Then & Now
By Judy Salamacha

The Monday Club of San Luis Obispo celebrates women’s history all year long. Chartered in 1925 with 26 members, two women’s social groups merged to create a gathering place for women.
Today they meet on the first Monday of the month at 1815 Monterey St., in SLO, a building designed by Hearst Castle’s famed architect, Julia Morgan.
Current president Christy Noble said the purpose of the organization is much the same, but has modernized to keep up with the times. “We have fun together making a difference,” Noble said. “Many friendships have been made through the years. Some join just to be in this historic building. Our top priority is to maintain and restore it.”
The group supports the Woman’s Shelter, Raising a Reader program and award scholarships for high school students competing in the March Monday Club Fine Arts Awards Competition.
The 14th Annual Architectural Tour fundraiser is April 19 and will support its scholarship program. Several tours leave The Monday Club headquarters between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will feature unique designs by women architects. For example, Marilyn Farmer created the first straw bale structure in California — Claiborne & Churchill Winery. Work by Laura Gough, Louisa Ann Smith and Morgan will also be featured.
Circa-1926-28, then-president, Grace Barneberg, suggested to the board that they approach Morgan, who regularly visited while working on William Randolph Hearst’s San Simeon Ranch. The members were impressed with the YWCAs and women’s clubhouses that Morgan had designed.
Her initial fee was accepted at $800, but members much preferred her alternate negotiation. She would design their building without charge if the group would host her while she was in the area. Several members earned bragging rights to say, “Julia Morgan slept [and ate] here.”
Music and the performing arts are the passion of current program vice-president, Linda Wilson, who joined in 2012. “This was my grandmother’s club, not mine,” she said. “And then I performed here with the Canzona Women’s Ensemble and saw friends in the audience. I thought it could be a club for me, too.”
Wilson recently researched archived yearbooks and discovered past presidents’ priorities. In 1942-43 Louisiana Clayton Dart wrote, “I was the wartime president.” Her members donated cakes to the USO, rented rooms to soldiers’ families, and harvested field tomatoes that men usually harvested.
In 1953-54 Isabel Scott reported they had 340 members, joined the California Federation of Women’s Clubs, bought a life membership in the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society, met and dressed formally for afternoon tea and made $320 for the American Cancer Crusade.
Refurbishing of the clubhouse was done in 1954-55, the unique Loquat murals in 1971-73 and re-roofing and re-waxing the floors in 1978-79. Another former president, Melba Hoffman (1967-68), wrote that the group “built the fountain at the intersection of Marsh and Higuera.” A grand piano was purchased for $6,500 in 1979-81 and President Donna Barkdull dedicated the garden gazebo to Millie Green, building rental chairman for years, during their 50th Anniversary.
Noble confirmed the building is a recognized historic structure by the City of San Luis Obispo, however, as the group applies for its non-profit status, members are concurrently seeking acceptance by the National Register of Historic Places, America’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.
Both applications are a lengthy process, she explained, and once approved will expand their ability to receive restoration grants and local community support. They are on track for approvals by late 2015.
The Monday Club property is available to rent for weddings, special events, or group meetings. With guest parking, it has a stage, dressing area and a commercial kitchen. The members maintain the beautiful gardens. They have upgraded the sound system and refurbished the original interior design. Patterson Realty www.pattersonrealtypropertymanagement.com manages the property.
Noble says the membership is seeing a resurgence. “We have 108 members from ages 21 to 103 from all different professions,” she said. “We just welcomed a new member who after staying home with her young children is now ready to get involved.”
Lisa Guy is membership chair. See: www.themondayclubslo.org  for membership information, links with Cal Poly, to register for the April 19 architectural tours or the April 6 meeting featuring the group’s 53rd Annual Fine Arts Awards Competition.

Judy Salamacha is a columnist, non-fiction book author, 2014 Morro Bay Citizen of the Year and a former publisher of The Bay News. Her Then & Now column is a regular feature of Tolosa Press.