The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-08
Commercial Club.

HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION UP TO THE
PRESENT TINE-MOvING FROM THE OLD TO
THE NEW QUARTERS OF THE CLUB on MAIN
sTREET-OFFICERs FOR THE YEAR-CHAM-
BsR OF COMMERCE, &c.
a little more than three years ago some
OF our businessmen conceived the idea OF
forming an association to be composed OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF the wholesale trade NJ
Richmond, the object being "to stimulate a
dpsire among its members Tor a more inti-
mate relation and exchange OF opinion,
&c., and to furnish place to enter
tain their friends and patrons cred
table to the city and agreeable to them.
In furtherance Of tins object, the parties
interested met together, and after full and
free discussions perfected an organizilion
under the name Of the Commercial Club
OF Richmond" The first regular meeting
Of the Clnb was held in WilkinS0n's Hall
January 2S, 1875 and permanent organi-
zation effected by the election OF Oi'icels Tor
the ensuing twelve months. as follows
john L. Yancey. president; Claiborne Wat
kins, yice-president; J. NJ. NOwlin. secre-
tary: and Edgar L. Taylor. treasurer.
Board Of Managers JOnn l.. lanceN'
Claiborne Watkins, q. VI. Marshall, George
y. TbaX,On. james ID. Crump. Henry Bode-
kcr. VI. Heller, w. l.. CardoZo, and W. II.
Wci,igcr.
Ca the - Gav Of -, 1873, the Legi>la-
turc passed an act Incorporating the Com
mercial Club OF Richmond, naming John
u. Yancey. Claiborne Watkins. o. II. Mar
shall. G.. -. ThaXtOn, ". II. Wcisigcr,
Henry Bodeker. VI. Heller. W. +. CArdczo'
Jane, -. Crump, !. VI. Nowlin, +. ID. Tav'
lOr, and such Others n might be associated
with them, ~ cOrporal0r-. On The night oi
March IL, 1873, the clcg1nt rooms when
had been fitted up in tie Richmond House
corner Of Ross aud Governor streets,
were formally opened 10 the members
and invited guests. Thn- fully Organized,
the cub started on it, career oI Usefulness,
and subsequent events fully demonstrated
The wisdom Of the movement. The mem-
b.rsh,p then reached l30. owing To H.
r.Did Growth and The impression Of many
members that the building was not exactly
>uifcd T. the want, II the Club aS regards
/ Location ard size, D. va, decided that
a change was desirable, and accordingly
la committee was appointed at recent
meeting 10 select ncW headquarters. y
| the result Of this action. the building on
/ Main street between Ninth and TENN
streets. heretofore known ~ the Park
/ Hotel. was leased. and TIE work ot re'
modelling the premise, at once commenced.
/ The necessary alterations having been made
! the cub VIII take formal POSSESSION to-
morrow afternoon. The following vii
giye pretty far idea OF the int,rio! ar
rangcments of the building:
There will be on the main floor very
handsome reception room and pdrior. ano
in the rear aud on the same floor large
diuing-loOm aud restaurant. ON The second
floor, the principal front room viii be occu'
pied by the Chamber OF Commerce. and III
the rear OF this a reading-room and smok
ing.ro0m. In the basement there Is ycrl
handsome billiard bail; the third floor hi'
been fitted up Tor bedrooms.
The club is in very iOuiiShlng condl
ton. and numbers at present about 20l
members. That it haS benz flied the trade
Of Richmond 70 one will deny. II "
place TO which the country merchant can 70
| when be visits The city and feel perfectly al
home. The city merchant can also 60 mere
! and 10y an interchange Of yicW> he can
learn something that may be Il benefit to
| him and az the same time help ont hl'
| brother merchant. Taken altogether
/ the pioneers Of this enterprise hal'
/ every reason to feel proud q II
success. The officers for the present veal
are ~ follows: J. PendleiOn Rogers, prcsi
dent; George -. TbaXtoU, vice-arc>ldent
JIM. Nowlin, secretary; James ID. Crump
treasurer. Directors: John or, q. l.. Cot
tren. Henry Bodeker, J. IL. Gresham, W
/ l.. Fleming. :. VI. Roscnbaum. Charles II
simpson, +. Il. Taylor, Maurice Cia-gcti
| /. B. Hughes \. p. Bennett, {. y. Bald
win. Philip IIiXall. None ot the standing
committees have yet been appointed.