The group was founded in 1913 by 16 women, eight years before they completed the building. The organization continuously raises money for local charities with weekly dances, private rentals, and charity galas.[2] Starting in 2004, the group started a multi-year campaign to restore the building to its original condition.
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They began celebrating their centennial in 2012.[4] In 2017, Hurricane Irma stripped off most of the building roof, which flooded the original dance floor, warping the wood but the group was able to re-open later in the year with donations from the community.[5][2]
Architecture
The 11,388-square-foot building was completed in 1921 during the Florida Land Boom and cost $22,500 to build.
[3][6][5] The Colonial Revival building was designed by architect Fred W. Kermode and includes a mezzanine with an open two-story meeting space.[7][8]
