The Library at the Betsey Mills Club is a cozy little corner where members can enjoy a good book. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

The Betsey Mills Club has contributed to the community since the early days of the Girls’ Monday Club setup by the club’s namesake, Betsey Mills, in 1911.

The Monday Club was the result of a sewing class started in 1898 in Marietta by Mills and other community-minded women. The Betsey Mills Club, as seen today, was dedicated on June 13, 1927, and donated by William Mills to the community of Marietta as a memorial to his wife.

The Betsey Mills Club was initially set up to serve the needs of girls and women of the community, but today offers a multitude of programs and services for every resident of the community.

“We try to have a lot of activities here,” said Executive Director Karry Jean Waddle. “We have ballroom dancing, ballet lessons for all ages, ballroom dancing is more for the adults, and we get more younger kids for ballet. We share ‘The Chosen’ (A series highlighting the kindness and grace of Jesus.) It is a video series that we show, and it’s free to the public. So, we have things that are free, and things we sell.” The Betsey Mills Club also offers health enhancement programs such as Spinning Class, Pool Therapy, Warm Water Arthritis Workout,Yoga and Aqua Zumba. Waddle said the pool is open and heated year-round.

“It’s very important that it is heated, and heated appropriately, and always heated” Waddle said. “Because people use it for arthritis workouts, and they come here after injuries or accidents, and they use it for rehab. So, it’s very important that we keep it warm.”

The pool is also open to one of the many party packages the Betsey Mills Club offers. Members of the community can rent out the pool and gym for birthday parties with large bounce houses that the staff at the Betsey Mills will take care of. Waddle said she had a birthday party in the gym herself.

“And I just showed up. I didn’t do anything,” Waddle said. “The bounce houses were already up, the tables were already set up, and at the end, I just walked out. It was the easiest party I have ever done. So easy.”

There is also a climbing wall that can used, party tents, and a 25-foot inflatable screen with an LED projector to watch movies. And for the first time in 96 years, the gym is air conditioned.

The gym isn’t the only place the Betsey Mills Club has made renovations and updates.

The Parlor has received a $35,000 upgrade with new paint and furniture and the Dining and Colonial Rooms got a $60,000 update with the original hardwood floors coming back, new furniture, and a tech upgrade with a new big-screen TV.

“I wanted to make it more modern for groups to have meetings in here,” Waddle said.

“We’d love to rent this space more for things like that, or a reception or a shower. You can have a graduation party and run pictures on the TV. And it’s all setup to run your computer to it.”

All three areas are available to rent.

The Betsey Mills is also a home for women as they have dorms room for them to rent. Each room has its own amenities and each woman shares a living space and kitchen with the other residents.

“I love that we have residents here. I’ve seen it help people,” Waddle said. “They become friends. It’s just a neat thing to see.”

For more information on the programs the Betsey Mills Club offers and to see all the ways they help the community, visit the website, the Facebook page, or stop in for a membership packet at 300 Fourth St.