The Integral Women’s Improvement Club in Hughson

History of Hughson, California: The People, the Places, the Traditions of a Small Town

On July 14, 2022, President Janet Camagna of the Hughson Historical Society opened the Historical Society’s Monthly meeting featuring guest speaker Cliff Starn, whose family will be honored at the Hughson Historical Society 20th Annual Appreciation Dinner on August 27, 2022, in the Hughes Hall at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hughson.

Though much of the Starn family history is recorded in a 1971 booklet created by the family, the delay in holding the dinner due to COVID-19 has allowed additional time to gather information. Starn has acted as contact man and historian as his family pieces together their family story for the presentation at the annual dinner. Starn shared with the Hughson Historical Society a collection of documents he found in the process.

Starn opened his presentation with a brief overview of family dates. Most family members began immigrating to the Central Valley at the beginning of the 20th century. Starn held up a picture postcard of Swanson’s in Hughson in 1911. He pointed out that there were “not too many buildings that make note of. In fact, there's not too many trees either. It's kind of barren.”

Attendees were unable to identify the location of Swanson’s in Hughson as one of the earliest buildings.

Starn then handed out a history of the Women’s Improvement Club written by his grandmother, Lula Starn, in 1959 for its 50th anniversary. “There were Women's Improvement Clubs in a lot of towns up and down the valley. They had a statewide association, which they belonged to,” Starn explained. He said the clubs disbanded in 1971, but from the time of their founding until then, they were integral to the City of Hughson. Historical Society members agreed.

“When you read the history, it's really interesting because from 1909 through 1959, the history of the Women's Club parallels the growth and development of Hughson, and you can see exactly how important this club was to Hughson's development,” Starn said. “You have to remember, in 1909, the government wasn't giving out money left and right. It was up to the community themselves to make all the improvements and raise all the money to do all the work. And, of course, who does all the work in most communities?”

Attendees answered, and he agreed, “The women.”

Starn pointed back to the original photo he showed, “Do you notice in this picture it’s devoid of any trees? One of their first projects in 1909 was to plant trees.” Members recalled town events surrounding Arbor Day. Trees were planted and watered by hand before irrigation was in place along the town's main streets.

Carrie Shrader, a member of the Women’s Improvement Club, advocated for tree planting in the park now named after her.

Other activities in the club included aid toward school equipment, school embellishment, school sanitation, school and community library, a community center home, home gardening, holiday celebrations. “The women took on more and more responsibilities in their plan for a more desirable home place.”

Women’s Improvement Clubs still exist around the county and began as part of a national Women’s Club Movement based on the idea that women had a responsibility to help transform public policy and improve social conditions where they lived. In the 1960s, membership waned as women found other opportunities for socializing. According to Martin E. Comas, writing for the Orlando Sentinel, longer work hours and children’s extracurricular activities continue to impact the ability of young women to participate in such organizations.

Hughson continues to enjoy the benefit of fraternal organizations including the Odd Fellowes who recently opened membership to women, the Young Ladies Institute for Catholic women or Knights of Columbus for Catholic men, the American Legion and Sons of the American Legion, the Hughson Lion’s Club chartered in July 2018, and Citizens for a Healthy Community.

Originally published in the Hughson Chronicle & Denair Dispatch on July 20, 2022. The Hughson Chronicle & Denair Dispatch is part of MidValley Publications - committed to the power of the positive press. Reprinted with Permission.

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