The ladies of the Fortnightly Club meet at the house of Mrs. William McLaughlin (seated in front) in 1915

Fortnightly Club The Ladies Fortnightly Club has given the Peninsula 93 years of service, a record no other service club in the area can match. In 1907, when the club was organized, the original purpose was to serve woman's social and educational needs. This soon expanded to include patriotic and philanthropic matters. The charter members of the club were Mrs. Franklin Secor, Lucy Goodman, Mrs. Axel Uddenberg, Mrs. Ed Patrick, Mrs. Ernest Magoon, Dora McKee, Elise Jacobson, Amanda Carlson, and Mrs. Brittan.

Through club activities in the early years, women could socialize, learn improved methods of family care, study political issues, or determine how best to address the needs of the community. The club sponsored many innovative parties, activities, and excursions. In 1908 the club opened a library which provided books and reading material to the community for 27 years. In 1962 when they sold their clubhouse, they gave $3,000 of the proceeds to the new edition of the library just being built in Gig Harbor. In 1909, the Fortnightly Club joined the State Federation of Women's Clubs, giving them a voice in state and national political issues. Through their present affiliation with the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the club is in touch with such issues as women's equality and health, community improvement, literacy, and the arts. A woman's life has changed radically but the aims of the Fortnightly Club remain the same. Libraries and education are still high on the club's priority list. They give college scholarships. They also supply gifts and food for needy families at Christmas. The Club provides ongoing support to the local FISH food bank. Although members no longer have to take a horse and buggy or walk to meetings - they can communicate by e-mail - the Fortnightly Club is still there to serve the community just as its founders did 93 years ago. WAC and WAVES

Helen K. Murray Alvestad WAC, 1944-1946	During World War II, several Gig Harbor women served in the armed forces. They served in WAC (Women's Army Corps) and in WAVES ( Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), the women's auxiliary to the Navy. Unlike the WACs, WAVES did not go overseas. Helen Murray enlisted in the WAC (Women's Army Corps) in 1944. Following basic training she requested overseas duty. After receiving overseas training, she was assigned as a stenographer in the HQ in the China-Burma-India theater of operations. This unit dealt with troop movements over the Burma Road and flights "over the hump." Helen was stationed in Calcutta, India, for the duration of the war. She was discharged in 1946. Helen and her husband Paul Alvestad live in Crescent Valley.
Upon completion of her officer's candidate training at the Naval Reserve Midshipman School in Northampton, Massachusetts, Jeanette Uddenberg was commissioned an ensign. She was later transferred to the U.S. Naval Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, where she completed her tour of duty as a lieutenant in the Supply Corps. She was discharged in 1946. Jeanette, now Mrs. VanderWoude, lives in Texas.	Jeanette H. Uddenberg VanderWoude WAVES, 1944-1946
Lola E. Uddenberg Kooley WAVES, 1944-1946	Lola Uddenberg received her basic training at the U.S. Naval Training School for Women. Located at Hunter College, New York, the facility was known as "The U.S.S. Hunter." She graduated from the Hospital Corps School at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. She completed her tour of duty there as a Ph.M. in 1946. Lola and her husband Kenneth Kooley live in Gig Harbor.

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