the the ersity Club of Boston Club History Page 1 of 8 THE UNIVERSIT LUB OF BOSTON the Club Reciprocal Clubs Club History The University Club of Boston History The Beginning The Whittier House was the first home of the University Club, from June 1: until November 23, 1926. Formerly a famous hotel at 270 Beacon Street i on the riverside of Beacon Street between Dartmouth and Exeter Streets, building was noted for its elegance. The main lobby with the men's dining the first floor, club library, art department, card and billiard rooms, and slee quarters (four bedrooms at this time) made it adaptable to club purposes. particularly inviting spot was the roof deck overlooking the river, often use viewing, gatherings, and concerts. The Whittier House remained the hom University Club for its first 34 years, when it was sold to the May School fo $110,000. The Club was formally opened on the evening of October 28, 1892 with a for the members and guests. The President, William C. Endicott, along wi Justice Field, Judge Lowell, and Messrs. Olney, Hemenway, and Higginsc received. The guests consisted of the presidents of various New England the federal judges, the state supreme and superior courts, federal and stat officers, the editors of the Boston newspapers, leading citizens of Boston, gentlemen guests invited by each member. The Harvard Glee Club sang elaborate collation was served with about one thousand persons attending Boston was to be a "Club Town". Many other clubs had already establishe themselves in elegant and spacious homes: the Somerset (1852), the Uni (1863), the Algonquin (new building 1885), Union Boat (1851), St. Botolph Elysium, the Puritan, the Press, and the Tavern, to mention but a few. Shortly after its gala opening, the depression of 1893 caused many memb resign and many potential members to delay joining. Nationwide, six hunc banks had closed their doors and one hundred fifty-five railroads, including Erie, Northern Pacific, and Union Pacific, went bankrupt. By November, tv percent of the country's railroad mileage was in receivership and the last months of 1893 were called a "Panic." Even though this had an affect on 1 the incorporators were glad they had taken action to purchase a home for University Club. http://www.uclub.org/club/scripts/view/view_insert.asp?grp=1&pg=Public&IID=18581&N... 7/8/2006 -versity Club of Boston Club History Page 2 of 8 As one reads through the period of 1900 to 1910, one is aware of the desi membership to expand the size of the building for the convenience of addi members. A ladies' dining room was needed and the membership always a larger and more complete library. In the fall of 1913, the Club House was closed for three months to create a dining room and kitchen as well as other minor renovations. During this th month period, the membership was granted the privileges of the Algonquir St. Botolph, Union, Engineers, Puritan, Boston Art, and others. What a gr feeling of camaraderie there must have been among the city's clubs in tho In 1914 the membership made a decision to remain at 270 Beacon Street. However, by the 1920's there was an obvious and growing need for a larg House. Surveys indicated that there were over thirty thousand college me Boston area. The architectural firm of Monks and Johnson was engaged prepare plans and sketches, which were presented to the college men of the Intercollegiate Smoker in December 1922. The proposed site was to k corner of Arlington Street and Commonwealth Avenue, later abandoned in the site at the corner of Trinity Place and Stuart Street. The decision to erect a new and larger Club House required the creation C New University Club of Boston Real Estate Trust on April 15, 1924. The S purpose of the Trust would be the "Purchase, improvement, development, and management of real estate and buildings situated at the corner of Stu Trinity Place, Boston, primarily for providing a suitable club house for a Un Club, and may convey Trust Property to the University Club." Trustees of were Joseph W. Powell, Chairman, Henry I. Harriman, Donald D. McKay, Jackson, and Granville Johnson. When Granville Johnson resigned, he W replaced by Clifton H. Dwinnell and, upon Mr. Dwinell's death, he was repli Natt W. Emerson. By May of 1924 the land had been purchased at the corner of Trinity Place Stuart Street. The plans submitted by the architectural firm of Monks and had been approved, with the builder to be W.A. and H.A. Root at a cost of $1,200,000.00. By November 1924, sufficient money had been raised, to with necessary financing, to justify the start of construction of an eight-stor House building. The athletic building, because of its simple design, was tc started later but still to be completed at the same time. The athletic buildir designed and constructed so that additional stories could be added if neec future. The Trust acquired the property of the University Club at 270 Beacon Stre- November 23, 1926, sold the property to the May School, which in later ye became the Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. T University Club moved out of 270 Beacon Street on July 24, 1926 and mei used the facilities of the Boston Art Club, located at the corner of Dartmou Newbury Streets, pending the opening of the new Club House at 40 Trinity The opening of 40 Trinity Place was a new beginning, the desires and dre many people now coming true. The members and their guests from all OV http://www.uclub.org/club/scripts/view/view_insert.asp?grp=1&pg=Public&IID=18581&N... 7/8/2006 versity Club of Boston Club History Page 3 of 8 world can never adequately express their thanks and appreciation for the clubhouse made available to them. Open House was on November 14, 19 twenty-four hundred members and guests attending. A musicale was prov Morey Pearl's Orchestra and the Harvard Glee Club. Elegant Surroundings The Club House was designed in the Adams style with an exterior of limes what is usually known as Harvard brick. The entrance to the Club House Trinity Place. A few steps up from the entrance was the lobby, thirty by foi size with a marble floor, Travertine walls, coffered ceilings, heavy club cha sofas, and rugs from England and Spain. The barbershop was on the left, room on the right and around the corner were the elevators, office, telephc rooms, office of the Manager, and ladies' cocktail lounge. To the left of the leading to the second floor was the entrance to the men's locker room and alleys, and behind the stairs was the entrance to the gallery of the swimmi The double stairway to the second floor was of marble with finely hand-wr iron balustrades with bronze handrails. They led to a larger elliptical lobby second floor. The red marble in this room came from Spain, the black fror Belgium, the black and gold from Italy, and the pink from Minnesota, with marble from France, Tennessee, and Colorado. Off this lobby were the lo dining room. The lounge was forty feet wide, eighty feet long, and twenty finished in the Adams style of architecture and fitted with every comfort. T room, with seating capacity of two hundred fifty persons, was thirty-five by feet and twenty feet high. The elevator lobby and the kitchen completed th The third floor contained the library, forty feet by eighty feet, billiard room V tables and five card rooms; also the Grill room and bar. The fourth floor C the ladies' dining room and private dining rooms. The remaining floors cor bedrooms, all with private baths. The Club House also contained an athletic department with complete facili Olympic-size swimming pool, twenty-five feet by seventy-five feet, eleven courts, one badminton court, and a small gymnasium were a welcome cha the facilities the members had enjoyed during the past thirty-four years at : Beacon Street. The Official Club Sport: Badminton Soon it was evident that there were sufficient facilities for the squash and swimming members, but not for the badminton players. So in August 1929 interested in badminton formed the University Club Badminton Association voluntary trust) to pay for the construction of an additional two-story buildir provide new quarters for the health course and five badminton courts. The would have a clear ceiling of twenty-eight feet. It was anticipated that incc court usage and health courses would reimburse the trust. The official badminton opening was held on January 18, 1930, with Canad and women players from Montreal competing with our University Club play http://www.uclub.org/club/scripts/view/view_insert.asp?grp=1&pg=Public&IID=18581&N 7/8/2006