Laura Hart-Special to the Sun

You probably already know this; it's all over town; like on the back of a winged messenger the news flew through the valley that the familiar clubhouse on Fay Ranch Road is closed until further notice.

A handwritten sign taped to the South Fork Woman's Clubhouse front door, penned in red ink by one of the members gives the bad news; the facility is not to be used.

The ladies of the South Fork Woman’s Club rely heavily on their club house for so many of their activities.

The same story when you call the clubhouse, the answering machine message a little more personal with the voice both worried and sad, said “The clubhouse will be closed down indefinitely.”

At this time, the officers of the club decided on their own, with no pressure from any outside agency, to discontinue use of the structure until an engineering assessment can be made. “It's better to be safe,” said club President, Loni Hancock.

In the course of making plans to have the shingles replaced on the building, a potential problem was discovered that caused the leaders of the club to make the tough decision to shut down operations at the location.

According to Club Historian, Toni Moore, who has been witness to the good works of the South Fork Woman's Club for 30 years, said this clubhouse, built in 1952; “has been in continuous use until now.”

But this structure was the second building for the club, which was started in 1914, nearly 100 years ago, making the organization an institution in this valley.

“They built their first clubhouse in 1917 and that was across the highway from where we are now. You can still see part of the slab and the handrail over there.”

Moore, who has been President of the club five times through the years, said that the original building burned down around 1949 and was replaced with the current clubhouse a few years later. The women at the time had taken out a loan to replace their building; then had a note burning ceremony in 1968; officially claiming their meeting place as their own.

The organization has focused on supporting causes such as education and conservation over the years, Moore said. And that was one of the main reasons she joined the club was that it was doing something “worthwhile.”

“Almost anything that needs help; they've been there through the years to lend their support; and their financial support when they could. After we started Bingo we had more funds to do that,” she said.

With club members anxiously awaiting the engineering appointment, not scheduled until the end of the month; officers of the club have been scrambling to find locations for their main fundraiser, the Bingo game. Financial Secretary, Nina Wiseman, said she is still looking for a venue but nothing has happened yet.

“I'm trying very hard to come up with a place for Bingo because it's our lifeblood.”

Because the Bingo game revenue provides monthly donations to such causes as God's Storehouse, Senior Nutrition, Meals on Wheels, the Boys and Girls Club; and the Kern County Women and Girls Fund, leaders are worried they may have to send out letters to these organizations letting them know they are currently in limbo.

But special efforts have been made to continue as normally as possible. Member Donna Douglas, has secured a place for the general meeting at her church tomorrow, March 15, at Mountain View Southern Baptist Church, located at 2959 Erskine Creek Rd. in Lake Isabella. The meeting will go as usual with a lunch and an auction called “Pig in a Poke.” The South Fork Women's Club Student art show will also continue as students from kindergarten through high school can join the competition by turning in their entries for judging from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday, March 19, at the Boys and Girls Club; 2931 Erskine Creek Rd.

Also scheduled for this month will be a foot clinic by Dr. Holly Spohn on March 21, from 1 to 3 p.m., in the cafeteria at the South Fork Elementary School.

The current situation with the clubhouse has not deterred members from carrying out different projects and programs.

And though the ground is shaky, as the club is shut out from its house for the first time in recent history; members remain positive and are actively pursuing solutions that can put the roof back over their heads in the very near future.

For more information on the club and its current schedule of activities, call Loni Hancock at 378-3697.