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P h o t o g r a P h i c m o m e n t s 1 6 9 The Town and County Club The Town and County Club is here for today's women and the Hartford community. I n 1925 a group of 400 progressive and determined women committed their resources to form Hartford's first pri- vate women's city club. They purchased the grand 1895 Theodore Lyman house at 22 Woodland Street and created an orga- nized center for social, intellectual and artistic gatherings. In the 87 years since then, mem- bers of the Town and County Club have made significant contributions to the Greater Hartford community and beyond through their personal and professional connections. Their common interests are reinforced by the warm and welcoming atmo- sphere of their club house, where friendship, gourmet food and stimu- lating programs abound in a gra- cious setting. If you ask members why they value the Town and County Club, you will hear many reasons. It is a place we forge and rekindle friendships; a home away from home; we have access to reciprocal clubs in the U.S. and abroad; and there is a full calendar of interesting programs and activities. In 2010-2011, for example, dinner speakers included Dr. Robert Ballard, the renowned explorer of deep oceans; Prof. Donald Fisher, an authority on earthquakes and tsunamis; and Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Hartford's superintendent of public schools. Members and guests listened to jazz and chamber music and hosted new Hartford Symphony Orchestra conductor Carolyn Kuan. We discussed books and current events, formed a writing- for-pleasure group and played bridge. Our committees arranged monthly art exhibits and planned day trips. Gracious hospitality and fine dining are hallmarks of the club. The Lyman House — with its rich 19th-century architectural details and the updated elegance of its fur- nishings — provides an upscale venue as a dining desti- nation for members, their families, friends and col- leagues. The ballroom — which has a superb floor for dancing — was added to the original house in 1930 and offers space for weddings, private social gatherings and business and charitable meetings and events. From the beginning, members have reached out to the community. In 1999 the club established a donor-advised fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and began awarding scholarships to adult women enrolled at Hartford-area colleges. Since then, dozens of scholar- ships have been awarded, creating a legacy of giving and an example of women helping women achieve their dreams. In 2007, nonprofit 501(c)(3) status was granted to the Lyman Heritage Preservation Foundation. Tax-deductible gifts ensure preservation and enhancement of the his- toric house and grounds. Today the Town and County's vital and diverse mem- bership of more than 400 women and men perpetuates the mission of its founders to "create and maintain an environment for its members which fosters cultural, intel- lectual and social development." Thanks to the vision of its members, the house and club thrive today. Visit www.towncounty.com and see for yourself. Above: The Lyman House at the Town & County Club. Below: The Library at the Town & County Club. Gay ayers Gay ayers