New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-09
TO LAY A CORNERSTONE.
CEREMONIES TO-DAY BY THE MANHATTAN
ATHLETIC CLUB.
SKETCH OF THE ASSOCIATION AND DEsoRrP.
rroN or rHrTR NEW HOME.

SKETCH OF THE ASSOClAIiON AMI Dh">N"ai
rIoN OF THEIR NEW HOME.
new epoch in the history OF the Manhattan Aeh-
ict,c Club will begin today with the laying OF "e
cornerstone of the new clubhouse at Madlson-aVe'
and Forty. nfth.st The existence of the Manhattan
Club. although dating back only 10 1877, has been
nrosnerons and eventual and the enterprise, fore
irht and unity of purpose of It's organizers and MEM
hers have placed It among the first OF similar asso
citations in the country. Its now clubhou VIII pe
not only an ornament 10 the city, but one OF the
most complete in all its details and appointments
sver built In this any other country.
In the spring Of 1877 as the result OF an aiter-
dinner talk a fve-mile walking race was arranged
between George W. Thomas William ;. Ridabock' lr'
Robert b. Culbert and George W. Carr Ihe race
took place as agreed at the American lnsu~i'e F'l
Building Previous 10 this race the four men nalheu
had not been intimately acquainted but the incideh'
cave rise to an athletic spirit which after time TO
sn,tcd in the organization of the Manhattan Ciuo'
Tho immediate circumstance which caused It's fornlS
ton was the application of Mr.. Thomas for memoeI
shin I'm the Scottish-American Athletic Clup' Ills
reouest was refused for the reason thar he, oy some
oversight neglected TO send the initiation zee as IT,
ouired with his application. A number OF DINERS
who we're about Join the Scottish American slleu
with MIR Thomas and resented the action OF the cluD
nv coming together and forming themselves INTO
rival organization. There about twenty chAr'oI
members and on April I, 1875, the club was III
corporated by George ". Carr, George w. Ihohlas
George d. Parmly ssndford B. Pomeroy, W. -
France jr., Harry F. Pike, W. H. Ifi'nh' H. -
Quincy and John Fraser.
The membership grew slowly az first ont as SOON
as track and grounds acquired INSIDE inc Guy
limits and a clubhouse was secured, the SUCCESS VI
the club, in spite Of many discoursgemen's' was %
sured Many Of the bestk known champions TOOK par
in the games given by the club on their erouiuS Al
Firhth-ave between Flfty-siXth and fttS-seNcnu
'xrint contests
traction the grounds being flooded Inc cheIIS
diamond as an emblem adopted at the sueses'ion
of sandfOrd L. POmerOy. The nrst prominent d'nlo'
in the club was Tom" McEwen, ara INC HIS'
championship placed TO It's credit was LOT tho oo'o
,pn won bv Thomas II. smith in ;51 Ia III the
contests of 1878. The brilliant career OF l. H.
nrvers followed and I'm each succeeding year the cuo
bas won it's full share Of triumphs in the various
sports countenanced by the National Assoc'a ION
George W. Carr elected president al the DO
ginning and s retains that Office. he has always
beer and continues 10 be the moving spirit OF tho or
ganZafion. TWO of tho other 1ouhuciS, En0''''
Ridabock and Thomas, have died
Tho now clubhouse had been in contemplation
,o, son,e time ard the foundations have been laiI
during the spring The structure VIII DC ANU
1o5x1a5 feet and six stories in height On the roOl
viii be a roof garden the entire length OF tne
ave side. ~,
Tho styIe is Romanesque, and iron and stone VIII
ba the chief materials used The heavy walls OF ulo
lower story viii be Of granite, and above Will Do
courses of dark Belcvic brownsone, red oTownston"
chocolate brick, chocolate terra Gotta, ana nnalN
the oornce and roof Of red terra Gotta. In tLe
basement viii be the rife range, swimming pa'h
Pussian and Turkish baths, bowling alleys ete' INC
rronnd floor VIII contain large reception fOonl
End narlor which on occasion can Dc nIV"h VfDn
a. one immense room; caie billiard room Win sixteen
tables tar hat and coat rooms On the next nou aDONe
wiz he he concert hall which viii be htied WIN stag
and balcony The ceiling will ris two tui stories ana
the hall will have a seating capacity OF OOO Adch % nc
stage viii be the card rooms offices ana par OF u ne
indgfnc rooms and the space above ana ID front VI
The hall viii contain other living and reception rVoHs
On the ion floor will be the dining ROOM Wh'h Cdn
he divided into several small rooms, or opcheu guy NO
one largo hall extending the full length OF me bGIs
IN Nsdson-ave. Back Of THIS viii be the ~ nh'slu
100 bv 65 feet with running track on whlch L"eIN
1Sns make a mile The kitchen will be on inc IOol
;n the rear of the roof garden. The nam enu raj
rnl no in Madison-ave the one at ue coTIcI ooi'
~ The club proper, and the other exactly sli4nSI III
stze and styie Of architecture, leading 10 inc co0
hall only. . -, Ill, .alo n1acc at the new
c,,h bonse an 80 O'Clock Somo 1000 persons nc
been invited The Rev. DR.. Gilbert VIII oIer prey ~
md an address will follow by President Carr Nv h
Sormsi ceremony Of laying the corner tone Win III
Reformed BY Mayor Grant. after when tccIu" win
Re bejd al The old clubhouse. No. 524 Fltth-aVe'