Placerville Shakespeare Club is more than a social club

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placerville-shakespeare.com

In 1897, when 20 intrepid ladies formed a club to study the works of William Shakespeare, little did they know their legacy would still be thriving 125 years later.

“It has survived two world wars, two pandemics and the great depression,” said club president Ellen Osborn, a 23-year member of the club. “The women who belonged to the club in the early part of the 20th century went through a great change in the role of women and, a lot of the time, the women at the Shakespeare Club were at the forefront of that change.”

Indeed, the Shakespeare Club played a key part in local history such as the establishment of the El Dorado Public Library, the provision of free kindergarten, the saving of Cedar Grove trees along Highway 50 and conducting blood drives for WWII.

Today, the club boasts 160-200 members and almost 20 interest groups that span activities from dance, singing and crafts, not to mention five literary groups one of which just studies the classics. And of course, the players group performs a yearly production of Shakespearian excerpts at their clubhouse, which has its own remarkable history.

Built in 1929, the clubhouse was in danger of demolition in 1950 to make way for a little thoroughfare called Highway 50.

“They put on their hats and gloves and went to Sacramento,” recounted Osborn.

The stalwart women were able to save the clubhouse, which was ultimately divided in three sections and physically moved away from the future highway.

Although the Placerville Shakespeare Club remains a social organization, the members also provide a multitude of services for the community, from the Penny Pines reforestation program, shelterless children donations to scholarships for high school graduating women in El Dorado County pursuing higher education.

“We really have a love and interest in the community,” insisted publicity chair and past president Joan Geel, noting that though most reside in El Dorado County, members come from as far as Sacramento and even Lincoln. In her 27 years of membership, she believes that friendship is a fundamental reason for its longevity. “Even if we’re working on community projects, we’re doing it with our friends. People tend to join for life.”

To learn more about the club go to placerville-shakespeare.com.