Long Live the Cutler Ridge Woman's Club

Founded in 1956, the Cutler Ridge Woman’s Club is one of the oldest organizations in continuous operation in Cutler Bay. In February of 2020—prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—the Town’s Public Information Officer, Desiree Ducasa, sat with one of the founding members, Mary Cross, along with several other long-term club members to discuss the club’s achievements, the Town’s history, and how they’ve managed to continue their meetings for over six decades.

Desiree Ducasa: Can you tell me how this club began and who started it?

Mary Cross: Cutler Ridge was a brand-new community when we moved here in 1955. There were no churches, there were no stores. We had to go down to South Miami to get groceries. There was a public telephone at the end of the block, which is the only thing we had. We got our mail at the sales office. The woman’s club was started as a good way to get to know people.

Dolores Dimitriou: Who started building houses in Cutler Ridge, do you remember their names?

Mary: David Blumberg, and there was also a man named Joe Segal who developed large portions of Cutler Ridge. When we moved here, half of Caribbean Boulevard was occupied. Both sides of Dominican Drive and half of Haitian Drive for two blocks were occupied. That was it. The club was actually started by a resident who belonged to the Welcome Wagon and she went door to door recruiting people. It was a wonderful opportunity. We met at night because most of us had small children. Our first meeting was in the Methodist Church, which is now called Cornerstone Church on Marlin Road and Old Cutler Road. I think we had about 50 to 60 people that signed up. At that point, Cutler Ridge was mainly a community of young-marrieds and retired people from the air force base. There wasn’t much to do. What there was, was a humongous number of crabs that used to cross Old Cutler Road.

Dolores: Oh yeah! You know, driving down Old Cutler Road, you were guaranteed a flat tire, so you’d try to avoid it.

Desiree: Yes, that’s true to this day, residents are still very familiar with blue land crabs. How have the activities of the club changed from when it first started to now?

Mary: When we first started it was a wonderful way to meet people and it was more of a social thing. I would say we probably have expanded our interests to philanthropy and we have branched out a little bit beyond Cutler Ridge, to serve the needs of the community.

Desiree: What was the experience when you moved to Cutler Ridge? Was it a bit like moving into the wild since there was very little development?

Mary: Yes, at the time that we moved here, South Miami was developed and then there really wasn’t anything until Homestead.

Carol Medina: I lived on bird road and when we moved to Cutler Ridge, my mother said “Well, why don’t you go all the way to key West, then?” There was no highway, so you were far away from everything.

Desiree: Can you tell me about some of the projects the Club has accomplished since it began?

Mary: We had a doll tea fundraiser in 1963 and we invited the community to come in, particularly moms and little girls with their dolls.  I remember it was 1963 because Kennedy died that day. We had quite a discussion as to whether we should have the affair or not but we finally figured it was impossible to notify everybody. So, with heavy hearts, we had it. But the Doll Tea was a big thing. We’ve also always been active in schools, although the schools didn’t come for three or four years after we moved here.

Dolores: Another project that the Cutler Ridge Woman’s Club did was street lighting for Cutler Ridge. At that time, we had to canvas 10,000 residents—What do we have now, 45,000 residents? I remember walking up and down Franjo Road and Caribbean Boulevard with my daughter, who was two at the time. That was my block to canvas to get people to sign so we could have an election for street lighting. That was around 1970-71.

Carol: One of our current projects is working with the homeless liaison to help homeless high school students—there are over 100 that go to Southridge. We had a towel drive and a food drive for them. We also provide scholarships. This year we will be giving two citizenship award scholarships of $500, in honor of my son, who passed away. We also give a $500 donation to the student council and the students decide how they want to spend that money.

Desiree: I’m going to shift the topic here a little bit. As you know, the Town’s 15 year anniversary is this year. When you all heard about the possibility of the Town incorporating, what was the sentiment among you ladies?
Carol: We wanted to hold on to the name of Cutler Ridge! But it’s been a good thing. I mean, they’ve made such progress. They’ve really improved the area. But initially, no. We were like, our kids were Ridge rats, they still are, they even have a Facebook Page.

Desiree: Yes, it’s a big part of the identity for many who grew up in this area. After residents voted on the name for the newly incorporated Town and you learned that it was Cutler Bay, how did you feel?

Sue Hitchcock: It’s always going to be Cutler Ridge.

Dolores: That’s why we never changed the name of the club. But, like we said, incorporating has been a positive thing.

Desiree: So, 15 years later, what are some of the most positive changes you’ve seen as a result of incorporation?

Carol: I would say appearance.

Dolores: I think the drainage system has helped immensely because we all went under water with Hurricane Andrew and some of the other Hurricanes after that.

Sue: That’s definitely been a plus. And our taxes haven’t gone up much. I mean, I think that was part of the worry of incorporating.

Dolores: Well, I think we all complained when they redid Old Cutler Road and Caribbean Boulevard, we just cried and said we can’t get through! But it’s beautiful now. I appreciate that they put all these trees and have gotten Tree City USA awards so many years in a row.

Sue: I think a lot of us have taken advantage and enjoyed the programs the Town has for seniors every month, trips to the ballpark, visits to the zoo… they just fill up a little too quickly!

Desiree: That’s true, our Active Adults events are a hit with the 55+ community. It’s definitely a highlight of the Town. Cutler Bay has received much recognition for being an age-friendly community and for the action plan approved by AARP and the World Health Organization that our Communities for a Lifetime Committee developed. Well, good job to you all for being an active club for over 60 years! What is the secret to keeping the Club going this long?

Sue: These two [points to Mary and Dolores]. They won’t let us fall apart [laughs].

Mary: Well, I think it says something about the community spirit that we have. We all know each other. We know each other’s families, we care about one another—And I think it’s very evident in the work that we do.

Desiree: That must be very rewarding to maintain your relationships for so long. Going through all the ups and downs that life hands you and still remain strong—that is a story everyone loves to hear. Congratulations on the success and longevity of the club.

The Cutler Ridge Woman’s Club continues to meet virtually throughout the pandemic the 4th Tuesday of the month at 1:15 p.m. If you are interested in joining, contact the Club’s president, Jean Tong-Noon, at gfwc.crwc1956@gmail.com.