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Against the backdrop of national economic crises, firsts for women, and other events, a group quietly formed in Wewahitchka: The Idle Hours Club.  The first meeting was held at the Pitts Café in April, 1932 and a civic and social organization was launched. During the 30’s the ladies sponsored a city-wide cleanup campaign, including placing garbage cans at every residence and business for containment of refuse.  At the time, Wewahitchka had no central location in which organizations could meet.  The ladies of the Idle Hours club saw this deficit and went to work with a number of individuals at the local, county, state and national levels to obtain funding to build a community house.  With a federal grant under the WPA, and numerous fundraisers, as well as the support of the community leaders and citizens, they were successful in contracting for, building and furnishing a community house. 

August 13, 1934, at which time Council praised the members of the Idle Hour Club for their zeal, loyalty, and perseverance in bringing about a realization of their dreams of a Town Community House, and accepted the new Community House building and keys from the Work Director. 

The Community House was dedicated August 15, 1934. Once it was constructed the club sponsored classes in food preparation and conservation. An instructor from the State was hired by the town commission as a Home Demonstration Agent. Since Wewahitchka did not have a library, The Club started a small library in the clubhouse. A club member was the librarian and was paid by the WPA. Because times were so difficult, the club sponsored a Health Clinic at the Courthouse and held a clothing drive for the Welfare Department and remade clothing for the needy. As one of its civic efforts, the club worked with the WPA to send photographers to document the Tupelo Honey Industry in Wewahitchka, and the end result is archived in the National Archives. Many of these photographs and description of the works done can be seen in many of our public buildings and other buildings throughout the area.

In 1936, the club was federated as part of the national organization General Federation of Women’s Clubs and changed its name to GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club.

The 1940’s brought war and upheaval and our clubwomen worked in the Defense Industry and had little time for their prior efforts. None the less, they carried on a few efforts including beautification projects. The club planted 850 rose bushes around Wewahitchka. They sponsored dramatic plays at the clubhouse, held a toy drive for underprivileged children, raised funds by serving luncheons at the businessmen’s meetings, planted home and defense gardens, cooked and served Sunday dinners for servicemen stationed in our area, sponsored 4-H club scholarships for a short course for young ladies. Our club became a member of the Florida Conference of Social Work.

 In 1942, a devastating fire burned down the community building and its contents including the library. Unfortunately, the funding for the WPA had been reduced by this time to support the War effort. The club fought hard to reopen the library and after writing to the State librarian, Mr. Cash, secured $30 a month from Gulf County and with the intercession skills of Congressman Bob Sikes, the library was reopened. Mrs. A. W. Briscoe wrote: “Things were so upset from War conditions and there was so much Defense work being done, we did well to hold our meetings.”  

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uring the 50’s the clubwomen pressed forward and the New Community Center was completed. To keep it open, pay expenses and to raise funds for other worthwhile endeavors, the club placed a nickelodeon in the clubhouse. It was very popular after school and at the weekly Friday night dances held three each week. The ladies also sold advertisements for a new telephone directory, catered luncheons for Rotarian meetings, catered REA dinners and held a Christmas House and Business Decoration contest. Because of the devastation that was brought on our nation by polio, the club held an emergency polio drive to help fund the production of the vaccine.

As part of their ongoing efforts, the women worked to beautify the town and raised funds for and supervised the landscaping of the REA grounds. This very active club also held school appreciation receptions, supported the WHS band by providing scholarships for students to attend music camp, purchased books for the public library, donated to the Orphan home, bought eyeglasses for an underprivileged child and much more.

In the 60’s undeterred by the worked and national turmoil, the ladies of the Wewahitchka Woman’s Club were hard at work. They raise funds for their many efforts by holding spaghetti suppers, catering for the Rotary Club, holding flower and fashion shows. They established and manned a thrift store, sold “Florida Scene” notes and more.

As part of their civic service, they held the first Heart Fund Drive in the county spearheaded by a nurse, Mrs. Irene Britt. At this time Wewahitchka’s per capita heart disease rate was among the highest in the nation. Ironically, Mrs. Britt had a heart attack in the midst of the project. She recovered and the project was a resounding success.

Perhaps the most significant accomplishment during the 1960’s was the result of a continued vision of the Woman’s club. From the inception of the club supporting literacy and libraries was at the forefront of their efforts. The woman felt that a dedicated library was needed in both Wewahitchka and Port St. Joe. The fundraising effort was used to purchase and stock a bookmobile and for the construction for both libraries. In addition to securing funds through a variety of means for the construction they also held book drives and worked with influential persons at the state level to obtain books. A dedication of both completed libraries was held in 1965. Volunteers from the club staffed the libraries two days a week and the club continue to donate books and funds to the libraries. During this decade many scholarships and citizenship programs were awarded by the club. 

The busy ladies concerned about health in the area brought in a mobile x-ray van for TB screening. They also assisted in the polio vaccine program holding ‘Polio Sugar Lump Sundays’ at local churches. The women continued their efforts by donating dolls to the Sunland Training Center, food baskets to needy families, staffed a 24-hour telethon for Cerebral Palsy, delivered Christmas gifts to shut-ins and the elderly.

Although the nation was in turmoil during this time and that turmoil surely had an effect on the Woman’s club, they were not deterred. They carried on, made a difference and their legacy lives on today in our libraries and community. 

The 70’s brought a new era - Personal computers, political drama, environmental crises, and economic recession and The United States celebrated its bicentennial in 1976. The club however focused on the good in the world and their community by bringing celebration and hope to their town. Raising funds from numerous fundraisers they prepared and were one of the sponsors of the 50th anniversary of Gulf County, Florida, the 100th anniversary of Wewahitchka and the US Bicentennial celebration. They continued their support of the public libraries, school libraries, scholarships and supported Hacienda Girl’s Ranch.

Along came the 80’s an era of International focus from the refugee act to tearing down the wall. Here in Wewahitchka, the Wewahitchka Woman’s Club was hard at work raising funds for their efforts by updating and selling their cookbooks, holding a Bike-a-Thon for St. Jude’s Hospital to raising funds for libraries. The club spearheaded a community clean-up campaign with the cooperation of the sheriff, purchasing 1000 dogwood trees and involving the local school children to plant. The club purchased welcome signs for the City of Wewahitchka and they were placed on Hwy 71 as well as Hwy 22. They held their 50thanniversary celebration and continued to donate to the community.

In the 90’s the Wewahitchka Woman’s Club raised funds for a number of worthwhile causes. They held bazaars, sold spaghetti suppers, sold new cookbooks, sponsored an Earth Day Celebration as a fundraiser for the Dead Lakes Recreation area, held a Christmas tour of homes, held a ‘school daze’ shower for the Hacienda Girls’ Ranch, a special fundraiser for Canine Companions and many other projects. The women participated in the Olympic Torch Run, helped people to qualify for commodities, helped flood victims and many more good things for our community.

In continuation of the signature project of the Club they made financial and book donations to the Wewahitchka Public Library and the local school libraries. The club established two more libraries one at the Gulf Correctional Institute and one at the Gulf Correction Work camp purchasing and donating 800 magazines and nearly 400 books. They also held summer reading classes for children ages 6-10 at the local library.

As part of their conservation and stewardship efforts, they purchased and installed shrubs for the Lake Alice walkway, established with the city a recycling program, raised funds to rebuild the large pavilion at the Dead Lakes Park that was destroyed by hurricane Kate in 1985. In addition, they purchased and installed a fountain in the triangle and place a ceremonial plaque for GFWC as well. 

2000’s brought many years of proactive service, volunteering from the heart, and many more good things for our community The GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club celebrated 80 years of volunteering. Then came several national tragedies in the United States. With much turmoil and shock occurring in the Nation the club focused its attention on its signature efforts. Fundraisers enabled our club to continue scholarship programs and to support our ongoing programs. GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club remains #850 STRONG and will continue to be active and support our community as well as national and global projects.