New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08

town. stretches out III straight line, ana a slrOll
of five minutes along that street brings the traveller
to the $4,000 home of the Union Club, the leading
social organization of the neghborhood
To one of the most disastrous fires in its history
Rutherford largely owes the existence Of the Union
Club. Several well-known men had in 1885 organ
ized the Rutherford Wheelmen; to which, in 1887.
the Rutherford Chess Club a>.ed itself The Ruther
ford Chess club antedated the wheemen by some
years. having been formed by Alfred oakley, Ruth
erford's first Mayor; L. F. Nexson. Freebooter John
L. Coale. Henry II. Copeland a. l.. Watson and
J. X Watson. The membership Of the Rutherford
Wheelmen further augmented in 1855 by the
accession of the Rutherford Athletic Baseball Club.
The club had ambitious plans for 1889. but jan
uary Of that year a fiji swept side of Depot
Square ard the clubrooms, containing all the club
property and many of the members bicycles
destroyed
This disaster made material charge in the plans
Of the club; many wheemen resigned; the name was
changed to the Rutherford Field Club; and in May.
1885, the membership then being about seventy.
dwelling house at Franklin place and Chestnut-st.
bought AMI converted into a clubhouse largely
through the efforts of II. II. Copeland. a Ruther
ford lawyer; A. l.. Watson. a real estate man. and
j. +. Meday, large property-owner. The social
element in the club increased in strength in 1891
the baseball team discontinued on account Of
its expense and the organization developed into
purely social one under the name OF the Union Club
of Rutherford"
"A !
house in the winter of 1891 made 1t apparent that
larger quarters were needed, and site in Park
ave. near Passaic-ave, opposite the First Presby-
terrain Church, was purchased. Pioneer members of
the organization recall with smile the doubts and
difficulties of those days
The decision to build a handsome clubhouse in
colonial style. to cost $liC0, once arrived at
able Ways and Means Committee procured the
funds and in the fall OF 1892 the present clubhouse
was opened with big fair, the entire cost of build
ing. land furniture. etc, approximatng $4,000 The
clubs president at that time was Charles Burrows.
now Collector of Taxes for Rutherford.
The house is three stories high, surmounted by a
broken colonial roof and thirteenth century oc-
tagona tower. A broad porch. with flights of steps
onen no ave yesbue The WIDE and oy enTac
hall, from which a broad staircase leads to the
of the hall the reading and ladies' parlor open
In the latter are broad open fireplace and stained
other apartment of about the size; while the
auditorium which seats about 800 people opens into
the entrance hall, and contains large stage and
dressing rooms In the second story are the billiard
card and bath rooms; and on the third story the
kitchen and janitor's apartments.
In The basement there are ,u triple bowling-aley
nt1re OF the clubhouse is tasteful and in the ladies'
parlor, especially rich.
hundred and fifty. and additions TO the roll are be-
ing constantly made. Most of the present officers
President. Major Charles +; Waters yice-pres
and Edward G. Hoister. treasurer. William H.
Stevens; Board of Governors Henry Prentiss Wick
ham Williams. John burlington II y. Burlington
A. c. Thurber and Il. Dannheim.
Among the well-known members arc Mayor Ed
ward j Turner. cX-Mayor Luther Shafer. Assessor
Charles Planer. Collector Charles Burrows, Captain
Addison Fly DR.. s. f. Armstrong Or. Horace II.
Holl,ster William Mckenzie Or Martin Tygert. Or.
Charles b. Brooks. e. Percy. Sykes. Dr. Frederick
X HOLSTER, Or. Charles Calhoun. Henry H. Cope
land. Edwsrd J. Luce. Anderson Price, Major Rich
p. Cooper Edward ". Dean, Edmund A. Fletcher.
f. T. Galloway Charles +. burlington. NJ W.
j. Meday, a. l. Watson $; L. Morgan, George V.
Sloat William II Smith. Charles r. Solely, W. A.
Tompkins James II BOVINE A. A. Clark, J. Ken
meth Watson, George Is. Weaver w c. Williams,
Frederick 5. Withington, Robert NJ. Watson,, r. =.
beaumont H. y. Burlington. w. i. Elliot. H. En-
erson Dean, J. l.. Chapman: Thomas W Evans Y.
T. Foge Eugene Berry William 3 Barley, JOIN
Van Harding, G. 4. Goodspeed, c. y. Hand, c. +.
Lodge and c. +. Burns.
The programme OF the club for the present season
includes a bowling tournament between four clubs
composed of Union Club members; whist tourna-
menl, a fall dress reception, musical. two dra-
matte entertainments. minstrel show, two stays"
and billiard ana pool tournament sub,committees
attend TO the details. but a general entertainment
committee composed OF II. p. Beaumont Carl Won
Hartz and II y Burlington. has charge Of the pro-
A