The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-11
JEKYL ISLAND CLUB HOUSE.

existence of the club, for nearly every
member thereof is millionaire, and in
these days it is not easy for a very rich
man to keep his comings and goings
from the knowledge of the public. At
the beginning shares in the club were
sold at only 5000 each. Lists Of names
are not always interesting, but in this
case the following partial list of mem
bers will no doubt be tolerated, for it
includes those of some of the best known
men in the United States Read:
From New York-C. N. Bliss, J.
Pierpont Morgan, John Clafin, NJ.
K Jesup, Alexander Barring. W. Bay
ard Cutting, Ogden Goelet, Robert
Goelet, George j. Gould, Eugene Hig-
gins, Joseph Pulitzer, William Rookie
Teller, w <. Vanderbilt, F. W. Wander
bilt and Pierre Lorillard; from Gincin-
natl, W. P. Anderson and B. S. Gun
ningham from Buffalo, George Blei-
stein; from Ohio, Calvin S. Brice; from
Boston, Francis Bartlett; from Chica-
go, Marshall Field, N. K. Fairbank, Fl.
W King, W. S. McCrea, Murray Nelson
and John De Koven; from Philadel-
phia, Rudolph Ellis; from st. Paul, j.
J. Hill; from Brunswick, Ga, John E.
du Bignon.
This by no means exhausts the well
known names, but to set them all down
would be to take up moro space than is
at the writer's disposal here. Mr.. du
BignCn, whose name is given last, is
! the only Jekyl Island club man who lives
south of Mason and Dixon s line and he
| is a member chiefly because he was the
islands original owner. Il. E. Rowland
|
| to 100, and the aggregate wealth of the
members is understood to be $500, 900,
600. The island is II miles long and
contains about $4,000 acres, 80, 600 be-
ing salt marsh, 20, 900 heavy oak and
pine timber, 2, 500 sea island cotton
land, 2, 500 "hummock'' land, 1000 dry
savanna and 1000 acres of hard black
| marsh.
It was Mr.. du Bignon who originated
the idea Of converting Jekyl island into
the grounds of an exclusive club, and
his notion began to take form in 1885.
He sold the island to the club, organized
soon after that, for $125, 600. Three
years later the money expended for the
| clubhouse and other improvements had
brought up the total expenditures to
$3.50, 000, and since then other large
sums have been expended in roads and
piers and other schemes of improve
ment, SO that now perhaps a round half
million has been invested by the club
and its members. and perhaps much
more, on Jeky1 island.
The clubhouse is built of brick and
marble, is four stories high, has front
age of 1875 feet and extends back lis
feet. There are 78 rooms, exclusive OF
those in the basement and including
great parlors, reception rooms, dining
rooms, etc., each one furnished with big
old fashioned freplaces, the blaze in
which lends ruddy glow and the heat
from which makes the house comfortable
whenever there is chill in the air. The
entire front of the clubhouse is covered
by a veranda, and a handsome tower
rises from one corner, forming an OBJ
servatory, from which the interesting
points of the island and the nearby
mainland can be seen.
The amusements of the Jekyl Island
club members are thoroughly diversified
} and naturally many of them are costly.
There are riding and driving, shooting
and fishing, and yachting, both steam
yachts and fast ''single stickers" anG
schooners being owned by some of the
, members. A beautiful casino, which
will contain a really spacious ball
room, is about to be built at cost Of
$50, 900, and many cottages SO called
but, in fact, little less than winter pal
+ aces, have been put up, and more are il
3 contemplation. Joseph Pulitzer's pro
posed residence will probably be tn,
n finest of these.
: Jeky1 island has a history. It was set
, tied in 1888 by Governor Oglethorpe
t and upon it was erected the first brewery
e in America. One of the earliest orang'
groves on this continent was also plant
ed there 1t hourished for nearly cen
tury and was killed by the severe winte
of 1897.