“We are building this clubhouse beyond our immediate requirement but with an eye to the future”
Mrs. E.T. Jepson Nov 08, 1925
A New Clubhouse
Press release
“A very handsome $10,000 structure is planned for the Montclair Clubhouse. It will be 109 by 40 feet and will contain a large auditorium, stage, dressing room, dining room, kitchen, check room, restroom, and basement space, which will be utilized as billiard room.”
Construction Started
The groundbreaking celebration was held in March of 1925 at the junction of Thorn Road (now Thornhill Drive) and Mountain Blvd.
Members of the Montclair Improvement Club in November of 1925 and began constructing the new clubhouse.
New Clubhouse Opens
In March of 1926, the Montclair Improvement Club held the $ 20,000 Montclair Community clubhouse formal dedication.
The structure is one-story and is of Spanish architecture. Features included an auditorium with stage and fireplace, dining and reception rooms, an electrically equipped kitchen.
John Perona was the builder who donated his services. Contributions of labor from club members reduced the cost of construction.
They also planned to have tennis and handball courts, a playground for children, and a golf course.
In March of 1926, the Montclair Improvement Club held their first dance at the new clubhouse.
A Bit of History
The beginnings of the Montclair Improvement Club can be traced back to as early as 1923.
After a few years, it became the Montclair Bussiness Assoc.
Membership was made up of residents of Montclair, Merriewood, and Forest Park.
The Women’s Auxiliary to the Montclair Improvement Club was also formed in 1923. The name was changed to Montclair Women’s Club in 1925 when it became affiliated with the California Federation of Women’s Clubs
Montclair Women’s Clubhouse
In May of 1928, the women’s club purchased the clubhouse from Montclair Improvement Club.
They held their first dance in August of 1928.
Clubhouse Damaged in Fire
In November of 1928, a fire damaged the interior of the clubhouse.
Clubhouse is Sold
In 1996 the Montclair Women’s Club was sold. From 1996 until 2015, it was an events center called the Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club.
Stunning Montclair Facility For Sale – website
It is now the KSS Immersion Preschool of Oakland.
The Clubhouse today
More Info:
Location: 1650 Mountain Blvd Oakland
- Floor Plan – Oakland Tribune December 28, 1924
- Groundbreaking – Oakland Tribune March 11, 1925
- Members Build Own Clubhouse – Oakland Tribune November 08, 1925
- Build Montclair Club – Oakland Tribune November 08, 1925
- Montclair Plans Bazaar and Party – Oakland Tribune November 29, 1925
- Montclair Club to Give Dance Tonight – Oakland Tribune March 26, 1926
- Improvement Club to Talk Road Work – Oakland Tribune February 3, 1927
- Montclair Club to Give First Dance in New Home – Oakland Tribune August 15, 1928
- Montclair Women to Repair Clubhouse – Oakland Tribune November 15, 1928
- Montclair Women’s Club – Town Crier
- Montclair Women’s Club – Oakland Local Wiki
- Montclair Improvement Club – Oakland Local wiki
- Women’s Cultural Arts Club – Oakland Local Wiki
Thank you, Dots! There are many wonderful memories of events that I attended there. It was nice to read about the early history and see the ‘Red Letter Days’ program.Do the stairs still run from Cabot Drive to the street? I couldn’t tell in the photo.
Yes, they are and they are very steep!
I remember taking ballroom dance classes at the Montclair Women’s Club from the Frances Hatch Park School of Dance in approximately 1967/68 before she moved her classes to the detached dance studio at her home on Clarendon Crescent in Piedmont. I really enjoyed it and I’m glad that I had that opportunity.