The Portland daily press., 1894-12-08
SOME OLD CLUBS.
Beginning With the Pawnee Club
Father Of Them all.

The Origin of the Clubs-The Men Who Be-
longed to Them-The Elegance and
Public Spirit of the Union CIub-Some
of the People Entertained in the asst.
Club life has become so grated upon the
social life of the country that but few
cities of any size can now be cited where
at least one will fail to be found. Within
the past ten ears club life has taken a sud-
den growth and the ladies have become al
most as devoted adherents to these organ
izations as the men. 1t is a mooted ques-
tion as to the advisability of these clubs.
On the one hand it is claimed that people
get better acquainted with each other and
that they possess great advantages from
both business and social point of view.
Or the other hand it is argued that they
destroy to a great degree the home life
which is the chief bond that keeps families
united, weaken family affections, and
tend to destroy all the better qualities in
man OF woman.
The mast sixty years have seen grow from
small social organizations of a few men in
this city number OF social, political and
educational clubs. 1t is the purpose of this
ence but that attained wide spread repu-
tation during their life.
The first clubs of which we have any
knowledge were established far back in the
present century. One of these was known
as the Pawnee Club, and notices of its meet
ings were printed in the papers in Indian
style, much as the Red Men of the present
day couch their notices, with cut Of an
Indian in full regalia. 1t is reported the
pow-wows of the Pawnee's were of char
acter that would put to the blush the pres
ent style of painting the town red, but that
is all surmise for the members were
gathered to their fathers years ago. Then
there was another club back in the th1rtles
with the familiar but not very elegant
name of ''The Dirty Spoon" Why it 1e-
ceived that name we know Of none who now
can tell.
In the early fifties came the P. o. Club
which included fewof the well known cit
liens in it's membership. Among those who
can be recalled as among the leading spirits
of the institution were William Pitt Preble,
DR.. E. Parsons, J. H. Prince, who estab-
lished Princes Express, William E. Chad
wick for years leading grocer and man
of infinite wit, VIM. Hall, Mr.. Herman
KotZsc hmar the composer and oIganist, Ed
ward Deering one of the brightest of the
bright descendants of Nathaniel Deering,
and Samuel Trask. This club occupied the
upper or third story of building on Middle
street, near Gross street, where the Libby
block stands. There werea few rooms only
and these were used for reception room.
stewards apartment and card rooms. just
below Thorn on the second floor, the GORE
sponding apartments were taken by another
small social club short time after the +.
o. Club was formed and it numbered among
its members the late Francis D. Little and
Abiel Somerby. One OF the wags OF the
latter club, distinguishing between the
two said the P. o. Club was the House of
Lords and theirs the House of Commons.
Here in these pleasant apartments the
members gathered daily to play social
game of cards, test tho quality of some OF
the wines and liquors that were then I'M
ported at this port in large quantities and
talk over the business of the day. and here
many of the events that in their time gave
prominence to Portland were arranged.
AS the business of the city increased and
the met hods of communication with other
places were extended and improved, new
faces that brought new capital with them
began to be seen on our streets. The SIM
pie quarters that had sufficed for the hand
full of gentlemen became entirely made
quate to the demands upon them. Finally
from the members of the old clubs commit
tee of gentlemen made arrangement for the
formation of one better adapted to the So
cial leeds of the place. In the building &C.
cupying the ground where the Rossini Hall,
now stands, the Portland Club was estab-
lished. 1t was quartered in the two upper
stories and embraced most of the men of
prominence William Pitt Preble was the first
president and the following is a list of the
members as near as can be recalled, and
probably complete one:
Ed yard Anderson, George jewett,
Joseph r. Brazier, Horatio N. Jose,