Colony Club

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Contents 1 History 1.1 120 Madison Avenue 1.2 564 Park Avenue 2 References

[edit] History

This article is about two buildings by this name, both of which were the headquarters of the club at separate times.

The Colony Club was the first social club established in New York City by and for women. The club was formed in 1903 by Florence “Daisy” Jaffray (Mrs. J. Borden) Harriman, who modeled it on clubs for prominent men. ^[1].

[edit] 120 Madison Avenue

With other wealthy women, including Anne Tracy Morgan, a daughter of J.P. Morgan, she raised $500,000, and commissioned Stanford White, of McKim, Mead & White to build the original clubhouse. This building – located between East 30th and East 31st Streets on the West side of Madison, was built between 1904—1908. The interiors, which still exist, and are Landmarked, were created by Elsie deWolfe (later to become Lady Mendl), who interrupted her stage career to design the interiors, the success of which launched her on a new career as an interior decorator. Standford White was killed by an assasin only three blocks away, in the second Madison Square Garden, months before construction was completed. The building was designed to the Georgian Federal Revival style, and has unusual brickwork as one of its hallmarks. This building was sold after the club moved to its new location in 1916, and today it is the east coast headquarters of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts ^[1][2].

[edit] 564 Park Avenue

The second clubhouse, located at 564 Park Avenue/51 East 62nd Street on the northwest corner, was completed from 1914-1916 and designed by Delano & Aldrich. Neo-Georgian in style, the building has a marble base with red-brick and marble trim and columns for the upper floors^[1][2].

This is not one of Delano & Aldrich's more elegant works in the Colonial idiom, perhaps because it was nearly impossible to create a well-proportioned design for a building with the complex spatial requirements of this club. The beautifully appointed interior included the lounges, dining rooms, and bedrooms common to social clubs, but also had a two-story ballroom, a basement swimming pool and spa that connected via an express elevator to a gymnasium on the fifth floor, two squash courts, servants' rooms (in 1925 there were thirteen female servants), and even a kennel where members could check their pets.^[3].

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Kenneth T. Jackson: The Encyclopedia of New York City: The New York Historical Society; Yale University Press; 1995. P. 255.
2. ^ ^{a b} White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot; AIA Guide to New York City, 4th Edition; New York Chapter, American Institute of Architects; Crown Publishers/Random House. 2000. ISBN 0-8129-3106-8; ISBN 0-8129-3107-6. P.215 and P.386.
3. ^ Dolkart, Andrew S.; Touring the Upper East Side, Walks in five Historic Districts; 1995, New York Landmarks Conservancy