The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-23
COLUMBIA CLUB HOUSE
1T WILL BE ABOUT THE HANDsOM-
EST IN THE WHOLE WEST.
Plans Recommended by the Special
COmmittee-Members to
Be Enlarged.

If the new plans for the Columbia Club
building are approved by the stockholders
and there is little or no question but
they win be-Indiapapolis will have one of
the handsomest and most complete club
houses outside of New York. At the an
nual meeting of the stockholders last Feb
ruary a committee was appointed to inves-
tigate and report plans for remodeling or
rebuilding. This committee was composed
of President T. S. Hacker, 1. S. Gordon, d.
M. Ransdell, Franklin w. Hays and Allen
M. Fletcher. This committee has worked
steadily and conscientiously ever since and
has gone carefully over the whole subject.
1t now sumbits plan for rebuilding to-
gether with financial plan which the COM
mittee believes entirely feasible. Every de-
tail Of the financial plan and the architec-
tural design for the new clubhouse is the
result of full discussion and careful study
by the committee.
The committee advises the stockholders to
erect upon the present site building which
in attractiveness and usefulness far sur
passes anything of the kind the city now
has or is likely to have for many years to
come, and presents plans for such struc-
ture. The members are confident that the
financial scheme they have devised over
comes all the difficulties at present in the
way of the club attaining it's highest sue
cess. The financial report advises that dues
be raised from $40 to $50 per year and that
at least sixty-fve new members be admit
ted. This, it declares, will make it possible
to carry out the building plans. 1t appears
to be a foregone conclusion that the build
ing will be erected, for instead of sixty-five
over one hundred new memberships have
been subscribed for by desirable men. This
will bring in a sum in stock purchases and
increased revenues more than sufficient to
secure the conditions for the new building.
to maintain it properly and provide an am
pie sinking fund.
THE NEW BUILDING.
The committee has conferred with a num-
Der Of celebrated architects and builders
and will recommend the designs submitted
by Henry Ives Cobb, of Chicago, whose ex-
tensive experience in designing clubhouses
and financing their erection made his sug-
gestions OF special value. His plans con-
form with the financial estimates of the
committee.
The perspective drawings and floor plans
made by Mr. Cobb will be displayed at the
clubhouse to-day for the information Of
members. The plans contemplate building
occupying the whole frontage of the club
grounds on Monument place. seventy-four
feet, flush with the sidewalk and running
back 125 feet. 1t will have six floors and
be OF modern fre-proof construction. The
Monument place facade win be of Indiana
oolitic limestone, with a harmonious ming
ling of Moorish Gothic and Italian renais-
ance ornamentation applied to the substan-
tial construction of the modern American
school-and since the world fair people no
longer smile at the assertion that there is
diStinctiVely American school of archi-
lecture worthy of the name
The basement will contain bowling alley,
an enormous plunge bath, Turkish bath,
bicycle room toilet rooms and servants
quarters. The bathrooms and bicycle room
III be supplied with competent attendants.
The barber shop, Storerooms and heating
and ventlating machinery VIII also be To-
Gated in the basement.
Upon the ground floor will be the IL
brary. reading room, billiard ROOM card
room and courtroom, as well as the office
and ladies' reception room. There will be
great central doorway and vestible, opening
into an immense hall, which is practically
a court, running the whole height of the
building Near the western corner is an en-
trance for bicycles with an inclined plane
running TO the bicycle room in the base
ment Corresponding with this on the east
is the ladies' entrance and the accommoda-
building This entrance is entirely cut off
from the other apartments and leads to
ladies' reception room, with toilet rooms,
lavatory and elevator to the ladies' dining
room above.
Upon the second floor two large dining
rooms, one for members and one for ladies',
will occupy the front. This floor will also