Bellingham Then & Now: Broadway Hall (the Aftermath Club)

In 1895, the Aftermath Reading Circle was organized by twelve women of New Whatcom. The name refers to how many of the members had raised or were raising their children and also were looking for further educational and community opportunities

“Within the first year, the group organized a constitution and by-laws as well as an annual agenda of study and presentations on a wide range of topics.” (source)

While the club included a suite of educational offerings, the clubhouse on Broadway Hall also offered the opportunity to rent the space out for dances and larger community events, and over the decades, the space became a central hub of Bellingham’s social scene. At the time of construction soon after the turn of the century, it was 

“the only clubhouse in town owned outright by its members, in contrast to the rented meeting rooms of most of the Bellingham’s major men’s clubs. Aftermath members were able to clear their property of all debts while continuing their charitable and educational activities.” (source)

The Aftermath club lasted over one hundred years until its dissolution in 2003. Their clubhouse, now owned and managed by the Westford Funeral Home, still carries their legacy, as a central hub for events, weddings, parties and receptions. 

Aftermath Club records take up the span of 5 linear feet in the WWU Center for Pacific NW Studies collection, with administrative, financial and legal records and yearbooks. These records are not only collections of dry data, mildly interesting only to its members, but as a “source for study of the changing roles and concerns of thoughtful, active, urban women in the Pacific Northwest during most of the past century.” (source) The minutes record how topics of discussion and of interest changed with the times, the treasurer’s reports give an insight into how a women’s club of the early 1900s was able to purchase and pay off their building, and the historian reports are a this-point-in-time self-reflection on the club and its stories, told by the very women involved.

Next up on Bellingham Then & Now: The first wedding at St. Paul’s Church was between Lottie Tuttle Roeder and Charles Roth.

Previously on Bellingham Then & Now: The Donovan House was home to the railroad developer whose company donated the land for what is now Bloedel-Donovan Park.

Sources

“Aftermath Club records, 1895-2003.” Orbic Cascade Alliance: Archives West. Link.

“Broadway Hall - formally the Aftermath Clubhouse (1300 Broadway Street)” City of Bellingham. Link.

“Washington SP Aftermath Clubhouse” National Archives Catalog. Link.

Broadway Hall:  Website  | Photo Gallery  | Facebook

Images

Then: “J.J. Donovan House (1201 N. Garden Street)”. City of Bellingham. Link.

Now: Cooper Hansley

Blog copy by Tiffany Holden