2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club acquiring the Loring Greenough House to save it from the wrecking ball.
The JPTC was founded in 1896 by women in Jamaica Plain. Their bylaws stated that “The object of this Club shall be to promote ethical, social and intellectual culture.” At first they met either in people’s homes or at Eliot Hall (aka today’s Footlight Club). But in 1924, the historic Loring-Greenough House was sold to a developer by its last private owner, David Stoddard Greenough V. The JPTC raised funds to purchase the building both to preserve it and to create a clubhouse for the group. They updated their bylaws to read: the object of this Club shall be to advance education, to foster civic and community spirit, general philanthropy, and to preserve for posterity the historic mansion known as the Loring-Greenough House. In 1924 the JPTC raised money with a circular asking if Jamaica Plain residents preferred seeing this wonderful Georgian mansion in the heart of their neighborhood or another row of apartment houses and unnecessary stores? Luckily, the JPTC continues as a strong organization today - they let men join the Club in 1989. They are a wonderful steward of the house and its grounds. And we continue to have this lovely space for future generations.