The first dinner meeting of the Women’s Civic League was held May 24, 1932 at 6 pm. At this time Zona Gale presented the keys to the home on the banks of the Wisconsin River that she had built for her parents after the publication of her first novel in 1906 for club use. The Women’s Civic League now had a home and the first “Garden Tea” was held in the evening of August 26, 1932.
Initially the house, located at 506 West Edgewater Street in Portage, was furnished by donations and its maintenance depended solely upon dues and fundraising projects. Later the house was deeded in trust by Zona Gale’s husband, William Breese, to the Women’s Civic League for use as a club house and a meeting place as long as the Civic League remained a club and met certain stipulations for maintenance and insurance.
In 1980 the home became listed on the National Register of Historic Places (reference #80000113). The Civic League incorporated in 1984 and received the deed to the house from the trust. Today the Civic League is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization.
If you would like to contribute to the upkeep of the house, please send us a message using our contact form.
