The Neighborhood Club was founded in West Windham in 1881 by Reverend Webster. The club functioned primarily as a ladies aid society, and became inactive by the early 1930s. Union Hall, located in West Windham, was the meeting place of the club, and when electricity was installed in the building in 1921, the Neighborhood Club provided a portion of the needed funds. The club was also primarily responsible for many of the repairs and improvements that were made to Union Hall in the following decades. However, in 1934 there was a resurgence of club activity and the Neighborhood Club once again met regularly and hosted events. In 1963 the club acquired forty-seven shares of stock, becoming the largest shareholder, in Union Hall. By the 1970s the club restricted membership to only one hundred individuals and served as a "socially oriented organization".
Throughout its history the Neighborhood Club hosted many community events, including a "Harvest Supper" in the 1940s. The event also included dancing and whist playing. Although whist has since lost nearly all of its popularity, it was once the nation's leading card game. The game originated in England during the first half of the 16th century but, it was not until the 19th century when whist gained in popularity and became one of the most played card games in the country. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, bridge surpassed whist in popularity, but the latter was still frequently played for decades to come. The game requires four players; two teams of two players. The members of each team must sit across from each other at the card table. Using a standard deck of 52 cards, the dealer deals out all the cards, face down, starting with the player on the dealer's left. The final card, which the dealer deals to himself, is turned face up, and the suit of that card is referred to as the "trump suit". Plays consisting of four cards, known as "tricks", are then played in turn by each player. The rules of the tricks, and the game play, can be found in detail on several websites.
Below is an unused poster advertising the event, which was held in October. The admission price, a reasonable 40 cents, was lowered to 20 cents for children under the age of 12.
Throughout its history the Neighborhood Club hosted many community events, including a "Harvest Supper" in the 1940s. The event also included dancing and whist playing. Although whist has since lost nearly all of its popularity, it was once the nation's leading card game. The game originated in England during the first half of the 16th century but, it was not until the 19th century when whist gained in popularity and became one of the most played card games in the country. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, bridge surpassed whist in popularity, but the latter was still frequently played for decades to come. The game requires four players; two teams of two players. The members of each team must sit across from each other at the card table. Using a standard deck of 52 cards, the dealer deals out all the cards, face down, starting with the player on the dealer's left. The final card, which the dealer deals to himself, is turned face up, and the suit of that card is referred to as the "trump suit". Plays consisting of four cards, known as "tricks", are then played in turn by each player. The rules of the tricks, and the game play, can be found in detail on several websites.
Below is an unused poster advertising the event, which was held in October. The admission price, a reasonable 40 cents, was lowered to 20 cents for children under the age of 12.
Ca. 1920s view of Union Hall