An elegant living room with French doors greet visitors to the Columbiana Women’s Club, 121 North Main St. For more information on either renting the facility or becoming a member, call 330-482-2832. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana Women’s Club is encountering the same plight of many social organizations — an aging membership.

Located at 121 N. Main St. in Columbiana, the house was willed by Helen Buzzard to the women of the city in 1966. The following year, the Columbiana Women’s Club was incorporated and is administered by a board on behalf of other local women’s clubs.

Current membership is $25 annually, and members can enjoy organization-hosted clubs, events and activities, where they can share common interests, such as gardening, cards or just plain camaraderie.

According to Laurie Steeb, organization president, the group remodeled the home three years ago and has been working to increase the property’s use.

The Queen-Anne style residence is available for rentals and features 10 rooms usable for hosting meetings, family gatherings, holiday celebrations, receptions, showers, birthdays and other intimate activities.

A dining room includes seating for eight with a crystal chandelier and fireplace.

The facility includes accommodations for up to 40 individuals, full kitchen with the appropriate equipment like carafes, dinnerware, silverware and tea service to make your event perfect.

A handicapped ramp provides access to the home’s ground floor.

Steeb said beer and wine are permitted on the premises. Homemade or catered food and beverages may be brought in or guests can work with a club hostess for event planning and catering for an additional fee.

Steeb explained they are Pat Tingle, who oversees house care and ways/means on behalf of the board, is researching possible bids on the home’s roof as proactive move before there is too severe of an issue

Currently the entire second floor is an apartment occupied by a building caretaker who answers the phone for the property and keeps it tidy.

Steeb and Tingle acknowledge that there has been some discussion of the organization possibly hosting some public teas several times a week to possible generate interest and grow membership especially among the youth.

Targeting even recent retirees has been difficult, Tingle explained as the interest seems to be there in some of their more public efforts, such as this year’s Garden Events at Firestone Park; however, not everyone feels comfortable committing more than a single event considering the business associated with life.

The last two gardening events at Idabelle Firestone’s Gathering Place and Garden at the park are coming up: A group of master gardeners will discuss “Harvesting and Preserving” as well as “Careers in Gardening an Horticulture” on Thursday, Aug. 25; and Keith Kaiser of the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden will talk about “Color in the Autumn Garden” to close out the 2024 series on Saturday, Oct. 5. The cost is $25 per person (including lunch) or $15 per person (for the program only).

Lunch is served at noon with the program starting at 12:30 p.m.

The Columbiana’s Women’s Club also hosts the Readers’ Guild during the first Monday of the month at 1 p.m. in its clubhouse. Featured books can range from Murder on the Orient Express to A Street Cat named Bob.

For more information regarding rentals of membership, call 330-482-2832 and ask for Hannah.