The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-09
birmingham Newspaper
Club Leases Top Floor and
Roof Garden of the
Jefferson Bank
WILL BE EQUIPPED
ON ELABORATE SCALE
FOR IT'S MEMBERS
Prominent Citizens Who Become Mem
bers Will Have All the Privileges
of the Spacious Club
Rooms and Roof
Cafe

The Birmingham Newspaper club board
of governors yesterday afternoon closed
contract for the clubs permanent home
to be located on the top floor of the New
Jefferson County Savings bank 25 story
skyscraper The club will occupy the top
story and the roof garden of that struc-
ture.
In addition to taking that very interest
ing step the Newspaper club brought its
active membership up to an approximately
10o and passed favorably upon the appli-
cations of many well known citizens who
have already expressed a desire to become
associate members OF the Newspaper
club. The governors also appointed a
house committee composed of G. NJ. Stan
ley, w. M. Clemens, J. r. Hornady and
Eugene f. Enslen, to take immediate
steps to close a contract for the furnish
ings of the club rooms which are expected
to cost about $4,000. 1t is expected the
Newspaper club will be the most elabo-
rately equipped club in the south.
The governors also instructed the house
committee to confer with William c. Wes-
ton, architect for the new building, in
reference to some slight changes that are
to be made on the roof garden plans. One
of the principal changes will be to provide
private dining room with a seating ca
pacity of at least so for other organiza-
tons of this city that may wish to meet
on the roof garden of the jefferson County
Bank building for their luncheons and for
conferences
Lease for Ten Years
The Newspaper club has contracted TO
occupy the two floors for a period of live
years, with an option of five additional
years. The active newspaper men of this
city propose to invite the ntpst prominent
and acceptable business men of this city
and state. as we'll as neighboring cities, to
become associate members of the club. 1t
is believed that membership of over 800
men, conservatively and properly selected,
will be secured. The sanguine expecta-
ton of all those who are working on the
club is that a waiting list will be formed
within a short time.
The club will be in every. way one OF
the most desirable and attractive features
of Birmingham life. The roof garden win
have a cafe with seating capacity of 100
or 200 persons, exclusive of the private
dining rooms.
From the main dining room one enters
upon the promenade eight feet wide over
loking the entire district A grander view
of this valley viii never be available than
from the cafe of the press club.
Magnificent Tile Promenade
The dining room opens by French case
ment windows and doors extending from
roof to floor onto the promenade. In
reality and for all practical purposes the
whole roof garden is wide open, though
1t has a permanent roof. In the winter
months the dining room can be entirely
enclosed and heated with a special sys-
tenn. The interior will be designed as a
vineyard. with elegant equipment. The
five foot balustrade surrounding the build
ing on the promenade side will be sur
mounted with colQred lighting effects.
costing over $500 to install. The floors
will be tile. A ladies' retiring room and
rest room will be arranged on the cafe
floor as ladies will be permitted to patron
ize the cafe as guests of the members.
The main club rooms occupy the en-
tire floor just below the roof garden. A
lounging room of immense proportions,
reading room, three retiring rooms,
buffet, billiard room, reading room and
conference room will be provided on the
club floor The equipment of the two
floors, the decorations the carpets and
chairs as well as the fixtures and hang
ings will be thoroughly in keeping with
the handsome surroundings. special
committee has been named to look after
the details of the furnishing which it is
expected will cost about $4,000
Most Attractive in South
The Press club proposes to open to Br-
nlingham and her leading citizens the
most attractive downtown club of the
south. The club proposes to employ the
best and most efficient secretary and
steward available for their respective
work. The walters will be chosen from
the most widely known, polite and ef-
ficient walters to be found Every detail
will be carefully guarded to the end that
Birmingham may be proud of the News
paper club and the service and place 1t
occupies in this district.
In order to secure the most desirable
men in this city the Press club has ap-
pointed a committee of two newspaper
men from each daily paper. For
the state at large committee
of three men has been ap-