Photo by N. Bower

By Mary Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville

May 11, 2026: On the corner of Midland and Tanglewylde Avenues lies a neighborhood gem that has sparked renewed interest, especially among fairly new arrivals to the Village.

The building, so named the Anna L. Bisland 1928 House and designed by Penrose Stout, is on the National Historic Register and when one enters, a Juliet balcony trains your eyes down to an exquisite ballroom, full-size stage and a beautiful outdoor patio.

Anna L. Bisland 1928 House 

Given its architectural importance and iconic presence in the community for over 100 years I thought I would share its provenance as the story is truly inspiring one of the grit and grace of an early formidable female resident.

She was Anna Lawrence Bisland, daughter of William Van Duzer Lawrence, the Village’s founder and Sarah Lawrence for whom the college was named.

The Lawrence’s arrived in Bronxville via Montreal and Fifth Avenue after Anna’s father purchased 86 acres in 1890 developing Lawrence Park.

After Anna’s father founded our hospital, she became one of its directors and was active there for 40 years developing an auxiliary during World War I and becoming head of the American Red Cross for Bronxville, Tuckahoe and Crestwood - a job she held for 18 years. She was also President of the Hotel Gramatan and was on the boards of countless business enterprises.

A progressive woman for ahead of her time, Anna married Presley Eugene Bisland, who was the head of the Abbott Coin Counter Company, and lived in a cottage right across from the current Women’s Club that her father had gifted them for their wedding.

Her life of financial ease was not without personal tragedy however as her 17-month-old son died of meningitis, a baby daughter died in infancy and she herself sustained lifelong serious injuries as a result of a carriage accident in the Village.

Fast forward with Anna to the 1920’s when women’s clubs were being formed in every town and village in Westchester after women had fought and won the suffragette fight and were beginning to come into their own.

With renewed confidence, Bisland galvanized her friends to look beyond their household and support education, the arts and philanthropic endeavors as she felt that women had creative and protective instincts that could be utilized outside of their homes for the common good of the community – doesn’t that sound familiar 100 years later?!

In a fascinating aside, local historian Marilynn Hill wrote about Anna’s foster son in article in the Villager Magazine. Anna had a foster son, the child of an employee, who lived with her for a decade in the ‘20’s and ‘30’s after his mother left unexpectedly. Thanks to Anna’s financial help and encouragement, the young man earned an MA and PhD. He took the name of Lawrence Ferlinghetti as an adult and became a world-famous poet of the Beat Generation and ran the famous City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco.

To further her mission, Anna galvanized and 176 women and the Bronxville Women’s Club was born. By 1927 there was such a demand that the membership was increased to 1000 to accommodate all the various cultural and educational activities. The Board decided to build its own clubhouse on land which Mrs. Bisland generously donated. Funds for the new clubhouse were obtained by a contribution of $50 from each of the 1000 members and by the Club’s 25th Anniversary, the mortgage of $55,000 have been paid off.

The mission of the club is to serve as a source and center of enrichment, to contribute to the community through philanthropic and cultural projects and to preserve and maintain the historic building. Long before adult education came to be common place, Mrs. Bisland’s mission to create a center to share one’s talents with neighbors in a non-denominational and non-political setting was realized.

From the archives, a sampling of activities offered:

-Ballroom dancing

-A series of six lectures at the Frick Museum

-Exercise classes which cost $10 for one dozen lessons

-Poetry appreciation

-French language and Braille instruction

-Classes in effective speaking and even how to organize a buffet dinner!

Every mindful of their philanthropic mission, members also volunteered at medical clinics, blood banks and the Red Cross.

After the club was built, Anna gave $5000 to furnish the loggia, lounge and the tea room. After giving a tea for the 1000 members in November 1928, she took off for Europe for several months after submitting her resignation as President! An independent spirit indeed.

Anna died in January of 1950. She was the first woman in Village history to have the flag flown at half-staff as a tribute to such a beloved resident. The Women’s Club, 100- and one-years young has certainly fulfilled her vision as a model for the whole community. The Villager Magazine, which was published from 1928 until 2003 has recorded the Village’s history and is a rich source of articles in art, history, music, architecture, essays, poems and pieces on nearly any topic you can name as they form a rich source of our history and are available at our library.

I haven’t even scratched the surface of this century of history at the Women’s Club so to be continued!