Yorick Club (Lowell, MA)
Encyclopedia
The Yorick Club is a private social club
in Lowell, Massachusetts
. Twenty prominent young Lowell men founded it in February 1882 as the "Highland Club."
until they rented a room at the Wyman's Exchange building.
Elected officials Included:
Other members included; Joseph & James Nesmith, George S. Motley, Theodore E. Parker Jr., Walter U. Lawson, Paul Butler, Samuel E. Stott, Charles H. Hooke, Harry V. Huse, Edward Ellingwood, Herbert P. Jefferson, Fred C. Church
, Gerard Bement, Harry A. Brown, and Frank W. Howe.
The club officially became the "Yorick Club" on May 19, 1883. The club continued to rent spaces in the Post Office building, then the Hildreth Building, and finally in 1885 they took over a suite of rooms in the Mansur Building. After 16 years, in June 1900, a fire forced the club to relocate from the Mansur building on Central Street.
and partner Austin. This facility was first maintained by:
The Highland Club Building was used more as a hotel function facility, for overnight guest, for instance; on November 22, 1919 the club hosted the New England Federation of Harvard Clubs' annual meeting with over 100 in attendance. During the luncheon festivities, the building caught fire, but was quickly extinguished, no one was hurt, and the meetings continued.
designed the renovations of the building. This became the permanent home of the Yorick Club for the next 78 years, until it was dissolved in 1979. This facility was maintained more of an Exclusive Lunch facility. Currently, the building is a restaurant and function facility, but is still referred to as the Yorick Building, as part of the Lowell National Historical Park
.
Just after the opening of the new building, the Mayor Dimon invited Chief, Sachem of Passaconaway Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men
, for lunch at the Club.
John Heinze, the Owner of the Heinze Electric Company, which sold parts to the Detroit Auto Industry
, convinced the Governor to allow the roads around Lowell to be used as a race track over a week around Labor Day. Backed by the Automobile Club of America, AAA
, and the Lowell Automobile Club, the "Auto Carnival" was held in 1908. Yorick Club was one of three trophy sponsored competitions. In September 1909, the Yorick Club Trophy Lowell went to John Coffey
, for Columbia.
During World War II
, the time at the Yorick Club was described in Marc S. Miller's book, "The irony of victory: World War II and Lowell, Massachusetts" as;
Former WWII vet., Frederick F. Bobola managed the club in the later years.
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 Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. Twenty prominent young Lowell men founded it in February 1882 as the "Highland Club."
Inception
The first meeting was held at the home of Joseph A. Nesmith on November 11, 1882, as the purpose of organizing "a young men's social club." The next few meetings were held between Nesmith's home and the home of George RichardsonGeorge Richardson
-Athletes:* George Richardson , English association footballer* George Richardson , English association footballer* George Richardson , English association footballer...
until they rented a room at the Wyman's Exchange building.
Elected officials Included:
- Percy Parker, President
- Frederick W. StickneyFrederick W. StickneyFrederick W. Stickney , was an American architect.-Early years:Frederick W. Stickney was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. Frederick attended MIT and later worked at the New York office of William Robert Ware & Henry Van Brunt. At Ware & Van Brunt, Stickney worked alongside other MIT graduates,...
Architect, Secretary - Frederick A. Chase Treasurer
- George RichardsonGeorge Richardson-Athletes:* George Richardson , English association footballer* George Richardson , English association footballer* George Richardson , English association footballer...
Director - Walter M. Lancaster Director
Other members included; Joseph & James Nesmith, George S. Motley, Theodore E. Parker Jr., Walter U. Lawson, Paul Butler, Samuel E. Stott, Charles H. Hooke, Harry V. Huse, Edward Ellingwood, Herbert P. Jefferson, Fred C. Church
Fred C. Church
Frederic Cameron Church founded Fred C. Church Insurance company in 1865 as a sole proprietorship in Lowell, Massachusetts. Fred. C. Church, Inc. currently has around 150 employees, with branch offices in Andover, MA, Chelmsford, MA, Dracut, MA, Haverhill, MA, Tewksbury, MA, Westford, MA,...
, Gerard Bement, Harry A. Brown, and Frank W. Howe.
The club officially became the "Yorick Club" on May 19, 1883. The club continued to rent spaces in the Post Office building, then the Hildreth Building, and finally in 1885 they took over a suite of rooms in the Mansur Building. After 16 years, in June 1900, a fire forced the club to relocate from the Mansur building on Central Street.
The Highland Club facility
The Highland Club was dedicated February 6, 1892, and built on the corner of Harvard Street and Princeton Street on two acres of land, as designed by Frederick W. StickneyFrederick W. Stickney
Frederick W. Stickney , was an American architect.-Early years:Frederick W. Stickney was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. Frederick attended MIT and later worked at the New York office of William Robert Ware & Henry Van Brunt. At Ware & Van Brunt, Stickney worked alongside other MIT graduates,...
and partner Austin. This facility was first maintained by:
- Colonel J. W. Bennett Chairman.
- Orrin B. Ranlett
- C. C. Streeter
- Charles W. Wilder
- C. W. Pierce
The Highland Club Building was used more as a hotel function facility, for overnight guest, for instance; on November 22, 1919 the club hosted the New England Federation of Harvard Clubs' annual meeting with over 100 in attendance. During the luncheon festivities, the building caught fire, but was quickly extinguished, no one was hurt, and the meetings continued.
Clubhouse
On July 22, 1901, the members purchased a forty year old boarding house, located at 91 Dutton Street, built in 1859 by the Merrimack Manufacturing Company for Lowell's elite. One of the founding members, architect Frederick W. StickneyFrederick W. Stickney
Frederick W. Stickney , was an American architect.-Early years:Frederick W. Stickney was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. Frederick attended MIT and later worked at the New York office of William Robert Ware & Henry Van Brunt. At Ware & Van Brunt, Stickney worked alongside other MIT graduates,...
designed the renovations of the building. This became the permanent home of the Yorick Club for the next 78 years, until it was dissolved in 1979. This facility was maintained more of an Exclusive Lunch facility. Currently, the building is a restaurant and function facility, but is still referred to as the Yorick Building, as part of the Lowell National Historical Park
Lowell National Historical Park
Lowell National Historical Park is a National Historical Park of the United States located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Established in 1978 a few years after Lowell Heritage State Park, it is operated by the National Park Service and comprises a group of different sites in and around the city of...
.
Just after the opening of the new building, the Mayor Dimon invited Chief, Sachem of Passaconaway Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men
Improved Order of Red Men
The Improved Order of Red Men traces its origin to certain secret patriotic societies founded before the American Revolution. They were established to promote Liberty and to defy the tyranny of the English Crown. Among the early groups were: The Sons of Liberty, the Sons of St...
, for lunch at the Club.
John Heinze, the Owner of the Heinze Electric Company, which sold parts to the Detroit Auto Industry
History of Detroit, Michigan
The city of Detroit, Michigan, developed from a French fort and missionary outpost founded in 1701 to one of the largest American cities by the early 20th century. As reflected by the emblems on its flag, Detroit has been governed by three world powers: France, Great Britain, and the United States....
, convinced the Governor to allow the roads around Lowell to be used as a race track over a week around Labor Day. Backed by the Automobile Club of America, AAA
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
, and the Lowell Automobile Club, the "Auto Carnival" was held in 1908. Yorick Club was one of three trophy sponsored competitions. In September 1909, the Yorick Club Trophy Lowell went to John Coffey
John Coffey
John "Jack" Francis Coffey born in New York, New York was an Infielder for the Boston Doves , Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
, for Columbia.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the time at the Yorick Club was described in Marc S. Miller's book, "The irony of victory: World War II and Lowell, Massachusetts" as;
"...A good deal of soliciting for donations to the Red Cross and other social service organizations occurred informally at the Yorick Club, Lowell's exclusive lunch club for three hundred men of respectable positions and income: mill owners, managers, a few doctors and lawyers, 'successful' businessmen..."
Former WWII vet., Frederick F. Bobola managed the club in the later years.
Notable members
- Victor Francis Jewett (b.1881) Massachusetts House of Representatives (1912–1928)
- Charles Herbert AllenCharles Herbert AllenCharles Herbert Allen was an American politician and businessman. His positions included serving in the United States House of Representatives and as governor of Puerto Rico.-Early life:...
(b. 1848) U.S. Congressman 1885-1889 - Frederick W. StickneyFrederick W. StickneyFrederick W. Stickney , was an American architect.-Early years:Frederick W. Stickney was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. Frederick attended MIT and later worked at the New York office of William Robert Ware & Henry Van Brunt. At Ware & Van Brunt, Stickney worked alongside other MIT graduates,...
(1854–1918), Architect - Fred A. Buttrick (b.1848), Banker
- Fred C. ChurchFred C. ChurchFrederic Cameron Church founded Fred C. Church Insurance company in 1865 as a sole proprietorship in Lowell, Massachusetts. Fred. C. Church, Inc. currently has around 150 employees, with branch offices in Andover, MA, Chelmsford, MA, Dracut, MA, Haverhill, MA, Tewksbury, MA, Westford, MA,...
, Insurance man - George W. McQuade (b. 1924) WWII vet. & HosieryHosieryHosiery, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose...
Industrialist. - George S. Archer (b. 1916) WWII vet. & Vesper Country ClubVesper Country ClubThe Vesper Country Club, founded in 1899, is located on the Merrimack River in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. According to the USGA, and Golf Magazine, its golf course is one of the first in the United States, and was home to the first Massachusetts Open in 1905, won by golfer and course designer...
president. - John Frederic Havey (b.1878) Harvard Grad. & Sales.
- Ethan Allen Smith (b.1840) Real Estate Investor.
- Freeman Manter Bill (b.1859) Wholesale Market Investor.