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Local Historic Landmarks |
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St. Petersburg's Woman's
Club
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The 1929 St. Petersburg Woman's Club building is a Mediterranean Revival style building designed by architects, Frank F. Jonsberg and Roy W. Wakeling who are noteworthy for their individual or collaborative work on some of St. Petersburg's most significant boom era buildings including the Princess Martha, Admiral Farragut and the Dennis Hotel. The club has served as an educational and civic center for women who have contributed to the development of the City. The club was built on land donated by St. Petersburg's well known developer C. Perry Snell. He viewed this donation as an opportunity to encourage development in his new residential community. According to the minutes of the St. Petersburg Woman's Club meeting on November 13, 1928, the donation was accepted only after much debate. Although the Sunset Golf and Country Club, Snell Garden Apartments, and several residential homes nearby had already been, the members wanted a downtown location for their new clubhouse. Furthermore, the lots offered were beyond the streetcar line and accessible only by a one-lane wooden rickety bridge. When the decision was made to accept the two lots and the club had gained possession, it began to pressure the City to build a new bridge over Coffee Pot Bayou, an effort which succeeded leading to the dedication of the bridge on Christmas Day 1931. The St. Petersburg Woman's Club is an example of Mediterranean Revival style architecture. It is constructed of textured stucco over brick with a red barrel tile roof and the south wing has a loggia with a balcony above and four double doors which open from the main hall onto the patio below. Three principle windows and both doors on the main facade are arched above. The south wing has an arched recessed arch. Wrought iron, which is frequently used in the Mediterranean Revival style for accenting features is present on several windows. The building also uses decorative drain tiles and decorative stucco window openings. The main entrance facing Snell Isle Boulevard has a quoined door surround; however, the door is not the original. The small door further north on the main facade is an original solid wood multipaned door. Above the main entrance there are three rectangular windows separated with four small floret disks. The plaque over the front door reads, "The St. Petersburg Woman's Club 1913", which is the year that the club was formed by Mrs. Benjamin A. Greene. |
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