Welcome to Our Historic Building

Our beautiful historic clubhouse opened its doors to the community on February 12, 1928 with President Dorothy Kerr as hostess. The Classical Revival 2-story building was designed by James L. Fyfe, Architect-Engineer (Alfred P. Allen and Maurice Webster Associated Architects); Sides Construction Company was the builder.

A Little History

In 1891 a dedicated group of women organized The Nineteenth Century Women's Club based on a desire to improve the quality of life in their community (The Village of Oak Park was not incorporated until 1902). Oak Park is the prosperous, respected, unique community it is today because of the many agencies and services instituted by women who belonged to the Club in that era.

As the membership grew, so did the need for a permanent meeting place and in 1912 dues were raised to $5.00 for a housing fund. By the Club’s 25th Anniversary Year (1916-17), World War I had been declared and plans for a new building were tabled. Instead members supported their country’s war effort by establishing its own Red Cross unit; making clothing and bandages, selling thrift stamps and Liberty Bonds. Regular collections of food, books, and other articles not supplied by the Red Cross were sent to both local and unknown serviceman. Members also volunteered at Fort Sheridan.

Emma Hilton (President) led the Club through the trials and tribulations of constructing the building. Simpson Dunlop, head of the building committee, turned the first shovelful of earth in March 1927. On the morning of July 5, 1927,the cornerstone was laid. As the president, Annie Hook, laid a trowelful of mortar, she said, “May this building give to the Nineteenth Century Woman’s Club unlimited power for service to the community, and may it bind its members together in friendship and understanding.”

In 1997 the Club became co-ed, when Lee Brooke joined. Lee thought the Club needed more male members and the following year (1998) he convinced Herb Zobel to join, and the number of male members has been growing ever since.

The Building

Description from the original blueprints showing James L. Fyfe as Architect:

The Plot Plan for the Nineteenth Century Woman's Club Building is dated February 10, 1927; it shows four "existing buildings." There appeared to be two lots at the corner of Forest Avenue and Ontario Street. Each lot was about 60' wide and had a building (probably a house) set back about 40' from the Forest Avenue sidewalk. the footprint of each of these buildings was about 31' x 50.' Each lot had an existing 12' x 20' building on the alley which could have been a garage or a barn.

The brick elevator shaft was added on the SW corner in 1951 by architect Alfred Allen.

Excerpt from Book by Lee Brooke

Excerpts from "Yesterday When I was Younger . . .", Beye/Fyfe Family (William B. Fyfe), an oral history by Lee Brooke, 1989*:

In 1853 James and Isabel Fyfe and their six children left Scotland for the United States. Their son James Junior was born in 1836 in Arbroth, Scotland, and died in 1928 in Oak Park, Illinois. He and his wife had a son named James Lincoln Fyfe, born in 1869 and died in 1949 in Oak Park. James Lincoln Fyfe was my father, and Hannah Beye Fyfe was my mother. They were married October 26, 1907.

My father, James Lincoln Fyfe, was the architect for the 19th Century Woman's Club. He also ran for village trustee to fill out somebody else's unexpired term. Then he ran for village president, won a term in that position and then went into the war effort. He volunteered and was commissioned as a major in the quartermaster division."

* No portion of this excerpt can be copied or used without the written permission of Lee Brooke (member), Oak Park, Illinois.

Thank you for Visiting!

Be sure to take our Virtual Tour and be sure to visit our photo gallery.

The building is a fully ADA accessible and smoke-free facility. It has four floors and includes two dining rooms and an auditorium which is used as a lecture hall.

Copyright Note:

No portion of the information on this page can be copied or used without the written permission of The Nineteenth Century Club or author Carolyn O. Poplett (Past President) with Mary Ann Porucznik (member) of The Gentle Force: The Nineteenth Century Woman's Club of Oak Park (1988, 1992).