Marion County Federation of Women’s Clubs: Marion Women's Club Home

The home is on the National Register of Historic Places and headquarters for the Marion County Federation of Women’s Clubs which began in 1895. The Marion Women's Club home is also recognized by the Ohio History Connection Historic Marker program as a site for women's history and activism. The organization is a group of progressive and vibrant women who focused on social reform including suffrage, legislation, health, education and public welfare. The Women’s Club has archives dating to 1895 and continues today working to "Empower women, enrich the community and to preserve the legacy of the Women's Club and the historic Barlow Home”. The Barlow Home is a beautiful Colonial Revival property with stunning decorative features original to the home being built in 1903. The Women's Club is a center for Marion area Women's History. The property also offers the Abigail Harding Lewis Auditorium for use by the community and area nonprofit organizations.

Marion civic leaders Shauck Elah Barlow and Ida Harsh Barlow built “Waldheim,” their Colonial Revival residence, between 1903-1905.[i] Ida Barlow, then president of the Marion Women’s Club, hosted a December 1905 meeting in her new home. Members discussed art, music, literature, and ideas for “civic improvement.”[ii] In 1909, this and other Marion clubs reorganized as the Marion County Federation of Women’s Clubs. Federation members soon organized into action: providing college loans to young women; sponsoring visiting city and later school nurses; purchasing trash receptacles; providing dental clinics for low-income residents; and funding railroad crossing safety equipment.[iii] Upon her death in 1945, Barlow bequeathed her house to the Federation as the “Women’s Club Home.” The new Federation headquarters offered meeting space for the Executive Board and the many associated clubs.

By 1954, Marion’s Federation included 900-1,000 women coordinating their progressive reforms across more than 30 member clubs.[iv] While providing social and educational experiences for club members and the wider community, the Federation also supported construction of the new Marion City Hospital, advocated for the establishment of a modern health department, championed school funding levies, called for safety upgrades in new transportation projects, and raised money for the poor and disadvantaged.[v] The 1962 addition of an auditorium wing to the Club Home provided space for larger public meetings, presentations, and musical performances. The auditorium was named for Abigail Harding Lewis, a teacher, and the sister of U.S. President Warren G. Harding.[vi] Marion Women’s Club Home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.

"The Home." https://www.marioncountyfederationofwomensclubs.com/about

[1] Marion Daily Star, “Waldheim Rapidly Nearing Completion,” May 19, 1903, p. 4 and Ladies Aid Society Meeting, August 2, 1905, p. 5.

[1] Marion Daily Star, “The Woman’s club Meeting,” December 5, 1905, p. 3 and Helen Winslow, ed., The Register of Women’s Clubs, New York: Essex, 1903, 228.

[1]Marion County Federation of Women’s Clubs, “History of the Marion Federation, The Beginning”, 13-14; “President Mrs. D.N. Harvey 1911-12”, 19-21; “President Mrs. Frank King 1914-1-16”, 4.

[1] Marion Star, “Clubwomen Make Plans for Springtime Activities”, February 17, 1954, 9.

[1] Marion Star, “Federation Board Urged to Support School Levy, Play Series, R.I.A.L Drive”, September 20, 1951, 12; “Hospital Bond Issue, School Levy Endorsed by Board of Federation of Women’s Clubs”, October 18, 1950, 12; Marion County Federation of Women’s Clubs, “Executive Meeting Minutes 1950-59”, Meeting of February 17, 1953.

[1] Marion Star, “Ralph T. Lewis”, March 29, 1967, 6.

[1] NPS Registration Form 10-900 “Marion Women’s Club Home,” SG100004781, provided 2-14-2022 by State Historic Preservation Office. Listed 12-23-2019.