History of our building

Our building located at 222 N. Washington St. has been a vital part of the Falls Church community since it was built as a Congregationalist Church in 1879 – just 14 years after Abraham Lincoln died! 

The Congregationalist Church outgrew the building and then for many years beginning in 1913 the building housed a private library open to white people only. To use the library you had to buy a subscription at $1 for one year; 60 cents for six months; or 35 cents for three months. By 1939 the library was gifted to the Town of Falls Church and became a free public library. The library was operated by the Civic League, a women’s organization later known as the Falls Church Women’s Club. It relocated a few times during its early years but was at 222 N. Washington St. from 1919 until 1948.

At times it was a multi-use building. In the 1920s it served as overflow space for the White School of Falls Church, at other times it was a gymnasium and boxing matches were held in the sanctuary! Local historians recall it served over time as a hardware store and also as the town hall.

The Falls Church Women’s Club bought the building from the city in 1950 and used it for club activities. In 2006 the CSE bought the building and it’s been our home ever since. In 2024 a renovation was completed and the building now features beautiful updated floors and wood shutters among other improvements.