Jacksonville Beaches Woman's Club is a club with a dedicated mission and purpose - impact our community in a positive and meaningful manner
May 1926 Pablo Creek Civic Club was organized by a small group of local women. At that time there was only one road that connected south Jacksonville with the Beaches area and was two lane Atlantic Boulevard. Only the hard-packed sand was the roadway along the North-South beach and was available only at low tide. Priorities of the club members were: establishing a serviceable roa
d to connect Pablo Beach with Atlantic Boulevard, obtaining a Justice of the Peace, improving community moral conditions for its youth; providing aid for travelers, promoting mosquito control; erecting more street lights; funding city beautification projects; promoting city parks and public areas for entertainment and public drinking fountains. The group built and maintained a Comfort Station on City Property for public use. December 12, 1935 the Pablo Civic League changed its name to The Woman's Club of Jacksonville Beach and bought a clubhouse! The first meeting in the clubhouse was held January 21, 1938. The club was admitted to the State and General Federation of Woman's Clubs and officially became Jacksonville Beaches Woman's Club. Priorities of the club including understanding the dangers of marijuana cigarettes, family values and public education.
1942: the country was at war. Members of the club were involved in support of the war effort - civil and military service; victory gardens; ration books; coastal blackouts along the Atlantic coast; sewing, quilting and knitting provided supplies and support for the Military. The 1950's: members continued to support community life including public schools, churches, public health issues and environmental concerns. Hundreds of volunteer hours and dollars raised through designated efforts helped to finance special projects such as Fletcher Junior and Senior High School athletic, academic, arts and music programs. Scholarships were awarded.
1964 Hurricane Dora battered the Beaches coast. The City of Jacksonville consolidated Duval County into one governing entity- except for the cities of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach and the town of Baldwin, which opted to retain their own autonomy, becoming Urban Service Districts of Jacksonville. The group sold their first clubhouse for $1,500, and combined with other funds and financing by a local bank, built their second clubhouse at 1315 Second Avenue North in Jacksonville Beach. The property was given by the city to the club. The membership had grown to 150 women. The building was dedicated June 23, 1964 by Congressman Charles Bennett. Many area dignitaries and a huge crowd attended the ceremony. In the following decades, the club continued to contribute financial support to many civic and philanthropic endeavors through fundraising project: the annual antique show; card and fashion shows; bake sales; Amelia Island Tennis Tournaments; rummage sales and charity dinners. In 1983 the mortgage was satisfied and there was a big celebration! In 2007, due to growing concerns of the cost, effort and efficiency of maintaining ownership of the property, members voted to sell the clubhouse. "Moving on, but still together and better than ever" became the club motto. The new decade beginning 2010 saw the club winning 17 District IV Awards; 10 State Awards; and Best Overall District IV Club. $49,466.45 was contributed to worthwhile projects. Pal Zazzarino, member, former Club President, and Past District IV Director, was elected President of the Greater Florida Woman's Clubs 2012-2014. This club has evolved since its beginning in 1926...more than 86 years of adaptation. The objectives still are: to care for others, to promote a concern for community, to promote friendship among members, to engage in philanthropic endeavors, to participate in educational endeavors and to participate in Federation Activities.
