In 1914, air conditioning and WiFi were obviously not on the minds of the 41 ladies who held their first meeting in the Point Loma Assembly clubhouse. Having organized in 1911 and then incorporating in 1913, the members were focused on hosting a variety of functions – from church services to dancing classes.
The members held their first assembly meeting in 1914, and then in 1917, during WWI, the clubhouse was used by the Red Cross for sewing and knitting much needed supplies for the war effort, and –returning briefly to one of their usual functions – for dances for servicemen. In 1941, the clubhouse was used in the second World War, when it once again became a Red Cross Distribution Center for Point Loma.
Fast forward to more than five years ago, when a few Point Loma residents were alerted to the condition of the clubhouse, and to its dwindling membership. There was no money for repairs, and the fire department would have shut the building down if it had been aware of all of the deferred maintenance, according to Dorothea Laub, one of the Point Loma residents who received the call. “July 1, 2012, was the beginning,” said Laub, who served on the original board of directors. “We reorganized, wrote new bylaws, and applied for a 501(c)(3).” Since then, an anonymous donor has paid to have the building re-wired, re-plumbed, re-roofed, and brought up to modern-day ADA standards, which meant upgrades to the bathrooms and creating a front ramp. “The building also has a new state-of-the-art sound system, a modern LED stage lighting system, and the highest quality project screen available for a small theater,” said Laub.
Most recently, the clubhouse received a generous grant from the County of San Diego for a new air conditioning unit, which was becoming more of a concern as the clubhouse began to be used for events including weddings, concerts, lectures, and classes. The members appealed to County Supervisor Greg Cox for help – and he delivered.
“The County of San Diego is fortunate to be able to reinvest in communities and this grant will modernize a cherished historic building in Point Loma so that future generations can use and enjoy it,” said Cox.
While the clubhouse is available for parties and weddings, Laub envisions it as “the cultural center of Point Loma.” She is thrilled that the assembly is being used by Point Loma Playhouse, which regularly performs there; San Diego Community College, which uses the clubhouse for writing groups; and La Playa Trail Association, which gathers there for meetings and lectures. On Sundays, ACTS Now uses the clubhouse for fellowship and lectures. The mission of Point Loma Assembly, “To promote literary, social, educational, philanthropic, civic and artistic work and to restore and maintain the building at 3035 Talbot St.,” reflects Laub’s “cultural center” concept.
While “restore and maintain” will always be part of the assembly’s mission (it is, after all, a 103-year-old building), another is to make the community aware of the clubhouse’s existence. “I have neighbors who have lived here for years who don’t know what it is. They think it’s a house,” said Laub in exasperation. She wants everyone to know that the Assembly belongs to the community.
Board president Sandy Perlatti agrees. “With a new board charting its course, Point Loma Assembly will be a community jewel for many years to come.”
Point Loma Assembly, located at 3035 Talbot St., offers hourly or day rates. Facility use includes tables, chairs – and now air conditioning and WiFi. For more information, visit www.pointlomaassembly.org or call 619-786-5595.