Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead celebrates centennial in grand style

By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY

Staff Writer

The history of Lake Arrowhead has been positively impacted by the women of its community for the past 100 years, and by all appearances the 100+ members of the club plan on making a difference for its residents for at least another century. Former longtime Lake Arrowhead resident and award-winning actress and singer Gloria Loring came up the mountain to help the Women’s Club members enjoy the luncheon, and she led the celebration of the past 100 years. She highlighted the many accomplishments the club has achieved, recognizing the honors the club has received and the changes they made in the community over the last century that have positively impacted the growth of local communities.

The Women’s Club was initially formed during a luncheon on January 21st, 1926, at Lake Arrowhead’s Raven Hotel/restaurant by sisters Mabel Leonard and Anne Leonard Copeland. Seven prominent women decided to make a difference in the new town and establish a woman’s club. This 2026 centennial brought the club’s members back to the same building, now known as The Saddleback Inn, for a return luncheon, filling the restaurant with the movers and shakers of 21st century Lake Arrowhead, coordinated by current president Polly Sauer.

Polly Sauer and Gloria Loring in front of a historic Lake Arrowhead photo at the Saddleback Inn.

It was just five years after Lake Arrowhead received its name that twenty leading women, including Mary Putnam Henck, had that luncheon and formed a woman’s club, getting it chartered as a member of the Federation of Woman’s Clubs. Its mission was, “To promote literary work and social unity among its members and to develop interest in the civic, social and economic conditions of the community.”

During this celebration luncheon, a PowerPoint presentation highlighted the century of achievements, hosted by Gloria Loring. Over the years, the club’s activities have led to the many firsts in the area that have made the community better. Their constant focus on and support of education has affected the future through investment in the youth of the community through hundreds of college scholarships.

In July 1929, the club decided Lake Arrowhead needed a library. Mary P. Henck chaired the committee, getting the Arrowhead Lake Company to provide a room and a librarian for $20 a month, with the Chamber of Commerce paying half the salary. The club paid the electrical and heating bills, furnished it and purchased books. It opened in September 1929.  Then the club raised the funds to build a library on land leased by the Arrowhead Lake Company, which was dedicated on November 5, 1930.  The Club paid one third of the insurance, the building maintenance and repairs costs and funded the purchase of hundreds of books with the assistance of the Lake Arrowhead Chamber and Arrowhead Lake Company.

Because of the huge 1922 fire, the Woman’s Club decided to help restore the beauty of the forest. In 1926, Marble Dexter and other members cleared the debris and began planting between 50 and 300 trees each year on the government-owned land. In 1928, Mary Putnam Henck organized the first planting of new trees at Heaps Peak, with students assisting in the project. In 1931, the site was officially named the Heaps Peak Reforestation Project. These actions led to the eventual creation of the current Heaps Peak Arboretum.

In 1936, Sara Switzer got a 25-year lease to develop a 75-acre park. The Tree Shrine Park is near Arrowhead Villas, where the movie Heidi was filmed. A historic plaque honoring Sara Switzer was installed in 1945. The park features restrooms, a well, hiking trails and native flowers and trees. After another huge fire in 1951, the Women’s Club helped the Forest Service plant over another 20,000 trees.

Also in 1936, the Club obtained state permission to install a bronze plaque honoring Chief Engineer, E.Q. Sullivan, on the Red Rock Scenic Turnout.

At Indian Rock Camp, where Serrano women over thousands of years used the holes they created in the stones to grind acorns into meal, the Women’s Club placed a plaque honoring those women.

Women’s Club’s members at the Saddleback Inn for the centennial party.

The club has continued to benefit the community through their philanthropic projects and positive influences. They are still reviewing their 100 years of club meeting minutes to see all the many places and ways they have had direct community impact. They continue to assist the community and, over the past 25 years, the club can document donating another $76,000 in donations, plus their tens-of-thousands of hours of service.

Twenty years ago, the club began volunteering at the Mountain Thrift Shop in Blue Jay, under the direction of Blythe Crawford, then Lorna Polley and currently Laura Donohoo. They have raised an impressive total of $211,286.26 which funds their many scholarships and other donations to other local non-profits that the club currently generously supports.

The Women’s Club went independent in 2019 and continues to be relevant in the mountain communities. In 2022, the Club accepted the responsibility of organizing the Blue Jay Parade in December in perpetuity to keep the parade as a favorite mountain event. Through their actions they represent the statement put forth by Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

The Centennial Luncheon and afternoon celebration was highlighted by the presentation from San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, with a county resolution honoring the “Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead’s 100th anniversary” as a tribute to it as one of the longest running, active volunteer groups in the entire county of San Bernardino.

The current membership numbers over 100, and photos were taken of many of the members for their roster while at the Saddleback. The Current Board of Directors were introduced: Cindy Burnett (Auditor), Kristin Countryman (1^st VP, Membership), Linda Miller, (3^rd VP, Ways & Means), Sarah Muecke (Treasurer), Kiki Oleson (Assistant to the President), Nicole Rafferty (Director of Communication & Parliamentarian) and Polly Sauer (President & 2^nd VP Programs & Venues).

The club meets once a month at various locations throughout the community. For more information and to contact them, see their Facebook page Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead or write them at info@wclakearrowhead.com.