The Philadelphia Club - Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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

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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

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50 CLUB HISTORY the Court of Quarter Sessions for the City and County of Philadelphia, made the twenty-fifth day of May, ISSQ, changed to that of The Philadelphia Club. PRESIDENTS OF THE CLUB. 1860-1903. THE following gentlemen have held the office of President of The Philadelphia Club since its incorporation :- JAMES MARKOE ........ 186o-61-62. ADOLPH E. BORIWE- ..... 1863-64. JOSEPH C. HARRIS .... .1865-66-67-68-69. GEORGE H. BOKER ..... 187o-71. JAMES MARKOE ........ 1872-73-7.1,-75-76 J Q ALEXANDER WILCOCKS.I877. GEORGE H. BOKER ..... 1878-79-8o-81-82. PEMBERTON S. HUTCH- INSON .............. 1883-84-85-86. JoHN MARKOE ........ 1887. RICHARD VAUX .... . . 1888-SQ-QO4Q I-Q2-Q3-Q4 GEORGE MEADE .... . . . 1895-96. HENRY BR1N1oN CoXE.1897. EDWARD CoLEs. I