On October 27, 1900, fifty ladies from the City of Colton started and organized the Current Events Club. Then in 1901 the club joined the General Federation of Women‘s Clubs and changed the name to Colton Woman‘s Club.

     The initial goal in 1900 was to give schoolchildren free access to books. With the full support and actions by the Colton City Leaders and the perseverance of the members of Colton Woman's Club, a Public Library was built in 1908. The library heritage building is now the home of the Colton Area Museum and is celebrated their 100th birthday in November 2008.

     In the summer of 1913, the Club purchased a small church building on the southwest corner of 7th and "F" streets. That church building still exists as the stage area of our present clubhouse.

     Needing a larger clubhouse the members made a decision to remodel the building, and in 1921-1922, the members sold stock and borrowed $12,000 to obtain funds for the project. The club met for the first time in the new main building October 14, 1942.

     With the start of the depression in late 1929, and the following decade of hard times, the club found it more and more difficult to keep things going. The idea arose to disband the club and sell the clubhouse due to the hard economic climate but staunch members continued to carry on in spite of the frustration of building upkeep, lack of attendance and the shortage of money. To help members continue to pay their dues they reduced the amount from $5.00 to $3.00. In spite of all the difficult times, the burning of the clubhouse mortgage took place May 11, 1938 and the club was free of debt.

     With the start of World War II, in December 1941, the club experienced more changes. The clubhouse opened as headquarters for the distribution of Red Cross materials, weekly first aid classes as well as a place to make and roll bandages. Weekly dances for soldiers were held at the clubhouse and due to the rationing of sugar and coffee members agreed to furnish them for the soldiers by using an alphabetical list. It was discussed locally that women should be used as labor to save the area’s fruit crops, but this never became a reality. The Draft Board requested a list of eligible members for the Women’s Air Corp but none of the members received official summons.

     One of the most expensive improvements to date was the addition of a cooling system. The club sponsored public breakfasts, dinners and many other ways and means projects to raise the funds. A few years later, a committee met to consider ways of expanding the clubhouse. In 1955, the club purchased 100 commemorative plates and sold them for $1.75, hangers were 25 cents and club dues increased to $7.50. By 1957, the new addition of a kitchen and the lobby were underway. The result is the building as you see it today.

     Through all the economic difficulties, the ladies of the Colton Woman’s Club continued to serve the community with the same dedication that all the members put forth during the last 108 years.