The Philadelphia Club - Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 52 text:

48 CLUB HISTORY. Alt the next meeting, held March 28th, 1834, the Hrst Board of Directors was chosen, namely:- Edward S. Burd, Chairman, Henry Bohlen, George Cadwalader, William M. Camac, George Follin, James Markoe, Henry Ralston. 3 0 . In April, 1835, the Club rented the old Bon- aparte House Qso called from having been at one time the residence of Joseph Bonapartej, at No. 260 Cthen No. 1565 South Ninth Street. Shortly after moving into its new quarters, the name of the Club was changed to The Philadelphia Club, by which name it continued to be known until its incorporation in 1850. In March, 1843, the Club moved to the house in Walnut Street below Tenth, afterwards the residence of Mr. tl. Francis Fisher, No. 919 Walnut Street. V In 1845 the Union Club, which occupied a house at the southwest corner of Tenth and Walnut Streets, where the Western Saving Fund now stands, broke up, and most of its members joined The Philadelphia Club. ,M On May 8th, 18 50, the Club was incorporated under the name of The Philadelphia Associa- tion and Reading Room, and on July 15th, 18 50, purchased the present Club house, No. 1301 Walnut Street, then known as the Butler

Page 51 text:

CLUB HISTORY. mm IN the year 18 30 a number of gentlemen were in the habit of meeting to play cards at Mrs. Rubicam's Coffee House, at the northwest corner of Fifth and Minor Streets. They were joined later by another party of gentlemen who met at Mrs. Arney's Coffee House, at Sixth and Minor Streets, and early in 1834 removed to the old Adelphi Building, on the west side of Fifth Street, below Walnut Cnow No. 212 South Fifth Streetb. At this time they adopted the name of The Adelphi Club, and on March 2ISt, 1834, held their first recorded meeting for the purpose of organizing and adopting a Con- stitution and By-Lawsq At this meeting the following gentlemen, who may fairly be regarded as the Founders of the Philadelphia Club, were present :-- Henry Bohlen, Thomas W. Francis, George Cadwalader, P. L. Laguerenne, Henry Chancellor, james Markoe, William F. Clemson, Henry Pratt McKean, George C. Craig, james McMurtrie, George Follin, Henry Ralston, Thomas Rotch. f47l

Page 53 text:

CLUB IIISTOR Y. 49 House. This house had been 'the property of Thomas Butler, only son of Major Pierce Butler, the iirst of that name in this country, who- came here from Ireland in 1765, and Was after-- wards Senator from South Carolina. Thomas Butler began to build the present. Club House, in the most expensive manner, as a. residence for himself, but died in 1838, leaving it unfinished, in his will he directed his trustees, Col. VVilliam Drayton and the Hon. john Ser- geant, to finish it according to his plans. It. then became the property of his son, Louis Butler, who, however, never occupied it, the house was used for a time as a boarding house, and subsequently as an young ladies' boarding school. The deed to The Philadelphia Association and Reading Room was dated November 18th, 18 5o, and on the same day the Club House was first opened to members. The first meeting of the Board of Directors in the new Club House was held on November zzd, 1850, and early in the following year the Club gave an opening ball. Notwithstanding its corporate title, the Club was very generally called UT he Philadelphia Club, even ine the official minutes of meetings,- and in accordance with a resolution adopted at a stated meeting of the Club, Aprili4th, I85Q, the name and title of The Philadelphia Asso- ciation and Reading Room was by a decree of