The Bronxville Women's Club, Inc.

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 Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the website of the Bronxville Women’s Club. 

     Just as other Women’s Clubs have flourished and waned over the decades, our Club has had its ups and downs.  We like to feel that we are back on track as one of the jewels in the diadem of not only Bronxville, but also Westchester and New York State.  Indeed, our building is not only a Westchester and New York State Historic Site but it also has the prestigious honor of being named to The National Register of Historic Places.  As proud as we are of the building's honor, the members themselves, throughout the years, have been honored because of their philosophical and social contributions that directly affected and contributed to the course of American history.  We can be very proud of both distinctions and believe that the members' contributions to American history are probably some of the most historically significant things that have happened to the women of Westchester!   We thank Senator Jeffrey Klein for all his help in accomplishing this along with one of our current members, Barbara Covell, for her untiring efforts in helping the BWC procure these honors.

     Our building, the BWC, was built to house a club with facilities and grounds to accommodate meetings large and small; present plays, dances, and concerts; provide a meeting place where people can listen to educational, civic, and philanthropic topics; and provide a lovely setting for weddings, anniversaries, and other special events in people’s lives.  She was built in 1928 and still provides the graciousness, elegance, and ambiance of that time.

     But, a building is just a building if it doesn’t have occupants. 

     Why would you want to join a club, and specifically, our club?  If one were to poll the members, you would probably get a different answer from each person—and that is what makes it so great!  Some, like myself, join the club while still working.  For those women (and I say “women” because at the moment we don’t have any men who have joined on their own), it is a way to make friendships outside their home, profession, or faith.  It is an easy way to find a place where you can do philanthropic work with interests that you have, and just a place to have nice down time.  For others, they have just retired and find they now have the time to explore new interests.  Some have just moved into the area and are looking for new friendships and ways to get familiar in their new territory.  Then, some have just become widowed and find themselves needing to keep busy, a place where suddenly becoming “solo” is not a problem for parties, theater, or dinners.  The membership is diverse:  young and old; all types of religious and ethnic backgrounds; different interests and professions.  Our members are most generous with their vocational and avocational skills in providing diverse programs for other members.

     Men can join the club.  Actually, the husbands of the women in the club are already “auxiliary members” as they don’t pay any more than their wives to join the activities, and they don’t pay annual dues.  So, we can say the membership is actually a “family membership.”

     The Clubhouse was built when Women’s Clubs were forming all over the country, and this club had a membership of over a thousand!  It was built not only for the membership but for the whole town to enjoy.  Even today, our clubhouse is used for children’s dance classes and recitals, non-profit organizations hold regular and special meetings and banquets, art exhibits, benefits, and a myriad of other affairs.  Penrose Stout, the architect, conceived the Great Room as an all-purpose room.  Its Art Deco elegance and playfulness is complimented  with near-perfect acoustics for concerts.  Indeed, we can boast that the room becomes an auditorium for chamber concerts and recitals as one of the best in Westchester.

     If for no other reason, just to keep the building in good repair for future generations is reason enough to join.  Membership is only $225 a year:  a small price to pay to preserve the past for the future.  Click onto the Contact Page and call or write for further information.  Whatever your reason, we look forward to having you join our family.

We welcome your questions and queries. Please see our Contact Us page for complete contact information.