Montville Township Woman's Club History
We are a member of the NJ State Federation of Women's Clubs
The New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs, the largest volunteer women's service organization in the state and a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, provides opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service through participation in local clubs, enabling members to make a difference in the lives of others, one project at a time.
The goal of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs is to enhance the quality of life within our respective communities and state by transforming public interests and concerns into meaningful projects and programs, to afford our members opportunities for the development of individual skills, talents, and abilities; and to serve as a grassroots volunteer resource in New Jersey communities.
Our history, from the past to the present.
In 1962, 44 women founded a new women's club in Montville, bringing together interested women of the Community to actively promote non-partisan, non-sectarian civic, cultural, educational, and social activities. Since that time, the MTWC has engaged in fundraising, cultural, social, and community activities that have been focused on supporting the needs of charitable organizations, participating in community social, academic, and historical events, and working to provide members with a platform for supporting cultural, environmental, and social groups and their endeavors
Early in our history, a member who was certified as a Brailleist taught us the slate Braille method, enabling us to make Braille children's books. For her constant guidance and inspiration during her years in the club, Lucille Cumming was placed on the honor roll at the convention in Atlantic City. After her untimely death in 1974, the club continues to award the Lucille Cumming Memorial Scholarship annually to a worthy Montville Township high school student
Among the many charities we've supported in the past are:
The Tom Dooley Foundation, Community Chest, Greystone Hospital, Babies' Hospital, Children's Aid and Adoption Society, Easter Seals, Camp Merry Heart, North Jersey Training School, Lydia Hayes Foundation, The Montville Township Library, adopting a Native American boy and sending a student to the Girls Career Institute.
Our members saved the "Old Barn" from demolition and put it to good use. In 1974, Montville Township acquired 80 acres of centrally located property and a dairy farm with three barn structures. Newspaper articles read: "Women's Club spearheads Community Center Drive," "Women want barn used," and finally, "Montville barn transformed." The dedication was in January 1975 due to the continued and constant involvement of Club women who cared; today, a beautifully restored barn is being used for blood testing, a diabetic and baby clinic, blood pressure and hypertension testing, and other activities benefiting the community. All in all, it was a tremendous undertaking. We have accomplished much and grown in many ways.
The Montville Township Women's Club started the Community Garden Center; organized the Senior Citizen Club; donated an organ with choir robes and a stereo tape recorder to the high school; gave a phono-cardio scan machine to the grade school; and entered a winning float in the Bicentennial Parade.
The Woman's Club of Montville Township is proud to belong to the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs. The NJSFWC is the largest volunteer women's service organization in the state and a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, an international organization. NJSFWC celebrated its 128th Anniversary in November 2022, and we count the founding of Douglass College in 1918 among our proudest accomplishments. For more than 70 years, we've sponsored the Girls Career Institute, providing a 3-day mini-college experience for over 185 high school junior girls each June. In 2023, we will have been in existence for 120 years.
Today, some of our current projects and interests include:
Today, the Montville Township Women's Club goal is to enhance the quality of life within our respective communities and state by transforming public interests and concerns into meaningful projects and programs; to afford our members opportunities for the development of individual skills, talents, and abilities, and to serve as a grassroots volunteer resource in New Jersey communities.
