Woman's Club of Mesa

Mesa Woman's Club
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The front entrance of the clubhouse with turret
Location	200 North Macdonald,Mesa,Arizona85201
Coordinates	33°25′11″N111°50′04″W
Built	1931
Built by	Joseph Nesbitt
Architect	Henry C. Grote
Architectural style	Spanish Colonial Revival
NRHP referenceNo.	91000995
Added to NRHP	August 5, 1991

TheWoman's Club of Mesawas awomen's clubinMesa, Arizona.Their former clubhouse building is listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesand is now theGuild of the Vale.

History

TheGeneral Federation of Women's Clubsof Arizona was established in 1901 and the Woman's Club of Mesa was founded in 1917 by 53 women. The group focused on social events, educational speakers, funding city parks, giving scholarships to students, and feeding hungry school children.

In 1923 aftercotton prices crashed,the club and the city paid off the balance due on the property forMesa's first hospital,preventing it from closure.Going forward, the club set aside time for "hospital sew days" where members would bring their sewing machines to the clubhouse and sew and create medical supplies.

A number of improvements were made to the clubhouse over the years. In 1931, the junior members raised money for hardwood flooring. In 1937, aswamp coolerwas added which was replaced with central air conditioning in 1989. The year before, in 1988, a wheelchair ramp was installed.

In 1990 when the club became inactive, they donated their building to the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Arizona to serve as a headquarters. The building was subsequently sold to the Guild of the Vale, a for profit business running the facility as an event venue.

Architecture

The 1931, Phoenix architect Henry C. Grote designed the clubhouse in aSpanish Colonial Revivalstyle. Joseph Nesbitt, whose wife was a member of the club, was selected as the builder after submitting a very low quote of only $10,580. The one-story building is rectangular except for the kitchen in the rear.

The exterior of the building is painted white brick with a simplecornicedetail running along the top of all the facades. Above each window is aRoman archwith articulatedimpost blocksand plaintympanum panels.

The most prominent architectural feature is a stuccoturretwith inlaid tiles in a diamond pattern. Under the turret, the main entrance which is surrounded by acorbel archwith brick columns topped with a bracket-likemedallions.Above the door is a sign shaped like a banner and a semi-circularfanlightwindow. The roof of the turret hasmission tilesmade ofterra cotta.

The interior is dominated by a large open hall with a stage but also includes a kitchen, restrooms, storage room, and a backstage area. The walls arelathe and plasterwithcoved ceilings.Arabesqueplaster detailing flank the fireplace, stage, and entry room.

See also

• List of women's clubs
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Maricopa County, Arizona

External links

• Guild of the Vale website
• General Federation of Women's Clubs of Arizona