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HISTORY OF THE CLUB
HISTORY OF THE CLUB
The Cambridge Woman’s Club was founded in 1898 as the Literary Study Group and adopted its current name in 1900.
Initially meeting in members’ homes, the Club later moved to the Masonic Lodge on Race Street, where it started a lending library for members. After purchasing Sycamore Cottage in 1922, the library expanded into the Clubhouse wing of the building and became accessible to the public, eventually evolving into the Dorchester Public Library.
Many other organizations have used Sycamore Cottage over the years. The Red Cross used Sycamore Cottage as a meeting place after 1922. The Auxiliary for the Cambridge Hospital was formed at Sycamore Cottage in 1921, and meetings were held there for several years. In 1930 the Dorchester Garden Club was organized by the Woman’s Club members interested in gardening and in the beautification of Cambridge.
During World War II Sycamore Cottage was used to produce knitted garments and surgical dressings for the war effort.
Over the years other organizations have used the buildings for civic and social activities.
The members of the Cambridge Woman’s Club have historically been women actively involved in the work of the community and often serving in other community organizations. That tradition continues today.
Cambridge Woman's Club Affiliations
Cambridge Woman's Club Affiliations
The Dorchester chapters of the American Red Cross, the Dorchester Garden Club, the Mid-Shore League of Women Voters, Dorchester Girl Scouts, and the first Cambridge Chess Team for young people originated at the Cambridge Woman's Club.
HISTORY OF SYCAMORE COTTAGE
HISTORY OF SYCAMORE COTTAGE
Sycamore Cottage was originally built as a home in 1765 for the Reverend Daniel Maynadier, Jr. and his wife, Mary Vans Murray. The house was built at 116 High Street on land given as a wedding gift to the couple by Mary Murray’s father. The Cottage served as the Christ Church Rectory during his ministry there.
Upon the death of Rev. and Mrs. Maynadier (late 1700s), the house passed to her granddaughters, Hannah and Margaret and through them to William Murray Maynadier.
In 1828 he sold the property to Henry Page, a lawyer and politician. In 1840, Page sold the house to Jeremiah Wright who moved the house to its current location at 417 High Street. Wright was the owner who made the 1840 changes to Sycamore Cottage.
It is unclear as to why Wright moved the house. The history of Sycamore Cottage between 1840 and 1877 is not confirmed due to missing court documents.
In 1877, the house was tied up in the estate of William Rea. Sycamore Cottage was sold in 1877 to Sallie W. Wright by Rea’s estate. Mrs. Wright held the property until 1905. It was sold and mortgaged twice until 1922 when the Cambridge Woman’s Club acquired the property
When the Woman’s Club purchased the building in 1922, they renovated it for their activities. The first floor originally had two rooms; the wall separating them was removed, creating a single large room that remains today. A kitchen was constructed, and during the 1930s, a rear wing was added to serve as a meeting hall for the Club. Sycamore Cottage is architecturally notable as one of four gambrel-roofed buildings in the county and the only example in Cambridge. In recognition of its historical value, Sycamore Cottage was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
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