Anna May (Deegan) McCombs

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Federation of Women’s Clubs are celebrating the 100th anniversary of its clubhouse on Ridge Street at the end of this month. The group was organized in August 1925, consisting of approximately 450 women representing twelve clubs. One of the organization’s first challenges was raising $9,000 to purchase the clubhouse. The fundraising efforts were overseen by the federation’s first president, Anna May (Deegan) McCombs.

Anna was born in Cleveland, Ohio in June 1867, the oldest of four children born to Michael and Catherine (Tobin) Deegan. After her father’s early death, Anna was sent to Marquette to live with her aunt and uncle, Mary Jane and George Freeman. She lived with them until she graduated from Marquette High School in 1885. There were three graduates that year and she delivered the Class Essay, or valedictorian’s address.

Following graduation, Anna won a scholarship to the Ypsilanti State Normal School, now Eastern Michigan University. While studying there, she developed a lifelong interest in history and government. She was one term short of graduation from the two-year course leading to a Life Certificate in teaching when her uncle fell ill, necessitating her return to Marquette. For the next few years, she taught at Little Lake, then largely a French community. Since her uncle owned a livery stable, he arranged for Anna to have a team of horses at her disposal to travel to Marquette and back on the weekends.

George McCombs was Chief Clerk at the Duluth, South Shore, and Atlantic Railway. He and Anna corresponded while she was still in Ypsilanti, and the couple married in 1891. They lived in a house on Front Street, immediately north of the Harlow Block, roughly the location of the Superior Health Foundation and Q107-WMQT building. Anna and George welcomed four children: Margaret, Ellabeth, George Jr. and Jean.

Anna McCombs was 58 when she assumed leadership in establishing the Clubhouse that now stands on the northwest corner of West Ridge and North Front streets. She also had a long association with the Women’s Welfare League, later known as the Marquette Women’s Club, and was considered an expert on parliamentary procedure.

In August 1925, the newly organized Marquette Federation of Women’s Clubs elected Mrs. McCombs its first president. Shortly afterwards, the group began raising $9,000 to purchase what is now the Clubhouse for a meeting place for the twelve constituent clubs. Mr. George Shiras III had recently purchased the property to prevent its use as a gas station and agreed to lease it to the Federation with an option to buy it within one year. They also needed to raise funds for renovation, repair and remodeling to accommodate meetings and events.

Those members who could afford to do so made individual pledges. The clubs making up the Federation ran bazaars, card & tea parties, plays, and a host of projects to make money. Significant effort went into obtaining needed furnishing and people in the community generously responded with their donations. Mrs. McCombs was involved in various stages of planning, and she personally insisted on new wiring and new plumbing.

By June 1926, the clubhouse was ready for use. Mr. Shiras was very impressed with what the women had accomplished in a relatively short time, and in July of that year, he deeded the property to the Federation. He remained a godfather to the organization, and in June 1928 donated $5,000 for additional repairs and an expansion of the building. The fact that Mrs. McCombs was reelected President of the Federation every year until 1936 indicates not only her ability but also the esteem others held for her.

Anna McCombs died in 1946, three weeks after breaking her hip. Her legacy remains in the clubhouse that still stands on the corner of Ridge and Front. While rooted in a legacy of women’s clubs, today the clubhouse is open to all, welcoming clubs, organizations and community groups of any kind that seek a place to connect, collaborate and celebrate.

The Committee for the 100th Anniversary of the Federated Women’s Clubhouse is hosting a two-day centennial celebration. Beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, July 31, classic silent movies will be accompanied by Marquette’s Robert Buchkoe on piano. The celebration continues with two events on Saturday, Aug. 1. At 1 there will be a tea party with local history presentations by Jack Deo and Ann Hilton Fisher. Then at 6:30 p.m., the evening event includes wine and hors d’oeuvres and features a silent auction with treasures from the Clubhouse basement and prints of George Shiras photographs. Tickets are available online at https://womensfederatedclubhouse.org/centennial/