By Khalida Sarwari
“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction,” Virginia Woolf famously wrote in an influential essay published 85 years ago. In “A Room of One’s Own,” Woolf examines the importance of having one’s personal place for cultivating creativity.
Twenty-two years prior to that, a group of ladies in Saratoga began meeting among themselves, letting rain nor flood deter them from attending these gatherings either on foot or by horse and buggy.
That year, among other topics, the women discussed the cities of the Mediterranean. Not every member was a writer–let alone a writer of fiction–but each one was a voracious reader and the group, which later came to be called the Saratoga Foothill Club, filled a need that the women of the community had at that time: a formal study group just for women.
Having grown from 12 to 63 members by 1914, the Foothill Club ladies were in desperate need of a space of their own, as members’ living rooms could no longer accommodate the growing group. As luck would have it, that year they were gifted with land, and the following year, Julia Morgan–who went on to become famous for designing the Hearst Castle, but at the time struggled to become the first female architect in California–was hired to design and supervise the construction of the clubhouse.
The clubhouse was officially completed in 1916 and the members of the Foothill Club finally had “a room of their own” to hold gatherings, lectures, dance classes, weddings and later film screenings and other events. During World War II, it even housed soldiers who needed a place to sleep.
Today, the Craftsman-style building at 20399 Park Place houses the oldest social organization in Saratoga. Preservation has been key to the structure’s longevity. Only a few changes have been made to the original design–most notably the addition of restrooms, a kitchen and a new roof–but the building hasn’t undergone any major renovations since its establishment 100 years ago.
The club boasts a membership of more than 200 that includes the daughters and granddaughters of its original and founding members. Members range in age from 24 to 93.
Dianne Priest, a 12-year member, said she enjoys the dynamics of the multi-generational grouping.
“You learn a great deal from generation to generation,” she said. “Plus, by joining this group, you have mental stimulation you might not have gotten yourself.”
Regardless of age, active participation is a requirement of the Foothill Club.
“You have to be active to be in the club,” Priest said. “Everybody has to participate. It’s not something you just join and show up.”
In commemoration of the clubhouse’s 100th anniversary, Priest and her fellow members are sponsoring a walking tour of eight historic homes and three gardens on Oct. 4. Some examples include the Julia Morgan-designed home at 14474 Oak Place, the Luther Cunningham Stone House at 14280 Saratoga Ave. and the 1912 Mediterranean-style home at 20330 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road.
“They’re still fairly early Saratoga,” said Marlene Duffin, a 35-year member who’s coordinating the home tour.
The tour starts at 10 a.m. and costs $35. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at the Foothill Club, where participants can pick up a packet, goody bag and snacks and refreshments before starting the self-guided tour. All the homes are within walking distance from the Foothill Club, and there will be balloons denoting the homes marked for the tour. The event coincides with Saratoga’s annual Heritage Day event.
For more information, contact Duffin at marlduffin@aol.com or 408.997.7528.
