Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-17

I'VE expect some good racing by our
men next season. Captain William A.
Holt of the Wilmington Bicycle Club, re-
marked to a reporter of The GAZETTE last
Thursday night. why" the enthusiastic
cyclist continued, with pardonable. de-
gree of eSotism, 1--WE now have the incest
club in the city, in every sense of the
word, and We are only TWO months old at
that"
The reporter accepted an invitation to
visit the handsome new quarters OF the
Wilmington Bicycle Club, and in COM
paHy with the captain made an inspection.
rhe second Hoor of the Humphrey Build
ing, No. 6l3 Market street, is the home Of
the new club, and it is not at all surprising
to lind that the members have already
fallen in love with the new quarters. The
room is the entire length Of the block from
Market street to Shipley and has spacious
entrance on the latter thoroughfare. The
Market street window is arched in shape
and crosses nearly the entire front, while
III the rear are windows giving almost as
much light, There is u skyiight shaft in
the centre, which is also great item in
daytime. The room is heated by steam
| and the tenants are consequently relieved
| of any bother which frequently attaches
to heating apparatus in club RDoms.
Everything about the place is entirely
new aud fresh, and, without exception it
is the cleaneSt club room ! ever entered.
And we're going 10 keep IL that way too"
| one of the members proudly remarked as
| commented on that fact.
At present there are no divisions, but
| the intention is to string one or more
ornamental curtains to divide the place of
| into rooms for different purposes. 1t is
| theintention to have parior meeting and
general reading room and pool room, the
| latter occupying tie rear where the pool
| table has already been placed.
| The tpys hnVp rArppIpu the HDnr and
| appropriately decorated the walls with
| pictures, so that upon entering a person
| is at once struck with the homelike APP
pearancc Of the place.
Electric lights furnish illumination at
| night, which, shining through cut glass,
| give a mellow, pleasing effect The globes
are placed SO AS to distribute the light
| evenly all over the room.
The place is nicely furnished the parlok
being provided with oak and green mo-
| rocco furniture, while there are numerous
| chairs aud tables of different designs
placed in the other parts of the room.
Hhe pool table is comparatively new and
| is in lirst-Class condition. The boys make
Use OF il 4 great deal.
The club itself is something of wonder.
1t was first conceived early in November,
and it was but short time after that
when a hundful of wheelmen met and
devised ways and means for the organi:a-
ton of Il new club. A list of wheelmen
who wanted to become charter members
was read, and the number was thought
sufficient for the renting of room. Ac-
Curdingly two rooms were secured ON the
| second ilOOr of No. 80 Market street
On the 18th of November the first meet
ing of the new club was held az the rooms,
$40 Market street. Nearly the entire
charter roll up Ia that date was on hand
and there was barely room to accommo-
date all At the next meeting there was
| "a an far a.t,l uiah
attend, while all the time new names were
being added to the charter list.
The fact ut once became apparent to the
members who were engineering the affairs
.! the club that to continue to occupy such
small quarters would be pure folly. Two
more rooms were obtained on the third
floor of the same building, but still the re-
suit was unsatisfactory, and with a grow
ing membership it became evident that
, The only thing to do was to go TO some
place that would admit of the expansion
of the club. The result was that the pre-
sent location was decided upon and Was
occupied early in December.
From the handful OF wheelmen who as
sembled on November 9th to talk the
matter over the membership has grown
rapidly until now 1t numbers 9S response.
, be wheelmeu, only two or three of whom
are not residents OF the city. 1t is quite
probable that by the time the racing sea-
son opens the roll will be away past the
century mark.
The membership includes all the Will
minstonians who nave distinguished them
e selves heretofore on the track and road,
beside a number of young riders who give
, promise oil doing good work.
, The organization and fostering of the
new club up to date has aroused wonder.
ful amOGnt Of interest i'll cycling here, and
. there is every indication that next spring
and summer the racing blood will make
itself manifest, and that, too. under the
c orange and black colors of the Whining,
! ton Bicycle Club.
e Dealers will no doubt profit considerably
. also by the boom.
. An informal reception TO members and
their friends will be given some time soon
G ut the club room, when the musical and
a oratorical talents of tine cyclers will BE-
e heard to advantage and good social time
will be INDUCED in. The boys are proud
of their home and want their friends &c
III