Walpole’s Jean St. George remembers pieces of her childhood being spent at the Italian American Club. She recalls the times her grandfather and father spent hanging out at the club, and can name plenty of family members, including her son, who had become members. In fact, St. George even had her wedding reception at the Italian American Club.

But she had never been able to join herself. “The club never had women as members. I changed that one,” said St. George, laughing. “I had asked my father years and years ago if I could become a member, and he said he’d bring it up in a meeting, but the men just wouldn’t go for it. Now, it wasn’t a rule that you couldn’t have women, but they just let it go.”