Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1920, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “We had a hustle job at the swell Casino Club. We managed to complete it on time, and it looked very good.”
On Dec. 2, 1914, the “Chicago Tribune” reported, “The Casino is the latest and most exclusive of all Chicago’s clubs. Moreover, it is the only social organization reflecting the modern spirit. Its membership includes both men and women – on a Dutch treat basis of finances. There are 400 on the list. Perhaps this signifies, but some years ago the late Ward McAllister of New York made the number socially famous. He selected 400 members for New York Society. Since then Society – capitalized- has known no other name more expressive than ‘The 400’” (page 13). Alongside the article was a list of members. The article continued, “The club, after some effort getting located and established at 167 East Delaware place is to be opened on the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 12, at 4 o’clock. After that much of the social life of Chicago will receive it. Its chief object is to promote the gayety and happiness of its members. Originally, with this thought in mind, it was to have been called the ‘Bluebird,’ or perhaps ‘At the Sign of the Bluebird,’ since the bluebird signifies the pursuit of happiness, but the name was changed to the Casino early in the plans of the organization.”
The president of the club was Mrs. Joseph G. Coleman, with Mrs. Howard Linn as the vice president. Robert G. McGann was the secretary and Robert H. McCormick the treasurer. The governors were Arthur Aldis, Mrs. John Alden Carpenter, Miss Helen Cudahy, Howard Chatfield-Taylor, John T. McCutcheon, Howard F. Gilette, Harold A Howard, Frank Hibbard, Eames MacVeagh, and Honoré Palmer. Moses had worked for Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Carpenter many times by 1919.
Edith Brown Kirkwood of the “Chicago Tribune” described the interior of the club on Dec 13, 1919:
“When the Casino club opened formally yesterday afternoon, spick and span in its fresh dress, not many of the members realized what a few members had done for the whole of them.
“There were Mr. and Mrs. Honoré Palmer, Mrs. John Alden Carpenter, and Miss Catherine Dudley, and Harold Howard, who had put on their working clothes early in the morning, after having spent many days getting the club built, and had gone over to the clubhouse to get things in readiness for the great moment. There was much to be done, the casual visitor might have placed the opening a week hence rather than a few hours. The men had unpacked boxes and wrapped furniture, while the women. Good old fashioned dust clothes in hand, had made the chairs and tables shiny.
“Nor was this all, for the afternoon found the same group still pegging away at the finishing touches-as late as 3:30 o’clock with the first guest expected at 4. It was 8:30 o’clock, in fact, when Harold Howard turned to the few who had been admitted to the big general room and called:
‘Every one out of this room while the floor is scrubbed.’ Every one filed out into the reception room only to be met by another masculine voice which said: ‘Every one out of her while to floor is scrubbed.’ Mrs. John Alden Carpenter came through bearing a bog vase of flowers. ‘While they are scrubbing this floor we’ll all go in there,’ she announced. ‘Can’t,’ answered Honoré Palmer;’ we’ve just been driven out of there, too. No place to go while the floors get washed for the party.’ But there still remained the three smaller rooms which flank the reception hall, and into these the company scattered.
“The public has heard great deal about the Casino club, but from this time forth it will not be told so much, for no guests ever are to be admitted, according to present plans. Exteriorially the club is said to resemble Anna Gould’s French ‘petty palace’ except for the fact that the latter is in pink marble. Someday, perhaps, the walls of the Casino are also to be pink tinted – at least so rumor says. At present the sidewalk leading up to it is pink, but perhaps that has no bearing on the color of the Casino.
“Within the club is not large. It has been founded so that the society folks caring for informal afternoon tea, cards, dancing, and kindred pleasant pastimes may have the opportunity to gather for indulgence in one or all of these things.”
To be continued…
