A Legacy of Kindness:
We at MAC thank the Milton Woman’s Club for enhancing creativity, community, and skills through its ongoing support. Sponsorship to MAC include:
- Free daytime Senior Art Lab classes for seniors, Fall and Spring
- Purchase of a ceramics kiln
- Sewing machinesStorage cabinets for art supplies
- Funding for programs and townwide art installations
- Donation of historic MWC Club china and tea services
Written by Deanna Seymourian and Joan Clifford
When we think of Milton today, 27,000+ strong, it’s easy to imagine a vibrant, connected community. But in 1898, our town was a quieter place—a rural village of just 5,000 people. It was during this era, as the United States prepared for the Spanish-American War, that a group of visionary women came together under the leadership of Miss Mary P. Webster to form the Milton Woman’s Club.
Their mission was bold: to improve the town, support public schools, and encourage intellectual and cultural growth in the library. This was no small feat for a small group in a farming community, but the women of Milton proved to be unstoppable. With annual dues of just 25 cents, they began a legacy of service that has shaped our town in countless ways.
Early Ambitions, Lasting Change
In its very first year, the Milton Woman’s Club, established a volunteer aid branch to support local soldiers—a movement that ultimately led to the creation of Milton’s chapter of the American Red Cross. But they didn’t stop there. Recognizing the importance of education, the club was one of the first groups to rally the town to create a public library, even raising funds to establish a children’s room. By 1904, their dream became a reality, and Milton had its first public library.
The club’s reach extended far beyond town borders. In 1906, they sent money and supplies to victims of the devastating San Francisco earthquake. Closer to home, they established programs to provide maternity and children’s clothing for families in need—an initiative that grew into the Social Service League and, eventually, the Visiting Nurses’ Association.
Supporting Schools and Nurturing Growth
Education and children’s well-being have always been at the heart of the Milton Woman’s Club’s work. From funding summer vocational schools and donating a printing press to the high school to launching Milton’s first hot lunch program, they’ve been innovators in creating opportunities for young people to thrive. Even the Collicot School benefitted, with the club funding a Fresh Air Room to enhance students’ health and comfort.
A Heart for the Community
As Milton evolved, so did the club’s contributions. In 1979, they responded to a growing need by donating funds and organizing logistics for the town’s first “Shopping for the Elderly” program. This initiative became the foundation for the Milton Council on Aging, reflecting the club’s ongoing commitment to addressing community needs with care and creativity.
Over the years, the Milton Woman’s Club has also invested heavily in the future, providing tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships and seed funding for new programs. Their willingness to roll up their sleeves and get to work has helped shape the town we know and love today.
A Thank You from the Milton Art Center
From their founding in 1898 to their incorporation in 1913 and their continued involvement as members of both the state and international General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Milton Woman’s Club has shown us all what a dedicated group of individuals can accomplish.
It is fascinating to consider that almost every activity pertaining to the well-being of humans in the town of Milton is an outgrowth of the Milton Woman's Club. We thank current leaders, Co-Presidents, Deanna Seymourian and Carole Kussman, Vice President Roberta Leary, Treasurer, Patricia Kachinsky, Assistant Treasurer, Linda Luccio, Recording Secretary, Barbara Perkins, Corresponding Secretary and Publicity, Suzette Standring and Scholarship Committee and Hospitality board members which include Barbara Fitzgerald, Rachel Bartley, Rosemary Shea, Eileen Colbert, Marylyn Hennigan and Jessica Cherry. Honorary members and past presidents are Virginia Wells and Doris Green. At a recent Woman’s Club meeting, if you asked any member there what they did for the community during their past and present years, you would get a long list of organizations, churches and schools that have benefitted from their members' volunteer work.
As we reflect on the remarkable history of the Milton Woman’s Club, we at the Milton Art Center want to express our heartfelt gratitude for their warm and unwavering support. Their generosity and belief in the power of community and quality of life have made them benefactors of the work that the Milton Art Center does. A few years back, we got a call from Suzette Standring to rush to the Reedsdale Road home of the Milton Woman’s Club before it was torn down to collect dishes and trays that we now use for events at the Milton Art Center. Every First Friday, we are reminded of the Milton Woman’s Club when we pull out these beautiful silver plate trays, inscribed with former MWC members' names,to hold platters of food for the event.
Currently the Milton Woman’s Club is sponsoring Senior Art Lab, a free, creative, daytime art lab that was remarkably successful this past fall. The spring session will open for registration early February. For more information, email info@miltonartcenter.org.
Thank you, Milton Woman’s Club, for your 100+ years’ legacy of kindness, vision, and action. You inspire us to dream big and to work together for the betterment of our town, just as you have for more than a century.