The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-29
COLUMBIA CLUBS HOUSE
PLANS OF THE STRUCTURE AS
FINALLY DETERMINED UPON.
1t Will he One of the abandonment and
Most Complete I'm the West
The Clubs Growth.

The plans for the Columbia Clubs new
house were yesterday accepted and posted
for the inspection of the members The de-
cision of the board OF directors and the
building committee adopting the new plans
for a clubhouse realizes the fulfllment of
more than a years very hard work by the
stockholders of the club. In completing this
work the club very proudly offers a building
for this city and the State which represents
in its uses and construction one of the
finest clubhouses from all standpoints in the
country. The building committee deserves
much credit for its arduous and con-
scientious work in gaining this result. When
1t is considered that the Columbia Club Ia
the representative Republican business and
social organization of Indiana and that in
its membership II includes nearly all of the
strong men who have been actively and
prominently identified with Republican
state politics, to say nothing of its conse-
quent social and business influences, it be-
comes interesting to know something of it's
history.
The club has had phenomenally rapid
growth. 1t is now only ten years old. 1t
was organized as a marching club in the
Harrison campaign of 1883 with a limited
membership. In the following year 1t was
incorporated with an increased membership,
when it purchased a portion of its present
site. From that time it began to grow in
membership and wealth until its member
ship was increased to 400, and with this
increased revenue it was able to buy an
additional twenty-five feet of ground on the
Circle and put up extensive additions to it's
club building, the building, with its addi-
tons, then representing a value of over
valuable realty. This left the club in debt
to the extent of $4,000 upon it's realty. be-
ing seventy-four feet fronting on Monu-
ment place.
The popularity of the club and it's great
usefulness to its members inspired the
thought of recognizing it as a state club
The thought was a happy one, and through
the active efforts of a number of its mem
bers the club was again strengthened to an
increased membership of $50 selected from
the representative Republicans of Indiana
The success of this reorganization was COM
plete and brought to the club enough means
to remove it's debts and secure the erection
Of the building which is here described.
The presidents Of the Columbia Club have
been C. c. Foster. A. P. Hendrickson, I.
s. Gordon, r. o. Hawkins, Chalmers
Brown. Henry Jameson. Moses G. McLain,
Thomas S. Hacker and Franklin w. Hays.
Charles Latham has been the treasurer Of
the club since its organization and the club
gives him much credit for the careful hand
ling of its finances.
The work of its members for party inter-
eStS has been notably enthusiastic, active
and effective and while 1t has fostered the
party'S interests and mas been invaluable
to those who desire influential connections
IN politics, in business and in social rela-
t1onsh1pS 1t does not take any part a
club in party nominations. The scope of it's
influence in public affairs has always been
important since its organization but now
since 1T has become state club these con-
d1tfOns will be more potent and far-reach-
ing. There is probably no club in this coun-
try which is more extensively known than
the Columbia Club on account of events
which have taken place within It's walls
affecting large interests over the country
men who are its members. AT the present
it is not unlikely that sooner or later it
will again have to enlarge its membership
The cOmmodious structure now about to be
erected will accommodate q larger number
The specifications for the plans will be
the new building will begin. Some time dur
ing June the building committee and the
architects will make a tour of the Eastern
cities for the purpose Of studying club
methods and gaining all information pos
sible pertaining to the most approved man.
ner of decorating, equipping and conducting
the Club