In 1911 eleven ladies of our town met to form a literary society, which evolved into a civic organization.  In 1915 they joined the Federation of Women’s Clubs, enabling them to follow an enlarged and more structured program. 

During the early years, the monthly programs were presented by members, who read papers on national, state and regional affairs.  (One program was on “Women’s Suffrage” . . . a timely topic of the day.)  There was always music by local artists, followed by a social hour with light refreshments. 

Among our civic activities were:  The founding of a lending library, the hiring of a music teacher for the school, instigating clean up days, and planting flowers to beautify the town.  Our biggest project was the hiring of a surveyor to number the houses in town and to erect street signs at the intersections. 

Later records reveal an upgrading of programs to include speakers and artists from other communities.  The outside world was reaching into our community, even as we were reaching out.  Fund raising became a necessity as the club grew and expanded its efforts.  This group of dedicated women worked hard to ease the passage of our community through two world wars and the “Great Depression”. 

In recent years the club has been involved in the Arts Festival with judging at the local, county, district and state levels.  Each year we donate funds to the firemen, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, and to the Christmas lighting; we sponsor a Holiday Bazaar and participate in the Summer Festival.  The maple trees lining Cemetery Road are a gift of the club.  Later the club gave the Memorial Arch at the cemetery entrance.  For years we have actively supported Memorial Day services at the cemetery by placing a wreath on the Soldier’s Monument during the ceremony.

In 2004, the Pleasantville Women's Club voted to sponsor a GFWC Juniorette Club so that middle school and high school age students would benefit from the multitude of opportunities available through the federation.