The Ingomar Club is a private club

Gentlemen's club

A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...

 in Eureka, California

Eureka, California

Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....

 that owns and is based in the Carson Mansion

Carson Mansion

The Carson Mansion is a large Victorian house located in Old Town, Eureka, California. Regarded as one of the highest executions of American Queen Anne Style architecture, the home is "considered the most grand Victorian home in America." It is one of the most written about and photographed...

, one of the most notable examples of Victorian architecture in the United States. According to researcher Wally Graves, the Club was founded "to own and maintain a club headquarters for the meetings and enjoyment of its members; to create, establish and maintain an association of gentlemen for the preservation and protection of historic 'Carson Mansion'; to promote interest among its members in athletics, yachting, golf, swimming and related activities; to promote good fellowship, and to associate together those interested in the field of fine arts, music and culture" More recently, the Club defines its mission as one of maintaining the Carson mansion while providing dining and social outlets for its members. While for many years, the Club operated with minimal scrutiny, it has not escaped controversy, both due to a long-standing policy of male membership and sexual harassment claims by former employees.

History

In the late 1940s, two Eureka businessmen, J.H. Crothers and Carl Gustafson, came up with the idea for what is now the Ingomar Club. Modeling their vision after an established organization, the Humboldt Club, they and other prominent members of local society began meeting and looking for a physical location to house the club. In particular, they focused on the vacant Carson Mansion, which had been built by lumber baron William Carson, who had been a member of the Humboldt Club. Since his heirs had moved to San Francisco, the club founders were able to negotiate a price of $35,000 The Ingomar Club incorporated in May 1950, taking as its name that of the protagonist in Carson's favorite play. Once the purchase of the Carson Mansion had been finalized, members promptly went to work restoring the Mansion to a usable state and adding a new section, spending a considerable sum of money in the process.

When the Mansion was upgraded, elements and remodeling occurred that changed the internal layout of the mansion significantly. In 1988, the organization's management began a restoration process that made significant progress in restoring aspects of the Mansion back to the days of its original owner. After the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes

1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes

The 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes were a series of three earthquakes that occurred off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California on April 25 and 26, 1992. They consisted of a 7.2-magnitude main shock and two strong aftershocks that spawned a series of smaller aftershocks that ranged in magnitude...

, the Mansion suffered damage as it did in 1932, requiring the club to add a surcharge to member's dues to complete significant repair and restoration work.

See also

• List of American gentlemen's clubs
• Membership discrimination in California social clubs