Kearney Womans Club Inc

The Kearney Woman’s Club has been a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) since 1911,
as well as the Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs (NFWC).  GFWC was founded in 1890 and is an international women’ organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.  GFWC members work in their own communities to support the arts, preserve national resources, advance education, promote healthy lifestyles, encourage civic involvement, and work toward world peace and understanding.

GFWC Kearney Woman’s Club was incorporated in 1930.  The Club meets monthly at a home that was a memorial gift from Mrs. Maren Downing Morrison.  In March, 1931 the Kearney Woman’s Club was notified the Downing-Morrison home would eventually be gifted to the Club.  The Club received full title and deed in 2004.  The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in January, 1981.  Because the Kearney Woman’s Club did not own the home prior to this time and the family did not live in the home, maintenance and repairs to the home were minimal.  The owners would send money from time to time, which generally amounted to paying for the insurance on the home.  Since the Club has received full title to the
home, the members have been working in haste to repair and restore this beautiful Victorian home.  Not all Women’s
Clubs own their homes so along with doing our club projects, we are responsible for maintaining the home.  Because of donations, grants and fund raising projects that club members have been a part of, we have been able to complete the following renovations:

1.  New Roof

2. New cypress wood porch

3. New paint – exterior

4.  Electrical and plumbing updates

5.  Heating and air conditioning for the upstairs

6.  Upstairs bathroom renovation

7.  Window renovations

8.  New sidewalks

9.  New floor in the kitchen

10. Yard beautification

11. New kitchen cupboards, countertops and drawers

The following have been identified as 2015-2016 ongoing projects for the historic Club House”

1. Yard beautification – plantings for the front of the house. This is an ongoing project. A sprinkler system was installed in June, 2014.

2. Remove and replace the ceiling in the living room

3. Touch up and repair to the east side porch. Front porch was repaired in June, 2014.

4. Downstairs bath renovation

5. Remove paneling and restore walls in the downstairs hallway

If funds are available, move upstairs to remove carpet and wallpaper .

Membership  is open to women of all ages in the community and surrounding area who are interested in making the community a better place through volunteerism.  Annual dues are collected which benefit our club projects, Nebraska State Federation of Women’s Clubs and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Currently our members range in age from 30 to 90. All members help with our projects as they are able.  We currently have 39 members. 

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Kearney Woman’s Club may call Mary Jo Jarecke at 237-1696 or Roxanne Bascom at 234-5690.