Original members of We and Our Neighbors, plus children.

 

Sophie

Sophie La Montagne sold the land for the clubhouse to the Club for one gold dollar.

 

Maria

Maria Schofield served as President of the club for 25 years. She also donated the money for construction of the clubhouse.

 

 

Established 1892

Clubhouse built 1910

History of the Club

The We and Our Neighbors club began when a group of Union District farmers' wives met for an afternoon tea in June of 1892 at the home of Mrs. John Cilker. The day was so pleasant that the women decided to form a club to promote social ties, intellectual and cultural pursuits, charitable deeds, and recreation for the farm families of the neighborhood. Members agreed to meet every third Saturday of the month and, after much deliberation, decided to call the new club WE AND OUR NEIGHBORS. The club has a rich history of service to the community.

In 1892, the club was a forerunner of a PTA to Union School. Members started a lending library of magazines so they could keep up with current events and fashions. The magazines were then bound and sent to hospitals. During the Spanish-American War, members sent books to troops in the Philippines and collected eggs, dried fruit, bandages and reading material to donate to veterans in hospitals. The club members sent two wagonloads of collected blankets and clothing to victims of the 1906 earthquake.

In 1910 the members built the clubhouse at the corner of Union Avenue and Los Gatos-Almaden Road, now an Arts and Crafts Bungalow entered in the National Registry of Historic Places and a San Jose Historic Landmark.

We and Our Neighbors is the oldest women's club in Santa Clara County. Our building is the oldest continually-used California women's clubhouse. In 1921, We and Our Neighbors joined the California Federation of Women's Clubs, a division of the General Federation of Women's Clubs International. In the early 1950's the Club donated space for the first branch of the Santa Clara County Library in the area.

Mission Statement

We and Our Neighbors is dedicated to promoting educational and social activities among its members, preserving the historical clubhouse, and supporting worthwhile causes in the neighboring as well as greater community.

Philanthropies

Our philanthropies have recently included: