The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-12
DAILY PRESS,
PORTLAND.
FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1871.
The Union CIuh

| private ORGANIZATION, was nevertheless pub
lie spirited enterprise for within the hospilable
walls OF its Club-House many distinguished
strangers have been agreeably entertained al
times when their hosts-the City Government
| dad no attractions to offer them by which
otherwise weary hours could be besuiled. We
ma ourselves writing in the past tense how
ever which Is mistake for although the build-
ing. which has been and is still occunied bv
tne Club, has been rented for boarding bouse
Tue instttution has not resigned its charter
nave tne members received notice of its
ue'ea'e, out there Is no doubt that as soon as
one nqoiaaton Of its affairs is completed the
eid Union Club will be one of the things that
were and from its ashes will start. nbnnix
IKE, a new organization on a soupder bas;s
and OF a more enduring character. The cor.
respondent referred to errs when he attributes
its dissolution to the moving from the city Of
several of Its more liberal members. 1t came
about from very different reason, or rather
several reasons, which would not interest the
public and it is only by the death Of the old
Club that new one can hope to be formed and
flourish. AS it has become the correct thing
70 MAKE the history OF these institutions mat
ters for journalism brief sketch of ''The Un-
| ION may not prove uninteresting.
In the Spring OF 1866 . very elegant three
story brick edifice, with Mansard roof and
brownstone trim mmings) somo rs feet souare.
was erected by Hon. John B. Brown on the
| corner OF Congress street and Tolman place
and Intended by him for private hotel. Its
windows commanded a fine view OF the prin-
cipai avenue OF the city, together with the har-
Dor and suburbs, and the building could not
have been more eligibly situated for the pur-
pose Shortly after the house was built a
also members of the old Portland Club
conceived the idea of forming an association
that should resemble metropolitan oreaniza-
ton en- more moderate scale feeling conf
| means to support such an establishment resi-
dent in this city. They did not consider that a
club must necessarily imply gambling house
| or a dram shop but place Of resort for gentle
men where the topics of the day in politics or
business could be discussed over the latest pa
pers in the reading-roOm or over quiet game
| Of whist, euchro or billiards, IN the rooms to
be Get apart for indulgence in these amuse-
ments. One essential feature of the organiza-
tion proposed was that no round games OF
cards should be permitted the projectors wish
ing to feel that they could conscientiousIy pro-
pose the name Of any of their clerks il need be
for membership without any hesitation or fear
that they might be corrupted if elected.
OL Dec: 9th 1865 meeting OF several prom
insnt gentlemen was held at the rooms Of the
Board of Trade at which H. N. Jose, Esq,
was elected chairman and John Marshall
Brown, secretary pro tenn. At this meeting an
organization was perfected BY the election Of
Gen. George F. Shepley-President; Philip
h: Browu-Vice President; James E. Carter
Treasurer; John Marshall Brown-Secreta-
ry; James NJ. Churchill, Henry H. Furbish,
Henry. I. Machin, Ammi K. Mitchell, Fran
| els Macdonald and Charles o. Merrill Direc-
tors. Mr.: Philip b. Brown read . draft Of a
Constitution and By Laws which was unani-
mously accepted. By this Constitution the
name adopted for the organization was the
Union Club" the officers to consist Of Pres
ident, ce-Presldent, Treasurer, Secretary
and six Directors, the initiation fee fixed at
hundred dollars, with yearly assessment of
| fifty dollars on each member to be paid semi
annually, the members to be elected by the
Board of Directors. Il was decided to rent of
Mr.. Brown the building mentioned above for
Club House and the Executive Committee
| we're authorized to furnish 1t and make all the
arrangements necessary for its occupation
On December 9th the new building was leased
| and very shortly the institution was in full
| tide of operation aud success. Mr. Thomas
McCeary was installed as Steward, with iull
staff Of servants under him, which position he
| continues to occupy, and We venture to state
| that there is not Club in the country-not
| even the great Union League, the arist0cratic
Manhattan, the elegant Americus or Blossom
! OF New York, or the Somerset or UuiOn of
| BostOn-that has possessed Q more faithful or
| competent steward than he has been. On the
| ZOl0 OI Tue SitO6 mO0LO L0dC tue CiUD was Or
l ganized Col. Charles b. Merrill resigned both
| Dictatorship and membership and Manassah
/ Smith was elected in his place as Director
At the same meeting it was voted to invite the
members Of the old Portland Club"-who &C.
cupied quarters in the old Fox Block, corner
of Middle a1d Exchange streets-to join the
new association. During the winter an act OF
incorporation was procured from the Legisla-
| ture and . charter obtained.
The first lime that the doors Of the Club
i thrown OD0D tn the nnbllC
Feb. 26th, 1866, when an exhibition OF paint.
jDgs belonging to the members was given in
aid OF the Freedmen's Fair, which netted
SlO0. As our readers may like to take q
glimpse of Club lile and as the fair is open to
the public. suppose that we purchase ticket
| and penetrate the mysteries Of this building
which has been sort Of "Deac0n House" to
the general public and about which so many
| fearful stories have been current A plain un-
pretending door opens from Congress street
into q small vestibuIe, the floor of which we
| should expect to hnd composed of marble with
an inlaid mosaic figure of a dog bearing the
symbolic Inscription underneath "Cave
| Cauem,". like unto POmpeian households, for
| are We not entering upG0 the threshold Of Sy-
baris? But no such surprise awaits US. The
vestibule is but confined space of few feet,
further progress being usually barred BY two
swinging doors through which admission is
| Slstained only by means OF the pass-key Gf .
member or by formal introduction: On this
| occasion, however, the doors stand Hospitality
esen, Revealing an easy flight Of stairs, carpet
ed ia India aatting, with handsome balusters
ed at the summit you can turn to the left
through wide folding doors into very large
| a: uins room whose windows face the street
| auo which is capable OF sc atinR eighty at table
the ap. p.srtment being richly furnished and car
peted and lighted at night BY two elegap
bronze ant. gilt chandeliers. One feature o
this apartme., 1T is the eiab0rately carved side
board glitterine with silver plate and cut glas
belonging to the i'stitution aud presenting
most tempting display The room-as are q
the others in the house-:is beautifully fresGoed
with delicately tinted wai.s, while the small
tables scattered about with u heir snowy dam
ask coverings are extremely apretiz'ng IN ap
| pearance. The dining room is cOnb ected will
: large kitchen by q pantry and door, in tn
rear. Supposng however that we turn 10 IN
| right after ascending the main stairway. I'D
hall rADs parallel with the street, and OH NAs
right are the parlors, both commanding
| splendid view from their windows up abo
! down the main avenue of the city, and botf
1uxuriously finished. Your feet sink into thu
| heavy velvet carpets; great fauteuils uph0l
stored 10 velvet, plush and rep, extend thei
arms inviuugly; tempting looking sofAs Of diff
ferent forms WOO you to rest; elegant writinI
tables display 10 careless way, the stationer
OF the Cub beafiRg its monogram; other ta
! bles are covered With the leading illustrates
and literary periodicals of the day, both for
eirn and American, while many knick knack
| of value and Uertu are scatGeEed about tb'
| apartments. Upon the walls sra hung tn
very beat specimens of the leading artists o
the French, German, English and American
| schools, taking up every inch of space, apS
many little gems of sculpture adorn the cor
ners. These paintings are the property OF In
] dividual Members OF the club aud this is th,
| most valuable and choicest art exhibition eve
given in Portland. Opposite the parlors are
I, small reception room Ter the accommodation
| ,,f city friends of the members, lin regard 4
| " Hom the rules are very strict and do not ad
( mt of their presence elsewhere IA the house
the Stewards Office, the Smoking Room
wher,, the visitors book is kept, and the news
| paper rack where will be found the leadinl
New York and Bost0n journals aud q file Q
the PRESs-and the Treasurers room. On tn
| second floor are the sleepiug-raop single an
in suites, several OF which are 0egppied b
members who make the club thef bonn,
among whom are the English and sEspis
Consuls. On the same hoor are to be foun
. ample water advantages in the form of bath
I | rooms and water. closets. The upper story
. devoted to the seryants' apartments and th
. billiard room which contains two o fhelan'
| best four pocket tables. Thus you haye J
brief q description OF the interior OF clIl
> | house OF tho present day which is ip no way I
| be distinguished from any other residence Of
man Of means than by the absence OF female
| except on occasions like the present an
| the Bulletin board on one side Of the hall upo
which IL pasted all tho latest kilograms nc
=. | ticas 10 the club, and gentle hints to delir
| quent debtors.
r On the 9Th of December 1866 s grand ba
was given at the Club House W the raember
which was probably one Of the most seEplt
in this part of New England. Not over tw
| hundred invitations were issued owing to th
/ limited capacity of the buildi1g and 1t was ne
+ ] deemed advisable to crowd the rooms. For