(MURFREESBORO)  The Woman's Club of Murfreesboro held its popular "Ladies Night Out Dinner" on Monday evening (4/24/20230 in the historic home that survived the ravages of  both the Civil War and the 1912 tornado that destroyed its neighbor, First Presbyterian Church. 

Oaklands Mansion's Executive Director James Manning was the guest speaker, and he shared the similarities between the two historic structures. 

Manning said . . .

The residence that became the Woman's Club was originally built by William T. Baskette, a local physician, and his new wife Helen Crichlow in the 1850’s. Late in the 19th century it was the home of Judge Fletcher Ready Burrus, a member of the 43rd Tennessee General Assembly. Before being acquired by hotelier James Monroe Haynes, the house was owned by Montfort Fletcher Jordan, another hotel proprietor.

The Woman's Club of Murfreesboro was incorporated and chartered July 22, 1916. True to its original charter, The Woman's Club continues to offer cultural, recreational, literary, and public interest programs to the community, and provide philanthropic and educational opportunities.

The founding members sought to promote reading and literacy. In fact, it became Murfreesboro's first public library and was operated by the non-profit group. The Woman’s Club Library employed a librarian and assumed the task until 1948 when Linebaugh Public Library opened.

Wedding Dresses Across Decades & Cultures

The capacity dinner audience also heard more about an upcoming event that connects Oaklands Mansion with the Woman's Club . . .

The popular "WEDDING DRESSES ACROSS THE DECADES & CULTURES" will be at the Woman's Club, 221 E. College Street in Murfreesboro, on Fridays through Sunday, June 2-18, 2023. The show will be open 10AM-5PM on Friday and Saturday, plus 1:00-5:00PM Sundays and the admission is $15.

For more information about the Woman's Club of Murfreesboro, visit their website https://womansclubmurfreesboro.org/