The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-01-30
FOURTH EDITION
Warren Athletic club Purchase,

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One OF tho most important purchases
lof real estate made in this city Is that
lof the estate of the late William c.
Gibbons, bought yesterday by the
Warren Athletic Club through Head
d Co. The property Is located at No
6O5 West street, In one OF the best and
most beautiful sections of the city.
The property fronts 81 feet on West
street, and extends $50 feet through to
Washington street. A large mansion.
formerly the residence of the Gibbons
family, Is almost hidden in cluster
oil shade trees.
!, Although tho price paid has not boon
made public it is understood that 1t
ranged somewhere between Sl5. 600 and
-is20, 900. The purchase is very credlta-
BILE to the Warren Athletic Club, show
ing a strong desire to he In good
nelghborhood away from many OF the
temptations that exist in other sec
itions of the city. The present build
ling Will be remodeled and will have
reading, billiard, smoking and meet
Ing rooms. new brick gymnasium
with bowling alley attached will be
erected to the rear OF the present
building.
Tho club Is certainly to be congratu-
lated on getting promises so we'll
adapted to their purposes, and on get
ting in such good neighborhood.
/ The Warren Athletic Club as most
successful organizations had small
beginning and arose gradually until
lit reached its present standard of
, strength and excellence. 1t WIS Or
gani1ed in April, 1855 by Charles +.
kohlerman and John S. lockard, who
are both still members, the first re-
siding in this city and the latter in
Virginia.
The first home the club had that
. could 30 called home, was on the
. second iloor of the Washington Engine
House, where they accumulated Con-
siderable apparatus, but nothing like
what they now have. The club in
those days having but little money,
/ the members made their own appa-
ratus, Notwithstanding the clubs
cramped condition hore, Ii prospered
:. and gave some very fine exhibitions III
athletic exercises. When the club left
t the Washington Engine House 1t went
{ to the second story of the Third street
!, market house in the fall of 1883. but as
> the place had beon leased it had to
!. leave there on the next 10Th of March.
. About this time the club saw its worst
/. days.
/. Interest ragged, and it became diff
tlcult ut times 10 drum upn quorum.
Tho president resigned and IL seem Cd
ito be ii forpgone conclusion TINT the
= club would have to dlsbanl. But u
,.lfew OF tho more resolute members
e rented the old Hare Pottery on French
Y street above Second. The place was
! In Il miserable conpition, dust covered,
the shelves and broken crockery
$ strewed the premises. The few mem
ylber7 determined to stand by the club,
took of their couts, cleaned out the
place and put the old rookeryin kind
: OF a presentable condition. Notwith.
> standing the unfavorable surroundings
Il tho club here prospered and ran up tu
. l05 members.
n Tho club feeling strong enough tc
Ii pun chase IL home. commenced nego'
r tiHtiOns for building o club room on
Fourth street below Walnut, where
" Kitchens stable now stands, blt the
!. undertaking was at last abandoned,
i, and on the 25th of March, 1850. tho
club removed To the Red Mems Hall.
a Shipley street bet ween Fifth and Sixth
r where II has been uninterrupted and
" IL now numbers from $50 to 3I5 mem.
n hers including some of the bcst
known business men in the city.
7 1t has developed u strong team O
:, athletes and has number OF wrestlelf
n that cannot he eXcelled. This present
!, quarters are too small, and hence til,
4 move TO obtain larger quarters witt
1t more facilities for social enjoyment.