Origin of the Anchorage Woman’s Club In 1915 President Woodrow Wilson charged Maj. Fredrick Mears with the responsibility of choosing a site for the construction headquarters of the new Alaska Railroad. Over 2,000 men came to help build the railroad, most of them with their families. 

Mrs. Jane Mears noticed all the children of school age and spoke with her husband about the need for a school. He said it would be up to the women, so on September 16, 1915, she organized the Anchorage Woman’s Club and became the first president. The goal of establishing a school was met in November 1915, when the first class was held in the Pioneer School House. 

Books were also needed, so requests for books were sent “back home”. The response was so tremendous, the extra books became the foundation for Anchorage’s first library. 

The Pioneer School House survived the 1964 earthquake, but was marked for demolition by the City of Anchorage. The Anchorage Woman’s Club stepped in and paid to have the building moved to its current location at Third Ave and Eagle St. 

The management of the schoolhouse is the responsibility of the Anchorage Woman’s Club, which leases the building from the Municipality. Since the Anchorage Woman’s Club was formed, it has contributed to the social gatherings and community service projects that enrich our community.