Women's Improvement Club of Hueneme
Also known as: Women's Improvement Club
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 on Scott Street in Port Hueneme, this stucco bungalow served as both clubhouse and library for the Women's Improvement Club of Hueneme. Mary Bard, wife of town founder Thomas Bard, donated the land and building, and the deed passed to the club in September 1915. The low-pitched gable roof, exposed rafters, knee brackets and multi-paned windows mark it as one of the few remaining California bungalows in the city that has kept its integrity. A tennis court behind the building is counted as part of the property. The club formed in 1909 to improve a declining town and to start a library. Members cleaned lots and streets, planted sycamores, built benches and a tennis court, and supported Red Cross work in wartime. The library used the building until a city library opened in 1935. The clubhouse is the oldest women's clubhouse in Ventura County and remains in use. It was designated Ventura County Landmark #19 in 1971.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest women's clubhouse in Ventura County and is still used as a clubhouse. It housed the club's library for 20 years and was the base for the club's civic improvement work, which was tied to the Progressive Movement. It is significant locally under Criterion A in the areas of social history and education.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001150, listed August 21, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 239 E. Scott St., Port Hueneme |
|---|---|
| County | Ventura County |
| Listed | August 21, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001150 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1915-1935 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a clubhouse; the interior dividing wall was removed and a fireplace added about 1935. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.14944, -119.19772 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001150.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14684274
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.