The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-03

selves of tie Nails hospitality form them
selves into an athletic club. The sugges-
tion was taken hold Of with enthusiasm.
A meeting was held, constitution and
bylaws drawn up and the result was the
San Francisco Olympic Club. with the fol-
lowing twenty-three as the charter mem
bers: G. w. Bell, Edward Wolleb. John III.
Coleman, Edwin Bonnel. Harrison East
man. Rufus Bonnell, Reuben III. Lloyd.
Charles E. Liyermore, George I: Folsom,
Livermore, Arthur Nahl, w. II. Eldridge.
w. s. Lawton, William b. Gluyas, James
l.. Dubois. William c. Merriam. August
CabaIero, j. n. Kierulff, A. K. Durbrow.
II. Duncan and Charles Il. Calef.
Unfortunately the original paper with
these honored names attached was burned
in the fire which destroyed the magnificent
quarters of the club on Post street in 1889.
together with many other documents Of an
historical nature.
The first meeting of the San Francisco
Olympic Club was held on the 9th OF May,
1860. in the house OF the Lafayette Hook
and Ladder Company on Broadway. 6. w.
Bell was elected president. L. BoDnell sec-
rotary, ii. G. Hanks treasurer, and by conf
mon consent Arthur Nahl was chosen
leader.
1t should be here noted that this organiza-
ton was effected six years before the estab-
lishment Of the New York Athletic Club. the
next oldest athletic club in the United
States.
The meetings which Immediately followed
were held in the house of St Francis Hook
and Ladder Company on Dupont street,
but the club first regularly opened in a hall
on the corner of Clay and kearny streets.
In 1871 there was temporary split, last
Ing until 1873. when the rival sections re-
united at their quarters on the corner Of
New Montgomery and Howard streets.
From the quarters on Montgomery street
the club moved into the Morton House, on
Post street
In the midst OF this prosperity fire broke
out in the building occupied by the club in
the early morning of June 20. 1888. The
building was totally destroyed, together
with all the furniture, paintings ana APP
paratus The property was in part covered
by insurance, but the valuable records and
memenios accumulated since the organize
ton Of the club. twenty-three years before.
were gone beyond recall.
meeting of the members was quickly
called. a subscription list was started and
soon showed handsome total. Temporary
quarters were secured in the Phelan build
ing, and finally q lease for ten years drawn
up for the two upper stories OF the AlcaZar
building.
There ensued an era of unequaled pros
perty. The membership increased rapidly,
and under the influence of wise and pro-
gresslve management the influence OF the
club began TO spread abroad.
By far the most important step In the his
tory OF the club, the wisdom OF which may
not have been fully appreciated at the time,
was the formation OF juvenile class. 1t
was first started in the Post-street building
in May, 1880. Interest in it declined, how
ever, and il was not thoroughly revived un-
Iii six years later, when the Juveniles were
firmly taken in hand and virtually made a
part of the club itself.
The year 1888 seems to have been most
prolific in pon; of furnishing items of his
torical note. The club renewed its acquaint-
ance with the athletic world by sending
East TO compete in championship events its
best track athletes, Victor SchifIerstein and
John Purcell.
That the Olympic Club existed for so long
time without outside grounds of its own is
due 10 the fact that In tie athletic field on
this coast it had few rivals.
AS the Olympic had always been princi-
pally gymnastic club. but little attention
was paid to outdoor sports previous to 1880.
DeSptory attention had been given to run
ming aud jumping, but it was not until the
Oakland baseball grounds were leased in
1881 that much time was devoted TO the
proper training OF track athletes.
They were discontinued in 1885, however,
and after that the Olympic outdoor men
exercised at various places as best they
could, sometimes using the old quarters at
Fourteenth and Center streets, Oakland,
aud at others, Central Park and the race
track on the San Francisco side of the bay.
The proposition that the club should own
its own grounds had often been considered.
Many plans for securing them were offered,
and entertainments were given for the pur-
pose of securing funds.
Much planning was done but little ac-
complIshed until 1885, when the question
was again actively canvassed and the
athletic committee of the board of directors
was authorized TO advertise for grounds.
Offers Of various property holders were
considered up to 1889. when the PROPOSE
ton OF Mr.. John T. Doyle, member of the
club IN early days, TO improve one of his
blocks just south Of the park and a short
distance from the cbildren's playground,
was accepted. The grounds were to be
fitted up according to the plans of the club.
A ten years lease was signed and construc-
ton Immediately begun under the special
supervision of Mr.. E. A Rx.
These grounds are said to be without
equal. even among the older athletic clubs
OF the East.
They were completed at a total cost Of
$4,000. and were opened on March To- 1890,
by championship meeting.
In 1882 lawn tennis outfit had been pur-
chased for use in the clubs gymn asium on
Post street. and there this game was played
on of evenings. In such narrow quarters
the game lacked that element given il when
played in the open air. In the new grounds,
when the grass in the oval warranted il,
tennis courts were laid out and number of
enthusiasts worked diligently TO make the
game take hold. But on this coast grass