The Cosmopolitan Club

For over a century, the Cosmopolitan Club of Bath was a prominent place for the women of Bath. Founded in 1913 at the height of the women’s club movement, the organization grew beyond a social focus to become an important voice for community involvement, philanthropy, and education. By the time it closed its doors in 2018, it had inspired generations of Bath women to help their community and each other through a warm fellowship.

The clubhouse on Washington Street was sold, completely restored, and sold again and remains in private ownership.

The Club Movement

As the 20th century began, women were basically expected to keep a good home, raise their children, and perhaps help out at church. There weren’t many outlets for bright, curious, and ambitious women.

But thankfully, a few brave souls in cities like Boston and New York decided to challenge social norms and start women’s organizations to discuss current events, politics, and even (gasp) organize for social reforms. Women didn’t gain the right to vote in the U.S. until 1920, and change had to start somewhere.

The Birth of the Cosmopolitan Club

In April 1913, Miss Elizabeth E. Webber, along with sixteen other Bath women, formed the Cosmopolitan Club. They first met at Miss Webber’s house, perhaps with not much more in mind than breaking up the monotony of their daily lives.

“The Cosmopolitan Club of Bath is committed to inspiring and encouraging women’s aspirations.”

The First Slate of Officers
Miss Lina C. Andrews, President
Miss Elizabeth P. Dean, First Vice President
Miss Geneva Casey, Second Vice President
Miss Mabel A. Theoing, Secretary
Miss Elizabeth Webber, Corresponding Secretary
Miss Alice E. Varney, Treasurer
Miss Florence L. Rand, Auditor

The Clubhouse

Two years after its founding, the club purchased a home at 894 Washington Street, directly across the park in front of the library. On May 9, 1915, they bought the 2.5-story Greek Revival home that was originally constructed in 1841 for Dr. Israel Putnam. They paid off the mortgage in March 1934 and the stately home served as the clubhouse for the club until it closed.

The clubhouse served as the home of the club, hosting functions, and even boarding women in need in bedrooms on the upper floor.

Dr. Israel Putnam (1805 – 1876) was mayor of Bath 1859-65, 1867. He was a graduate of the the Medical School of Maine at Bowdoin College. The first meetings of The Patten Library Association in Bath were held in Dr. Putnam’s offices.

Helen Keller

The first event sponsored by the Cosmopolitan Club was April 17, 1915 when Helen Keller and her teacher and friend, Anne Sullivan Macy, visited the Winter Street Congregational Church just down the street from the clubhouse.

On that day, 600 people paid 50 cents to listen to Macy and Keller speak about her life and experiences. Helen was no stranger to Maine, as she bought a house in Brunswick in 1909, visited Peaks Island, and was supposedly friends with Civil War hero Joshua Chamberlain.

The Club Grows

In 1927, the club was inducted into the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs. Membership grew to over 150 and the club expanded its involvement in the community.

During World War I, members provided aid to French victims of the war, including adopting an orphan. The club sponsored the first public health nurse. During World War II, members conducted a street fair, bought defense bonds and sent clothing to our (at the time) Russian allies.

Each club meeting began with this prayer (which was also used by many other organizations, including AA):

A Collect for Club Women
Keep us, O God, from pettiness;
let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault finding,
and leave off self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense
and meet each other face to face
without self-pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment
and always generous.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses,
straightforward and unafraid.
Let us take time for all things;
make us to grow calm, serene, gentle.
Grant that we may realize
it is the little things that create differences;
that in the big things of life we are at one.
And may we strive to touch and to know
the great common human heart of us all,
and O, Lord God, let us forget not to be kind.
MARY STEWART – 1907

Events

Over the years, the club hosted many events for the community including:

• May Breakfast (started 1934)
• Morse High School Senior Tea (started 1954)
• Strawberry Shortcake Festival during Heritage Days (started 1974)
• Gingerbread Social
• Women Merchants Tea 
• Newborns in Need “Baby Shower”

The Senior Tea is well remembered by the female graduates of Morse High. It harkened back to the “old days” with a high tea for the girls and their mothers – fancy dresses, gloves, porcelain, etc. The 4th of July Strawberry Shortcake was also very popular, and I can confirm that the shortcakes were divine.

Slow Decline

Membership in the club slowly waned as the 20th century progressed. The peak period for social clubs in the U.S. was in the 1950s and 1960s when 6 million people belonged to at least one club. The Cosmopolitan Club was certainly not immune to this trend. The times had changed and membership in the club slowly declined as the women in Bath had far more options available to them.

The club stopped housing boarders in 2007 after neighbors complained of male visitors.

100th Anniversary

As it neared its 100th anniversary in 2013, it was struggling to attract dues-paying members while desperately trying to maintain a very old building that needed substantial repairs. It’s 100th Anniversary was honored in the Maine Legislature.

Finally, in 2017, Members voted to sell the aging clubhouse. In March of 2018, the club held an estate sale and got rid of most of the contents of the clubhouse on Washington Street. The house was listed for sale through Maine Preservation’s Protect and Sell Program. The program preserves endangered properties by connecting sellers with renovation-minded buyers. The house sold quickly on April 9 for $210,000. The buyer was Tom Johnson, executive director of Portland’s Victoria Mansion. Tom restored the home and sold it for $505,000 in July, 2021.

Dissolution

When the club closed, it had to wind down all of its assets. In May 2018, the club gave $115,000 to 23 local nonprofit organizations that the club had worked with over the years. They each received a $5,000 check.

A Few Events Continue Today

HillHouse Assisted Living on Whiskeag Road took over the club’s Strawberry Shortcake Social and holds it annually in Library Park during Bath Heritage Days. Attendees can easily see the former clubhouse from the Social.

The Bath High School Alumni Association adopted the club’s annual Morse Senior Tea and holds it at Mae’s Cafe.