What Is the Aftermath Clubhouse?
The first women’s clubhouse in Washington is now Broadway Hall, an event space for rent!
What Makes It Historical?
In November of 1895, a group of twelve women craving intellectual pursuits founded a literary and social club in what was then called New Whatcom! Being mostly at the age where they’d sent their kids off to adulthood, they adopted the philosophy of a second gleaning—in which farmers harvested the overlooked portions of their crop to give to the poor—and thus named their new club the Aftermath Reading Circle! They were exceptionally well organized with money, raising funds for a new YWCA, giving out annual prizes for best lawns around town, and, on April 24, 1905, opened Washington’s first and only member-owned clubhouse! Local architect, Frank C. Burns, designed it in the Italian Villa style, and the club met in this building all the way until 1977! In their final act, before dissolving in 2003, the Aftermath Reading Club created multiple scholarships to Western Washington University!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Whatcom County Historical Society!
- Become a member of the Whatcom County Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
1300 Broadway
Bellingham, WA 98225
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
As a rental space, Broadway Hall isn’t open for tours; you’d have to party here!