The Ebell Society of the
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Furnishing the Clubhouse The dream of 30 years of the Ebell Society came to fruition in 1924. The club bustled with activity preparing for the completion of the clubhouse. Many committees were established to concentrate on certain areas of the building—Kitchen, Curtain, Grounds, Chair, and Building. There was much work to be done to make the new building a warm home for the members. As with any building, be it residential or commercial, furnishing, repairing, and remodeling is an on-going project—usually for the life of the building. Ebell’s Clubhouse is no exception. The building was accepted on May 21, 1924. Soon, members of Ebell were busy settling into their new home, and the patio was planned and completed. On November 24, Ebell celebrated its thirtieth birthday with a big party. The first president, Mrs. S.W. Bartlett, came down from her home in Los Angeles, and after giving a short talk, cut the first slice of the huge birthday cake, with its 30 candles. Among the many gifts donated to the clubhouse by sections were several trees, among them a sycamore in the southwest corner of the lot and two live oak trees in the northeast and northwest corners of the parking lot. Southern California Edison Co. offered to install their largest electric refrigerator in the large kitchen—if 15 refrigerators were sold through the efforts of Ebell. When the 15 were been sold, Edison installed the new refrigerator. Work continued on furnishing the new clubhouse, and many donations were received, as well as necessary items purchased by sections, such as a water heater in the small kitchen. In the summer of 1930, two new entrances were installed into the Patio through French doors; one from the French Street side and one from the Foyer. The Second Household Section made new draperies for the Foyer and new hangings for the lounge. In 1936, the Child Study Section had a drinking fountain installed in the Patio. In 1942, a new piano was purchased to replace the rented one in the Peacock Room. After this country’s entry into WW II, the clubhouse hummed with war service activities. The Peacock Room was used for the Mobile Blood Bank, Gray Ladies activities, and for Officers’ dances. Beginning in 1947, accumulated war-deferred repairs faced the House Committee. They had a busy summer replacing 20 broken windows, and refinishing and repainting furniture. Forty-eight new card tables were purchased, two ladders, rug pads for the Lounge, and many items used for the teas following the general meetings. If this weren’t enough, the Fire Marshall requested fireproofing of all hanging fabrics, and installing fire extinguishers and metal panic bars on the doors. In the 1948-1949 term, funds were raised for extensive painting indoors and out, and the remodeling of the large kitchen. New dishes in the original pattern brought the service to 500. During the 1949-1951 club years, a large portable projection screen was purchased, as well as a restaurant-type coffee maker for the large kitchen. After much consideration, a heating and ventilating system was installed in the Auditorium and the Peacock Room. The original roof over the Peacock Room was replaced, and inside, a lowered picture molding installed to accommodate the art exhibits. Another hundred folding chairs were purchased. In the years 1951-1953, a crisis came in the form of a leak in the auditorium roof that damaged the ceiling beyond repair. Since the building was erected, new city building codes and been adopted that required an entirely new ceiling with steel lathing. At the same time, the entire auditorium was renovated and cleaned, and additional work was done on the ventilating system. The small balconies on either side of the state were removed. A young peoples’ dance group, the Starlighters, gave Senior Ebell a lapel microphone. The Lounge was completely renovated, furniture reupholstered and curtains and draperies replaced. Since the mantel over the fireplace seemed to serve no useful purpose, except to collect clutter, it was removed. Fiberglass curtains were put in the Lounge and the Dinette. An electric dishwasher and garbage disposal were authorized for the large kitchen. The damaged ceiling on the west side of the patio was replaced, and the ladies powder room was redone. Doors were added at the stairways leading to the balcony. A perimeter heating and ventilating system was installed in the Lounge, Dinette, and office. Fifty more folding chairs were purchased. The next year, the outside of the building received two coats of paint. Stage lighting was planned and basic wiring installed, as well as new stage curtains. Junior Ebell members donated two spotlights for the auditorium, and Girls’ Ebell members one. Wrought iron handrails were installed at the entrances, and the old card tables were re-covered. In the years following, a stainless steel sink and garbage disposal were added to the large kitchen, 260 place settings plus 100 extra cups were added to the club’s Syracuse china. New carpeting was laid in the Foyer. New seating was planned for the Auditorium, and everything was in place for the opening of the 1962-1963 club year. The following year, the ladies powder room was redecorated and a crystal chandelier installed—a gift from Girls’ Ebell. A new pull-down movie screen was installed in the Auditorium, and an acoustic ceiling was installed in the dinette. The next year, the Foyer was redecorated. The following year an acoustic ceiling was put in the Dinette. In the summer of 1967, the Peacock Room was redecorated.
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© The Ebell Society of the Santa Ana Valley, 625 French St, Santa Ana, CA 92701
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