Social activities have always been an important part of the active adult lifestyle of both Sun City and Sun City West.

Today, each of the communities has well over 125 chartered clubs, plus state clubs and service organizations. Where did it all begin?

Jubilee, the history of Sun City’s first 25 years, records that the first residents began moving into Sun City in April, 1960. One report lists the first club to be Needle Arts and Crafts, which formed July 4. Swimmers, however, claim a swimming club was first. A sign erected in 1960 on the south side of Grand Avenue, where the Fry’s parking lot, 10660 W. Grand Ave., sits, reads “Sun City’s Agricultural Center.” The Del Webb Development Corp. officials took care of plowing, furrowing and irrigation — and even planted the first seeds. Residents were invited to help themselves to the vegetables. By year’s end an Agricultural Club had been formed.

Residents became active in many ways right from the start, forming an exercise club, Saturday night dance club, chess and camera clubs. Craft-minded people formed ceramics, art, wood and mosaic clubs. Still others grew up around golf, shuffleboard and cards. One short-lived early club was named the 61 Club, so named because the members danced away the final hours of 1960.

Biking was a popular activity in both communities right from the earliest days. As many as 50 cyclists would set out after breakfast for an hour’s ride through the new streets. Music was another popular early activity as residents enjoyed sharing their talents to entertain others.

Many Sun City West residents had moved from Sun City and wanted to start clubs in the new community. The first three to be chartered were the Sun West Art Club, with almost 400 members; Westerners Square Dance Club, with more than 350 members; and the Toy-Ki Silvercraft West Club, which began with 35 members and grew to more than 500. The unusual name grew from a visit to the Heard Museum where members searched for a term that complemented their craft. A museum expert suggested the Flathead Indian word for silver — toy-ki. Perhaps the fastest growing club was the Hillcrest Dance Club in Sun City West when the club signed up its 1,000th member in less than a year after the club began.

Numerous clubs applied their skills to helping others outside the community, like the early Sewing Club that provided clothing for handicapped and mentally challenged children. Lions clubs, Rotary clubs, Kiwanis clubs, even a Lioness club attracted many who had been members for many years before retiring to the Sun Cities.

Looking back at the meteoric growth of club activity, it seems hard to believe that John Meeker felt too few people were involved in the early days of Sun City and jumpstarted club activity there by offering drawings for prizes — TV sets in some cases. Once that word spread, club activity grew and expanded rapidly.

Space does not allow to share the stories of the PRIDES, Posse and other volunteer organizations that have contributed so much to the quality of life in the Sun Cities. Those will be shared in future installments of Signs of the Past.

Editor’s Note: Ed and Loretta Allen recently moved to Royal Oaks in Sun City. They have been active in the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum for many years.