Maplewood Takes Ownership of Woman's Club

The Township of Maplewood and the members of the Maplewood Woman's Club closed on the purchase of the historic property Wednesday morning, transferring ownership of the site to the township.

"It's bittersweet," said an emotional Joane Aponte, the club's president, moments after Mayor Vic DeLuca handed her a check in return for the club's keys. "We've been here for 97 years."

(The purchase price was $1,004,000. The property was originally listed in 2010 for $2.4 million.)

The occasion marked a three-year period of tumultuous twists and turns, beginning when the township attempted to collect property taxes from the club. After a deal involving local philanthropist Tom Kerns fell through, the township announced it would purchase the club. 

The township has said it wants to at least partially restore the building and find a partner to help manage and maintain it.

Aponte lamented the "way it happened three years ago," but said the club members didn't have the resources to maintain the building. "We've got to move on," she said. The club members will continue to meet at the DeHart Community Center.

"I hope the township keeps [the building]," Aponte said. "It's for the town."

The ceremony was attended by club members and township officials and business leaders, including Deputy Mayor Kathy Leventhal, Township Committeeman Jerry Ryan, Township Administrator Joseph Manning, Township Attorney Roger Desiderio, Maplewood Library Director Sarah Lester, Maplewood Village Alliance manager Julie Doran, and executive director of the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce Rene Conlon.

Kerns, who has been acting as the building's de facto caretaker (and some have said paid its PILOT fees, though he has not confirmed that), shared a long, heartfelt hug with Aponte. 

Kerns is currently in negotiations with the township on a deal to allow him to continue acting as the temporary building manager until a permanent partner is chosen by year's end.

DeLuca recalled how Woman's Club realtor Caroline Farnsworth of Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct Realty and Aponte came to his home in February as he was recovering from surgery to finalize the deal. 

"It's been a long time coming," said Farnsworth. "There were a lot of ups and downs, and it ended happily for both sides." She said the members will be able to continue to focus on their charitable work without the burden of caring for the aging building. 

"It's a win-win," she said.

Farnsworth said as part of the deal, the town will construct a miniature Woman's Club house for Dickens' Village and will create a small park area with a sign commemorating the club on the property.

"This is a good day for Maplewood," said DeLuca, "to be able to secure an acre of land in downtown to use for community events and for parking." He said the township committee will vote on uses for the parking lot at its June 5th meeting.

At the ceremony's end, roughly a dozen club members filed out of the building for the last time. Aponte, sobbing quietly, was the last one out the door.