Grass Valley in Nevada County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The First Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Photographed by James King, March 5, 2017

1. The First Woman's Christian Temperance Union Marker

Inscription. Commemorating
the first
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
in California
organized in Grass Valley
March 25, 1874

Erected 1926.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1874.

Location. 39° 13.05′ N, 121° 3.817′ W. Marker is in Grass Valley, California, in Nevada County. It is at the intersection of Neal Street and South Church Street, on the right when traveling west on Neal Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 Neal Street, Grass Valley CA 95945, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Madison Lodge No. 23 F. & A.M. (within shouting distance of this marker); Grass Valley Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Emmanuel Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Edward Coleman House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Grass Valley Hardware (about 400 feet away); The Old Post Office (about 600 feet away); Lola Montez 1819 - 1861 (about 600 feet away); The Holbrooke Hotel (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grass Valley.

Also see . . . Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.

In the early nineteenth century, women began to participate increasingly in social reform movements. Assumptions about women’s moral authority and their responsibility for the family’s spiritual upbringing increased society’s comfort with women’s organizing and taking action in the public sphere. The WCTU was a religious organization whose primary purpose was to combat the influence of alcohol on families and society. It was influential in the temperance movement, and supported the 18th Amendment.

The First Woman's Christian Temperance Union Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James King, March 5, 2017

2. The First Woman's Christian Temperance Union Monument

(Submitted on June 25, 2021, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

Auxiliary Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James King, March 5, 2017

3. Auxiliary Marker

Originally placed near the corner of Neal and South Church Streets near the site of the Old Congregation Church and the Women's Improvement Club building.
Rededicated March 2014
Native Daughters of the Golden West, Manzanita Parlor No. 29

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2021, by James King of San Miguel, California. This page has been viewed 396 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 25, 2021, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.