| University Club of Chicago |
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The Club's cancellation policy, as set forth in the Membership By-laws/House Rules, can be found in its entirety under the Special Events heading. Briefly, but not exclusively: Cancellation 25 hours to seven calendar days prior to an event incurs a 50% charge of the event's cost. Cancellation less than 24 hours before the event incurs 100% of the charge. Probably no other gathering of the same men as were present last night would have produced the flow of spirits that effervesced throughout the evening, though many of the boys were gray and some had lost their hair . . . college yells began, a group from one school giving its yell and then another followed until every school in the country, of any pretensions, had been represented . . . college songs followed between courses and everybody joined in these with more or less musical ability . . . .” Following a twenty minute address on “The Influence Which a University Club Should Exert in Rockford,” by Albion W. Small of the Rockford Morning Star, spirited entertainment ensued. There was a makeshift, but enthusiastic, orchestra composed of Hugo Herring, J.T. Haight, F. L. Hichok, , A. M. Johnson, Frank Petriz, W. “Judge” Frost, “Holdy” Hoderness, “Bob” Hunter, “Tavy” Taveira, and “Gib” Gibboney; a quartette composed of Dr. R. C. Bourland, the Reverend R. B. Davidson, Kjallmar Lundquist, and H. A. Taveira; and a chorus with the following members: Dr. C. A. Ackerman, Edwin Armstrong, G. P. Gallagher, R. Giddings, R. J. Harmon, R. Hamilton, A. E. Hauter, Hugo Herring, R. H. Mower, Jon A. Nelson, Carl Smith, Harold Smith, N. F. Thompson Jr., and C. P. Wilson, with Frank Petritz as accompanist. The University Club was formally founded in April 1911. On the Board that first year were George Purdy, President; William Fitch, Vice-President; Warner Hays, Secretary; Robert Gibboney, Treasurer; and Claude Briggs, the Reverend Mr. Davidson, Harry R. Forbes, Edwin St. John, and Harry Severson, as Directors. By 1915, the Club was sufficiently established to become a legally-organized corporation. Application was made by Mr. Purdy, Sanford R. Catlin, Norman Thompson, Henry Whipple, and William Fitch. The first Board listed on the Charter included Messrs. Catlin, Whipple, Fitch, Burrell Treat, William D. Knight, Roy H. Brown, Shaler G. Smith, Ben Early, and Earl R. Craig. At one time or another, the Club met in such places as the Christian Union Church which was loaned for the purpose by Dr. Charles Parker Connolly, the Elks Club, the Trust Building, and the Lafayette Hotel. Usually, these were monthly meetings with a speaker of interest. In 1926, there was talk of acquiring a permanent home for the Club. Among the homes considered were the Wait Talcott home on North Main Street for $60,000.00, and the Ralph Hinchcliff home at 205 Mound Avenue for $40,000.00. Both were judged too expensive to maintain. On June 7, 1928, the University Club moved into its first home—a space vacated by the Mid-Day Club on the second floor of 311 West State Street above the F. W. Woolworth store. Later, on May 18, 1931, the Club moved to the newly completed Gas-Electric Building and occupied the entire top (8th) floor. Then, on November 29, 1939, the Club leased the Duncan P. Forbes home at 945 North Main Street for its quarters. After extensive remodeling, the Club moved there on March 20, 1940. An open house, chaired by Bob Nethercutt, was held for the members and their wives on March 31, 1940. At that time, the Club also provided rooms for Rockford’s bachelors. Room rentals were discontinued in 1968. One reason for discontinuing room rentals was a request by the Fire Department that fire escapes be added for safety of the renters. Rather than deface the building, The Board chose to discontinue rentals. The Club was thirty-seven years old when it secured a home of its own. In 1945, a group of members decided to purchase a home “for the Boys who were serving their Country to come home to.” A Building Corporation was formed and, through the selling of bonds, the Forbes Home that the Club was leasing was purchased in 1948. Senior members recall the “several one-armed bandits” located in the bar area that helped pay off the mortgage. Subsequent remodeling added probably the first squash court in Rockford. The Game Room was built above the squash court in 1960 and the Dining Room was added in 1961. Old-timers may remember the old Dining Room (now the Bar Room) and the old horseshoe-shaped bar which was so dark that a patron could sit unnoticed for hours (now the kitchen and the old kitchen, is now serving as a storeroom and restroom). Today, after many renovations, the same building still serves as the Club’s quarters. In the mid 1960s until the early 1970s, the University Club owned the row of houses and apartments immediately north of the University Club. Later University Club Boards decided the Club should not be in the real estate business and sold the properties. In 1965, anticipating a need for more parking, the University Club Board received authorization from the membership to purchase the North Main Apartments at 935 North Main Street for $550,000.00 and some debt. The North Main Apartments are immediately south of the University Club and extend from Main Street to the river. Before the Board could finalize the purchase, three attorneys, members of the University Club, learning of the transaction, purchased the apartments. Finally, in 1983, the University Club was able to purchase the approximate rear one-third of the property from the three attorneys for $125,000.00. In 1982, the Mid-Day Club, a downtown luncheon club, was incorporated into the University Club. The Mid-Day Club treasury and some of their physical assets were turned over to the University Club. All members of the Mid-Day Club in good standing were allowed to join the “U” Club without an initiation fee. In January, 2002, the Club voted to allow women members, breaking a ninety-one year tradition. The University Club of Rockford was supposedly the last University Club in the Nation to allow women members. Where 150 men attended that gala first annual dinner in 1911, the University Club membership today totals nearly 330, not counting those holding associate status. Luncheons are served daily and Thursday and Friday nights are family nights. There are frequent Club functions throughout the year, and during the summer the Club pool is a Mecca for the next generation of UClub members For general information, please call 312.726.2840. For details information:University Club of Chicago |
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