Lowell Women’s Club: Still Rockin after all these Years

LOWELL ROCKS!! Local Women’s Club Still Rockin after all these years…

In September, 1969, the Lowell Women’s Club celebrated the 50th anniversary of its organization. The first President of the group, Mrs. Coit Robinson, was there to mark the event, along with two other original members, Mrs. Paul Murphy and Miss Myrtle Titman.

The group had begun life as the Lowell Betterment Association in July, 1919, assisted by member from the Gastonia Woman’s Club. Prior to the organization of the PTA in local schools, the club concentrated on projects in those areas, including playground equipment, first aid supplies, library donations and even landscaping and beautification of the school grounds. 21 men were also members of the early group The Lowell Women’s Club organized Girl Scout and Brownie troops, landscaping of the town square and post office and clean-up events. In 1943, the group promoted and set in motion Bible studies in the Lowell school system. By the fall of 1952, the treasury had grown to a point where a building could be purchased for use as a clubhouse. In 1960, the group sponsored the opening of the Lowell Public Library.
However, by the time of the 50th anniversary, the club was meeting only 3 times a year. Even the then President, Mrs. Russell Stepp, declined using that title, since “her office position takes up a great deal of her time”. And the club gradually faded away.

Early in 2005, Judy Horne, currently Mayor of Lowell and Martha A. Burris, who serves on the City Council, put out a call to interested residents to revive the organization. Meetings were held at the “teacherage” (the Lowell Community Center) on First Street for women who live in, work in, or are interested in the Lowell Community. Attendees voted to move forward, creating by-laws, a list of projects and interest groups.

The LWC received its 501 (c) 3 , non for profit status after it’s re-birth in 2005. Since then the club has raised money and completed many community projects involving local schools, the community food bank, blood drives, and esthetics for the Community Center. They have participated in Gaston County Community Foundation’s Run For The Money each year since 2005 and have formed alliances with other local women’s clubs to share ideas and collaborated on projects. Their big fund raisers are the Freedom Festival Pageant and the Lowell Freedom Festival, but do smaller fundraising projects throughout the club year which is August through May.