New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18
AMONG THE CLUB-HOUSES
NEW BUILDING FOR RIDERS.
PLANS FOR FINE sTRUCTURE-THE ARohl'
TECTURAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE ARRANGEMENTS AND
CONVENIENCES.

not only illustrates the remarkable growth Vi
the city in taste wealth, and the eegances o.
life, also noticeable in many other directions pu'
it illustrates most forcby the local tendency "
link the club life Of this city Of homes closer ~
the family circle than is attempted in other ci'lc''
The Riding and Driving Club is not merely ue-
signed for the benefit Of the male MEMBERS puO
for their sisters, wives, and, on an emergency,
their cousins and friends In fact l"uio'
eligible 10 membership when there Is no N'"i
representative of the family. Riding ana uli we
will not be the exclusive amusementS Oh 'i' ~"
and there will be a sufficient number oil ehtei-
tainments and receptions to keep the hieihO
" in touch with one another and knit them closely
into fraternal organization.
The club has started out with high aims, anu
its management is in the hands of some OF 'iI
best, residents of the city. It's officers ana Don,
of Directors are follows: Albert H. o,ni'''
president: IT, X. Sheldon, vice-presidcnt; Nlilann
n. Dyk1nan, secretary; John S. James treasurer
Latham A. Fish, f. r. Kennedy, Thomas s Moore
G. A. Recknagle. Herbert G. Hull, Howard OhbD'
w. II. Fore. Jonathan Buckley, Thomas f. Sui
man. w. A. Read, j. c. Hoagland Emil II. FRANK
Alexander Barrie, George II. PrentisS, +. b. Dodge
and r. b. Constantine.
PROSPERITY OF THE CLUB.
The growth of the club has been surprise 10
its most snguine projectors, and, TO use eaten
phrose of the day. shows that it is destined 10
sunnlv a lonc-felt want" The membership is
limited 10 300 not the presumed mystical 400
and the initiation fee is SlOO Membership GER
tifcates are also transferable The annual dues
are $50. payable half-ycarly in advance when
the club building is open and ready 1or
use At present there are 23S persons on inc
membership list, and a number of applications
almost sufficient to reach the limit, are awaiting
the action of the next meeting of the board OIL
directors. When the club is in full swing the
usual committees with ring committee to super
wise the exercises there and a stable committee
will be appointed. Members who do not care 10
ride or drive viii have the most admirable iacii-
ties provided for them sit in the clubhouse anu
watch those who do
The club is already on a sound financial OASIS
and in that respect also its success seems 10 W
assured The income from the annual dues anu V''
profits of stabng the horses, aside from oIher
sources of profit, will furnish An income apuhuanV
for IFS needs At the New-IOrll Riding Clup IL
is said that the number of horses kept au tne
Climb stables is equal to bne-half the number OF
members. and is the criterion by which the brooN
lvn club has been governed in forming It's eSt-
mates.
Inst at rresent the interest of the members Is
mainly centred in their new building, ana IL Is
believed that the stables and ring will be I'm
inshed by January l. It's cost cannot be de-
termincd Just yet, for the specifications are NOT
vet complete and no close estimates have beeh
made
The club building will be admirably adapted to
the purposes for which it is intended. 1t Will
he one of the most extensive in the city, and will
IT. ito &c iPrpO
section of a triangle, whose longest line of 25O
feet is in Butler-st, with frontage of l 90 feet
in Vanderbit-ave., where it approaches point
and circular hypothenuse along the plaza street
which skirts the high, oval earthen rampartS at
the entrance to Prospect Park. The designing Of
this important structure has been placed in the
hands of McKim, Mead & White the well-lnown
firm of architects The building they have de-
signed is not as vet fully worked out in its de-
tails, but its general design and the preliminary
plans for it were finished Just three days ago.
A colored sketch of the plaza elevation is now
hanging in the Office of the president.
LIKE \ ROMAN CIRCUS.
Il shows the style of the building to he that Of
an old Roman circus. Both the Vanderbilt-ave.
and the plaza fronts are visible. From practical
point of view. the Vanderbilt-ave front will be
the principal one, and should be the first TO be
described II consists of facade three stories
high with a basement, and is thirty feet deep.
There are no fniclly7 towers, bay windows. or
other captrap effects, but the elevation is treated
with refreshing simplicity and breadth of style.
II consists of facade by pavilion, danled ut
each end by a pavilion carried story higher
than the main cornce The principal features
are the three large Roman arches, reaching 10 the
second story recalling in general way the arches
which are in the outer walls of the riding ring,
and this succession of arches is the keynote to the
architectural motive which pervades the entire
exterior of the building. The entrances are
through the centre of the two arches sheltered by
n porch, fanlled by two columns on each side and
carrying with them pediment The third story,
above these large arches, is succession of square
windows separated by pilasterS
This section Of the building constitutes the
clubhouse proper The basement contains
separate lockers and dressing-rooms for children
and at the plaza corner supply room for the
cafe. The first, ground floor. will be elevated
several steps above the street. The ladies'
entrance is on the right hand, or Butler-st. side
and leads directly into the ladies paror, hlnd-
some room, 24X2S feet, with large fireplace
at one end, the side toward the ridngring being
composed Of large plate-glass windows, giving
a perfect view OF the exercises going on there
A stairway leads TO the second story where, in a
room the same size as the parlOr below, the
ladies' lockers are placed convenient TO the cosey
and secluded alcOve .dreSSingrooms with which
this apartment is furnished The mems entrance
is nearer the plaza corner of the building, and
leads directly TO the Office which adj oins the
ladies' paror Between the Office and the
ladies' parlor, separated from it only by
folding DOORS is the club-room, another
spacious apartment 24N3S feet, with
two large frcplaces, the side toward the ring
being formed of large plate glass windows, n, IN
the ladies parlor. On the eight of the office.
but entirely detached fsom the clubroom and only
accessible from Fhc riding ring, is tie cafe
connected with the supply room underneath by "a