The San Francisco call., 1897-06-13
WILL SOAR To
4 NEW HOME
Press Club Secures Magni-
fcent Quarters of DR..
G. B. Scmars.
Negotiations Now Comp eted fer
Commodious and B auti ul
Rooms.
When Ready for Occupancy They
Will Be Saccnd TO Meme
in America

The more than gratifying increased
membership OF the Press Club during the
last few months has demonstrated 10 the
board of managers the inadequacI of the
present quarters in the Thurlow block to
the needs of the organization. Many
propositions have been received from
property-owners to house the club prop
eTly, but UP to now no favorable consider
ation has been given to their offers.
The last one, However, made by Dr..
George B. Somers, who is about 10
erect six-story building on lis street
and Anna lane, has now been accepted,
only few minor details remaining to be
adjusted before the papers for five years
lease are signed.
The structure, a description OF which
has already appeared in THE CALL will be
known as the press Club Building" the
Press Club occupying the fifth anu sixth
floors. No more pleasant, convenient nor
comm odious quarters could be desired
than those Outlined by Percy & Hamilton,
the architects OF the building. As will be
seen by the accompanying diagram, the
entrance to The cubrooms will be i'm
mediately from the elevator.
The floor OF the LOBBY will be tiled in
such manner as to bring the crest of the
club out in bold relief The Railways
will all be tied on this floor and the
wainscoting will be California marble or
ONYX.
The flooring throughout the clubrooms
proper will be of polished woods, over
which, according TO the designs OF the
furnishing committee, will be diStr bued
rugs OF coioTs harmOnizng with the tints
OF the different rooms. The bar will have
beautifully grilled arch surmounting it,
and viii be made ss gratifying to the eye
as to the palate. The artists of the club
Will have the sole supervision OF the
decorations and arrangement of the IL
brary, which will be one of the most COM
Portable and attractive rooms in the club
being so situated as to have tn sun all
day and made homelike at night by q
seven-foot old-:as hiOned fire place, in which
huge logs reposlng on andirons will give
warmth and comfort a night.
The billiard-room will be fitted up with
the latest proyements, will contain a
billiard ana pool table and be spacious
enough to accommodate a large mum Der
OF spectators in the event of tournament
being held. In this room a seven-toot
fireplace will consume fragrant logs that
Will give forth heat and incense.
The grand staircase leading from the
lounging-room on This floor to the quar-
ters above will be an i'm posing affair, the
plans calling for quartered oak and
ba listers Of an artistic design. On the first
landing a newell post of exquisite work
manship Will shed its rays ny night, while
IN ths daytime a cathedral window in
which will appear the crest and motto of
the ub, will absorb the suns light and
shed it in prismatic rays over the polished
floors and stairway.
IDis stairway Will open on the music
room on the sixth floor, com partment
19X4 feet, which will also be used for re.
hearsal purposes for inks or similar
events in the club. and also as an annex
TO the magnificent jinksroom, which will
be the feature of this floor if not of the
ciu itself. There will be 10 ornate deco
ratlons here nor many pictures hung
upon the wa, $, as everything will be
subordlnated 10 its acoustic properties.
From this room IS the entrance TO the
ltnksroom, the pride and boast of the
club. Its area wall be 32x53 feet, and at
the south end will app Aar a miniature
stage, perfect in every detail.
The walls will be tinted and frescoed
aPpropr ately, while a polished maple
floor will reflect the myriad lights in
artistic fixtures that will embellish the
hall.
The ceiling will be a magnificent dome
OF crystal with unique border of colored
glass and by night or dav the jnksroom
Will present but little d .ffere nee as far as
brilliancy is concerned.
On either side of the stage every neces-
sary accom- OdatiOn in the nature OF
dresslng-rooms and accessories have been
provided tor and the appointments will
be absolutely com plete. While the ele-
vator VIII be used on gala nj hts to reach
ms floor the shaft will be jacketed in SO
that no noise will be conveyed through or
by 1t to disturb the proceedings.
The clubrooms will be lighted through
OUT oy electricity, the system employed
being unique and unlike nytning before
attempted i'll this City. The switchboard
III The steward 8 room controls the lights
In each apartment, yet the system IS 80
perfect that the lights may be controlled
from any room at the will of the members
he dome OF the jinksroom is especially
designed for artistic lighting effects and
Will be a marvel OF beauty when com
Dleted. From the full glare of a hundred
lights the tone can be softoned 10 twi.
light effect or blaze forth al the will of the
elt ctrician into prismatic display OF
color.
The lighting will be entirely on the the
ater plan to better preserve the acoustic
properties. I. II. Van Frank of the build-
ing committee has special charge of the
lighting. The committee alluded 10 vii;
offer suggestions from time TO time in
reference TO the com pletion of yarious
parts of the interior of the rooms and will
call TO their aid the artists and architects
OF the club. This is according to the con-
tract and specifications.
Ii the present negotiations are brought
TO successful climax the club will enter
its new quarters about January l next
an event which the meri bers look forward
&c with great expectation. The opening
jinks will be an event in club history
never 10 be forgotten.