Historical Society Explores Local Heritage: Banning Woman’s Club

The story of a group of determined women who came together in the early part of the last century to form the Banning Woman’s Club was a charming, funny, informative and entertaining review of important local history at the San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society’s meeting on Jan. 10. In addition to a display of the club’s artifacts, the program included recently rediscovered original plans of the Banning Woman’s Club building, which was built more than 100 years ago and still stands today as their clubhouse at 175. W. Hays in Banning.

Attendees looked at the architectural plans and other memorabilia, and many saw mention and photos of old friends and relatives who were part of the woman’s club through the decades. Presentations at the event were made by the current Banning Woman’s Club President Fran DeVries; Helen Enriquez, member of both the woman’s club and the historical society; and Mike Rose, board member of the historical society. The evening was part of the society’s “Exploring Our Heritage” series of site visits in the pass area.

The historical society’s traveling exhibit will be on display this Saturday, Jan. 26, at the San Gorgonio Pass Veterans Expo, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Beaumont Civic Center, 550 E. 6th St., Beaumont.

The next meeting of the historical society is Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Beaumont Woman’s Club, 306 E. 6th St., Beaumont, and features a talk by Mary Lamb Flake, who grew up in Lamb Canyon in the 1930s.

All friends and non-members are welcome at society events; information about the society’s ongoing activities may be found on the San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society Facebook page.

Pictured: The presenters at the Jan. 10 historical society meeting were, from left, San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society President Sean Balingit; Banning Woman’s Club President Fran DeVries; Helen Enriquez, member of the Banning Woman’s Club and the historical society; and Mike Rose, board member of the historical society.