May. Each meeting is a luncheon (at noon) or a dessert (at 12:30) and a guest speaker and/or program is provided. A short business meeting follows. Recently, the association began adding evening meetings for working members. If you are passionate about education, the arts, and historical preservation, and want to improve the quality of life for women in our county, please join us for a meeting.

We are deeply grateful to Blake Swihart from Indiana Landmarks for his enlightening presentation on the importance and i...
04/17/2026

We are deeply grateful to Blake Swihart from Indiana Landmarks for his enlightening presentation on the importance and impact of Historic Preservation at our Member’s meeting this evening! Blake has been an indispensable resource to the VWA and we appreciate his expertise and this exceptional presentation.

🩵💙 Woman’s Club Wednesday 💙🩵Join us monthly in learning about the history of the Valparaiso Woman’s Association through ...
04/08/2026

🩵💙 Woman’s Club Wednesday 💙🩵
Join us monthly in learning about the history of the Valparaiso Woman’s Association through information from the 100th Anniversary book of the club compiled in 1995!

During the presidency of Mrs. Charles Trenkle (1961–63), the club introduced several successful programs and traditions. A fall flower show, with arrangements judged by the Garden Department, was featured at the President’s Reception, and luncheons prepared by the entertaining department became a regular part of general meetings. The club’s 67th Anniversary was celebrated at the First Methodist Church with 118 members and guests, where past presidents were honored and special recognition was given to Mrs. M. F. Parker, the only living charter member. The club also voted to raise dues to ten dollars and established honorary memberships for fifty-year members. Events during this time included a reception for actress Beulah Bondi, a “husbands’ night” hosted by the Fine Arts Department, and a sewing contest and style show.
The club remained active in both community service and internal improvements. A committee study led to a $1,000 commitment to Whispering Pines, a new home for senior citizens, funded in part through a rummage sale and donations. The basement, previously used by the Girl Scouts, was rewired, refurbished, and rented as an apartment. Numerous contributions supported updates to the clubhouse, including redecorating of the first floor, electrical repairs, refinished chandeliers, new fixtures, and donated supplies. Additional funds and materials were given by members, departments, and the Girl Scouts, contributing to the upkeep and improvement of the club’s facilities.

04/03/2026

We are so sorry to say, we must cancel our May Tea Party. The floors at the VWA Clubhouse have been in the process of being replaced, we received word this morning that the floors might not be finished in time for our Tea as we had hoped.

We are so excited for the clubhouse to feature hardwood floors in our gathering spaces as originally intended and we will be hosting an open house when they are complete!

We appreciate your interest and support of the Valparaiso Woman's Association, and we look forward to hosting at the clubhouse again!

With gratitude,
The Valparaiso Woman's Association

We are so grateful to the Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club for the opportunity to present at their most recent meeting! They...
03/27/2026

We are so grateful to the Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club for the opportunity to present at their most recent meeting! They do so much important service for our community and we are honored to share our mission with their members!

Big thanks to Family House Executive Director Kamryn Shtompil and Board President Angelica Schultis for being our guest ...
03/20/2026

Big thanks to Family House Executive Director Kamryn Shtompil and Board President Angelica Schultis for being our guest speakers at last night's member meeting! We loved learning about Family House's mission, and it's essential role in our community!

Follow Family House to help support this important resource for Northwest Indiana.

Well deserved recognition for our very own Board Member Carrie! We are so fortunate for her service for our organization...
03/19/2026

Well deserved recognition for our very own Board Member Carrie! We are so fortunate for her service for our organization and grateful for all that she does for our community!

For Carrie Durnell, life has been all about trying new things. With her husband of nearly 30 years by her side, the journey has stayed exciting and full of love. Durnell grew up in Hammond and attended Gavit High School, where she met her now husband, Bill. After studying organizational communicatio...

03/18/2026

Reminder: Monthly meeting tomorrow
Valparaiso Inn
301 N Washington
Guest speaker -Family House 6:30pm

🩵💙 Woman’s Club Wednesday 💙🩵Join us monthly in learning about the history of the Valparaiso Woman’s Association through ...
03/11/2026

🩵💙 Woman’s Club Wednesday 💙🩵
Join us monthly in learning about the history of the Valparaiso Woman’s Association through excerpts from the 100th Anniversary book of the club compiled in 1995!

The Woman's Club presented the high school band with two Glockenspiels in 1959, as Mrs. Richard Fryer took over her office as President.

The Citizenship Department presented the Woman's Club with a 50-star flag, one of the first in Valparaiso since Hawaii and Alaska became states.

The American Home Department promoted a food shower, and the Progressive Department gave each child a rug at the Schultz-Lewis Children's Home. This was Porter County's project for the year 1960-61, Valparaiso Woman's Club giving $30, and the Porter County Federation received an award for this project. Thirteen other projects were supported by the Club during this year.

Mrs. George Harrison, so recently president of the club, died in 1960. A memorial gift of money from her neighbors was used to buy and install two fluorescent lights.

A very successful reciprocity tea was given and included guests from Portage, Chesterton, Beverly Shores, Kouts, Hebron, and the Hebron, Chesterton and Valparaiso Juniors. Mrs. Robert Coolman reviewed "The Snake Has All the Lines" by Jean Kerr, and Mrs. Joseph Hrapek was soloist with songs from "Sound of Music."

The first ice cream social in many years was given on the lawn in 1960. There was both fun and profit in reviving this old custom.

Address

102 Washington Street
Valparaiso, IN
46383

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