History 1931-2007

 Until 1931, we were called the Delphian Club. The Delphians were responsible for the beginning of Charles Pinkney Jones Memorial Library and other local improvements that included sanitation and clean drinking water. In 1931, the name was officially changed to the Covington Woman's Club and in 1932 the club became a member of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs, or GWFC. In the early years, the club had 100 members and a waiting of those wishing to belong. According to newspaper write-ups, there was great emphasis on cultural and fun programs. There were lots of skits, playlets, and poems written by members. Many of these were original handwritten works are part of the club's several archival scrapbooks. Music was always a large part of the programs. Vocal music in one such program was "Two Girls From Verona" and "Where is Sylvia?" by Franz Shubert and Shakespearean choruses "Sing, Heigh- Ho" from "As You Like It"  and "When I Was A Little Boy" from "Twelfth Night." The club was involved in the first community effort to provide a Christmas for the indigent population. A president of the club and an original Delphian Club Charter Member, Mrs. J. J. Robbins, became the first "Christmas Mother" in a program sponsored by local businesses, which continues each year in Covington. On December 23, 1932, the club's Sociology Department, provided Christmas treats to 273 children between the ages of three and twelve. The local theater owned donated both space and free movies. The club met in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Hall, and in the upstairs of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company building. Club members recall carrying cups and plates up the steps at Coca-Cola site so that they could have refreshments. Someone carried the home for washing. During World War II, the club had a greater emphasis on public service. Members volunteered by rolling bandages for the Red Cross, planting Victory Gardens, and had programs on defense, on how to make shoes last longer, and use of clothing that was adaptable for all occasions. In December 1932, the club participated with Virginia Federations of Women's Clubs when they an ambulance to the American Red Cross. The club used money from their "Building Fund" to purchase a $1, 000 war bond. The club  was presented a certificate from Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., recognizing the 90 percent of their members were participating in a U. S. War Bonds systematic purchase plan. One Covington young woman, Miss Phyllis Pedigo, a charter member of the Covington Junior Woman's Club, resigned from her teaching position in Covington and entered the Red Cross field. During 1944-1945, the Virginia Federations of Women's Junior Clubs participated in a program spearheaded by Miss Pedigo to provide 16 wedding  gowns for Australian war brides. She was lauded for her efforts in an article in July 1943 Harper's Bazaar. "It is impossible to believe that one American girl could change the morale of an army group but that what this American Red Cross girl did." A Boeing Flying Fortress airplane was made possible through the sale of War Bonds by Virginia Club Women and was inscribed ""Spirit of Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs G.W.F.C.. In 1945, there was a ban against travel by the War Manpower Commission and the Office of Defense Transportation.  The Virginia Federation of Women's Cubs took to the airwaves for their convention-for three days they were given 30 minutes on radio station WRNL in Richmond and the broadcast went out to six stations and 273 delegates. (Excerpted from The Virginia Federations of Women's Clubs 1907-1957)

The clubhouse building known as the the "Evergreen Dairy" was purchasr in 1959 by the Covington Woman's Cluband the Covington Junior Woman's Club. IT is operated by a Corporation Board for the benefit of both clubs. In honor the 75th birthday of the club members held an "Open House" on Sunday, November 5, 2006.. All of the club's treasure of of scrapbooks and press books were made available that day and the week following. Due the rising cost of upkeep, in the spring of 2006, the decision was made to sell the club house and it has been in the hands of a realtor since that time. Although the members will miss the club house and all the memories connected to it, they know that the club is more than a building. The club now averages 50 members, three associate members who are not able to participate in regular meetings, and three living honorary members to are active. Annually, the club continue to sponsor. two fundraisers, a local community student art show, give two scholarships, deliver Meals On Wheels, give to the Slavation Army, participate in the Christmas Mother program, give to the Alleghany Highlands YMCA, give to After Prom parties, 4-H Camps, Special Kids Kount Camp (with Alleghany Highlands Community Services), give to the Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic, Safe Homes, Inc., and sponsor art programs at five different schools. Member Cindy George was the 2006 Christmas Mother. Members are involved in monthly parties at Alleghany Manor adult homes for the mentally ill. This past summer, as requested by the residents, the club provided a picnic meal complete with hot dogs, homemade potato salad, and homemade cakes. Recently the club has been instrumental in making sure that each home in the community has a copy of the "File of Life", which when completed, gives important life saving medical information for first responders, Mead-Westvaco was a corporate partner in this endeavor. Club members heard from a representative of the Alleghany  County Sheriff's Office speak on the E_911 program. As a result of this program, club members were invited to tour the E-911 center at the Alleghany County Jail in January. The club also participates in Project Lifesaver, a project of the Sheriff's Department The project, funded by a community grant, provides a wrist GPS (global positioning system) transmitter for anyone in the community who might be subject to being lost- such as Alzheimer's patients, children and adults with autism, Parkinson's patients, or victims of strokes. The club provides batteries for the units which are replaced monthly by a member of the Sheriff's Department. Since 2006, the club has been planning for participation in the Jamestown 400th Anniversary. On May 5, 2007, the participated in the Jamestown Anniversary by launching three small bottles in Dunlap Creek. The bottles represented Godspeed, Discovery, and Susan Constant boats. Information was contained in the bottles so that their progress could be tracked online, as they made their way to Jamestown. On Saturday, June 21, club members in colonial dress participated "Magic of the Mountains, a weekend celebration at the Jackson River Sport Complex. With the help of a local antique dealer, the set up "shop" in a gazebo. Club brochures about the Jamestown 400th anniversary were handed out to visitors and the club served cider which would have been the choice of drink of the early settlers since the water would have been unsafe.