Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-01
SOCIAL CLUBS
Organizations That Form Part
of Life in Omaha.


The larger clubs Of Omaha number about
fifteen, with innumerable smaller or neigh
borhood societies to say nothing OF polit-
ical clubs with social features. They are
all in a iourishing condition. owning real
estate and improvements valued at about
$4,000 and having in the aggregate close
to 5000 members. The largest are the COM
mercial club and the Ak-Sar-Ben organiza-
ton, described more In detail in another
column.
The Omaha club is an exclusive mems or
ganization, conducted along the conven-
] tional lines of such organization. 1t has
history covering some twenty-five years
and occupies a fine three-story brick and
stone building at Twentieth and Douglas
streets. Two years ago an extensive addi-
| ton was made to the building. The club
| has residence quarters and maintains a
complete cafe service, and II is here that
most Of the city's distinguished guests are
entertained at dinners and like functions.
| Society freduents its cafes and II is a ia
vorite rendezvous for army. professional
and business men. Two presidents of the
! United States have been among the clubs
guests of honor. The membership which
is limited, is now 475 and the organization
ia Differed by Edward Porter Peck presl-
/ utHlF OuiIleS Deuel. secretary ana treas
urer. and Messrs. Harry Cartan, John S
Brady, Victor b. Caldwell, c. w. Hull w
! NJ. Burgess, Myron L. Learned. f. w
Lake and Luther Kountze as a board of
! directors.
! Numerically and otherwise the Omaha
Elks club is very strong. The roll includes
| the names of 70O men. Elaborate quarters
/ are maintained in the Ware block at Fiji
| teenth and Farnam, an entire floor with
! additions being given to the purpose. In
national gatherings the Omaha Elks are
always conspicuous, the caliber of the men
/ composing Its membership insuring imme-
| date recognition. Its rooms are frequently
! the scene of receptions and other func-
/ lions for brother celebrities who visit the
city, and for some time past plans have
! been maturing for the building of a club
house on pretentious scale. This year
the club is officered by James Dewar, ex-
allied ruler; w. T. Kennedy, esteemed lead
ing knight; d. ]. Riley. esteemed loyal
/ knight John A. Rine, esteemed lecturing
knight Frank A. Furay, secretary; Charles
l.. Saunders, treasurer; Tolf Hansen, chap
| lain; William p. Marshall, esquire; c. F.
| Parsons, inner guard; Frank L. Brown
tyler, and John Drexel, A. w Riley and
| c. w. Downs trustees.
! The Country club is the summer meeting
ground of the city's sven set and is de-
voted to social and athletic aims Eighty
acres of fine land are owned near Renson
and one of the prettiest golf links of the
west is laid out upon them. The club
house is large, INTELLECTUALLY and con-
veniently attractive, and is used for lunch
cons, dinners and dances. The establish
ment represents the investment of more
than $4,000 The membership of the club
is limited to 200 and this year its affairs
are being managed by John s. Brady,
president; Sam Burns, jr., secretary; e.
Nj. Fairfield, treasurer, and board of
directors including the officers and Arthur
T. Guiou, E. M. Morsman, jr., T. Il. Lind
sey, Harry Cummings G. l.. Hammer +.
S. Cowgirl and e. III. Sprague.
At the opposite corner on the west side
of the city the Omaha Field club has its
large clubhouse and golf and athletic
grounds. Nearly 800 members belong to
this organization. The grounds are leased
but the buildings and furnishings belong
to the club and cost more than $25,OO0
Last summer the buildings were enlarged
by half and much improved. Every sum-
mer the middle-western tennis tournament
is held at the Field club. The appointments
and diversions are those usual to clubs OF
this character. At the recent annual meet.
ing Ben I. White was elected president OF
the club; V. L. Lewis, vice president
James Allen, secretary, and Philip Potter
treasurer, with Joseph Clarke, w. II
| Sherradan, Conrad Young and Harry b
Morrill, directors.
The leading Jewish social organization OF
the city is the Metropolitan club a mems
organization, which occupies a three-story
brick building erected for it in 1892, at 23O
Harvey street, at cost of about $4,000
The club has had a life of twenty-five
r yeuIs and the membership is now close tc
| 100. Throughout the winter season a series
of balls is given in the spacious dance hall
and whist and lowing parties are helC
. fortnighuy for the families OF members
Reading rooms and cuisine features ar,
part OF the club. The ball room is provided
. with a stage where amateur theatrical
3 and meetings of various kinds are held
4 Julius Meyer is the clubs president; Leo
pold Heller, vice president; A. Mandelberg
= secretary; Moritz Meyer, treasurer, anC
Y Nathan Spiesberger, chairman of the hous
1 committee.
;, The Omaha Womans club is one of tn,
largest and most prominent women's or
= CARNATIONS in the middle west, having
membership of 423. The purposes of thu
a club are along the educational and philan
= thropic lines peculiar to associations of it
KIND thirteen branches or work are car
: ried by its departments and the club ha
been a prominent factor in the educationa
J. life of the city by bringing public speaker
Of national and international reputation
J. here under its auspices. Spacious clu
r rooms are maintained in connection wit
n the First Congregational church, where al
r art collection, a library and other prop
S erty is installed The erection of a clu
Q house has been frequently considered, pu
g all plans are in allegiance az present pend
= ing the completion of the Young Women
e Christian Association building, where per
II manent quarters may be taken. The club
g present officers are: Mrs. Mary G. An
: drews, president; Mrs. IL. j. Penfold, vic
J. president; Mrs. Clara Burbank second vic
J. president; Mrs Edward Johnson, record
II ing secretary; Mrs. Thomas H. Smith
o corresponding secretary; Mrs. w. H. Han
e cock. treasurer
y The Omaha Racquet club is an associa
e ton of ninety men who go in for squas
70 ball and other forms of indoor athletics
IS In 1904 a fine club house was built at Sew
d enteenth and St. Marys avenue, wher
l. spacious courts provided. The invest
NWaaz -.