The Town Club is a
women's club
The club movement is an American women's social movement that started in the mid-19th century and spread throughout the United States. It established the idea that women had a moral duty and responsibility to transform public policy. While wome ...
based in
Portland, Oregon
Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
, United States.
The Town Club
Founded in 1928, the club's original membership consisted of the wives of prominent Portland businessmen. The stated purpose of the club was to "promote and develop the physical and mental capacities of its members and to provide and maintain suitable opportunities, accommodations and facilities for social, recreational, educational, civic and charitable enterprises, movements and undertakings." In 1929, Mrs. T. B. Wilcox donated the property for the Town Club building. By 1930, membership had grown to 350. While membership is primarily for women, men are allowed to join the club.
The club is still active.
The building
The Town Club's building was constructed in 1930 in the
Mediterranean Revival
Mediterranean Revival is an architectural style introduced in the United States, Canada, and certain other countries in the 19th century. It incorporated references to Spanish Renaissance, Spanish Colonial, Italian Renaissance, French Colonial ...
style.
It was designed by
Johnson, Wallwork, & Johnston.
Due to the steep incline of the property the club house was constructed with three "split" levels. It has a brick facade and a hipped tile roof. Originally, the building contained bedrooms to accommodate members returning to Portland to visit.
The Town Club building was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 1987.
The building is still standing and serves as a club house and event venue.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:The Town Club (Portland, Oregon)
Women's clubs in the United States
Women's organizations based in the United States
Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon
Mediterranean Revival architecture
1928 establishments in Oregon
Buildings and structures completed in 1930
History of women in Oregon