The Avalon Civic Club's Proud Legacy: For 80-Plus Years, Its Women Strove to Improve Life in the Borough
August 2010 The Ladies of the Women’s Civic Club of Avalon in 2010 (back, from left): Alba Bishof, Elsie Kuhn, Gloria Mesdino, Ann Hoffman, Catherine D’Imperio; (front, from left): Rita McElwee and Rose Marie Chew.
In recent years, Facebook and Twitter have been full of discussions regarding the changes that have taken place and continue to do so on Seven Mile Beach. Regardless of your stance on the island’s changes, this is one that can only be classified as a great loss: The ladies of the Avalon Civic Club, the first civic organization on the island, called it a wrap at the end of 2022. A wrap after 80-plus years for Avalon’s original trusted advocates for civic improvements.
The national women’s civic club movement hit its peak in the United States during a 30-year period from 1890 to 1920. Considering Avalon’s small population and remote location at the time, it’s impressive that these civic pioneers were able to follow the national trend as early as they did in the late-1930s.
Sad, too, that the club has had to cease efforts after more than eight decades.
“We had to do it,” says Rose Marie Chew, a former secretary, treasurer, and president of the club. “We’ve lost so many members in recent years to time and relocation, there didn’t seem to be any other choice.”
If you are keeping track of great losses, Avalon lost both the Civic Club and the Avalon Performing Arts Council in 2022. And both for the same reasons.
Chew goes on to explain that changing times and demographics have affected involvement in civic organizations: “People aren’t as into attending meetings any longer. Times have changed and it’s become very difficult to involve new members.”
She also points out how difficult the decision was for the club’s members, given their passion for their work. “It was a very difficult decision, no question,” she says. “Personally, I joined over 20 years ago because I was so impressed by the work that they did. Their focus was always on improving life in our community. We all wanted to be part of those efforts.”
Avalon’s Civic Club, initially known as the Women’s Club of Avalon and then the Women’s Civic Club of Avalon, can trace its roots back to when Avalon was a sleepy, seasonal seashore community with few amenities. The Civic Club initially was the leader in seeking an improvement in the quality of life for both residents and seasonal visitors. It sought to identify needs in the community and then looked to provide the resources, when possible, to meet those needs. Often, the club’s support and interest served as the seed needed to begin projects that would grow into community-wide efforts.
In 1959, the club was the first to beautify the town when it placed plants at the 21st Street Circle, which at the time was the gateway into Avalon. In 1972, the club moved its efforts south to 30th Street, where the new causeway brought travelers into town. By 1973, the club had planted more than 50 of the islands on Dune Drive – funded 100% by the club. Through the years, the club purchased playground equipment and benches, and assisted with Avalon’s Memorial Day and baby parades. And the club was probably at least 20 years ahead of the curve in 1971 when it convinced the Borough to begin glass recycling by placing bins in the Borough Maintenance Yard. It was particularly active in equipping Avalon’s Community Hall and Senior Center.
Although the club’s focus was primarily local, its vision was so much broader. The club was a generous contributor to social and service organizations throughout Cape May County. For example, it supported North Wildwood’s Surf Hospital and Sea Isle City’s Mercy Hospital, and was among the earliest supporters of Burdette Tomlin, now Cape Regional, in Middle Township. From 1959 through 1973, the club provided holiday gifts each December to as many as 150 residents of Crest Haven, the county’s nursing facility. The Avalon Rescue Squad, Volunteers in Medicine, local food banks and CARA are just a small list of organizations that were recipients of the Avalon Civic Club’s goodwill. And it was always club policy to donate all funds it raised to worthy causes every year.
The Civic Club was also the organization that first realized the need for surf chairs to enable disabled visitors the opportunity to enjoy the beach. They were suggested by then-member Helen Spence, whose daughter was unable to enjoy the beach. The club purchased the first three surf chairs for Avalon in 1993, and others were added in ensuing years. This program has been maintained for the past two decades by the Borough – just one example of a program seeded by the Civic Club that has grown into a community-supported effort.
It was obviously a much different time and world when Avalon’s Civic Club held its first meeting more than 80 years ago. Initially, meetings were held year-round. The annual winter luncheon meeting and Christmas parties were held in Philadelphia at Gimbel’s Paul Revere Dining Room, Strawbridge and Clothier’s Dining Room, and the Adelphia Hotel. In the summer months, meetings were held in Avalon at the Moosehead Dining Room, The Hub in the Hotel Holiday on 21st Street, the Marine Room on the Avalon Pier, Mueller’s, The Cove, and Virginia Lou’s. Records in July of 1948 show 78 active members. An impressive number, given Avalon’s population at that time.
More recently, meetings were held at the First United Methodist Church and Avalon Community Hall. Fundraising efforts included poinsettia sales, the crafts and collectible show, and fashion shows.
The Avalon Civic Club is a historic and important part of the Avalon that we all know today and it should not be forgotten through time. Through 40 club presidents, this important organization served 12 mayors and tens of thousands of residents and visitors. Nothing was too difficult for the club to take on.
This was a sincerely dedicated group of women who consulted, beautified, enabled, and achieved. Sadly, a changing world, perhaps pushed along by the pandemic, made it impossible for the club to continue. In what can only be described as a fitting final gesture, the Avalon Civic Club dedicated its remaining funds to the Avalon Historical Society to help pay for the new historical marker program.
So as the Civic Club in its final act has helped to acknowledge and preserve Avalon’s memories and history, so too should we keep a place in both our hearts and memories for the Avalon Civic Club and the work its women did.