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Coordinates: 43°39′7″N 70°15′58″W / 43.65194°N 70.26611°W / 43.65194; -70.26611
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{{Short description|Building in Portland, Maine, United States}}
The '''Portland Club''' at 156 State Street (The Hunneywell Mansion) in [[Portland, Maine]], was built in [[1805]], with later updates on the mansion by [[John Calvin Stevens]] ([[1855]]-[[1940]]). The mansion is now home to the historical Portland Club and the Portland Rotary Club.
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}{{Infobox NRHP
| name = The Portland Club
| nrhp_type =
| image = Portland Club in Maine.jpg
| caption = Front of The Portland Club, 1969 HABS photo
| location = 156 [[State Street (Portland, Maine)|State Street]], [[Portland, Maine]]
| coordinates = {{coord|43|39|7|N|70|15|58|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Maine#USA
| built = 1805
| architect = multiple
| architecture =
| added = January 25, 1973
| area =
| refnum = 73000120<ref name=nris>{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
| nrhp_type2 = cp
| nocat = yes
| designated_nrhp_type2 = April 3, 1970
| partof = [[Spring Street Historic District]]
| partof_refnum = 70000043
}}


The '''Portland Club''' is a social club at 156 [[State Street (Portland, Maine)|State Street]] in [[Portland, Maine]].
The Portland Club holds many meetings of [[social]] and [[politics|political]] interest. The mansion itself is home to many [[painting]]s and [[antique]]s that are original to the club, along with over 12 antique [[mahogany]] [[billiards|pool]] tables on the second floor. The Portland Club has a history of being on the top for all of the social events in Portland, as well as having the history of being one of the first clubs to bring [[women]] into the organization as The Woman's Portland Club.


==Services and facilities==
The Portland Club was started before the purchase of the Hunneywell Mansion by Mr. Dow of Portland. The Dow family is still very active in the club as board members or as officers. Currently, the great great grandson of Mr. Dow, William Dow, is the president of the club, showing a true heritage of the organization.
The Portland Club is located in the Hunnewell-Shepley Mansion,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Portland Club, Portland, ca. 1921 |url=https://www.mainememory.net/record/76509 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Maine Memory Network |language=en}}</ref> on the south side of [[State Street (Portland, Maine)|State Street]], between Pine and Spring Streets, on the east side of Portland's [[West End (Portland, Maine)|West End]]. The [[Federal architecture|Federal]]-style mansion was built in 1805 to a design by [[Alexander Parris]], with later [[Colonial Revival architecture|Colonial Revival]] updates by [[John Calvin Stevens]]. It has housed the club since 1921.<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=73000120}}|title=NRHP nomination for Portland Club|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> The building is an important local work by Parris, a Boston architect who, under the direction of Joseph Ingraham, helped to define much of Portland's skyline with his beautiful structures. The building was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1973.<ref name="nris"/>


The Portland Club holds many meetings of social and political interest. The mansion itself is home to many paintings and antiques that are original to the club, along with over 12 antique mahogany pool tables on the second floor. The Portland Club has a history of being on the top for all of the social events in Portland, as well as having the history of being one of the first clubs to bring [[women]] into the organization as The Woman's Portland Club.
[[Category:Portland, Maine]]

The club currently hosts seasonal dinner meetings with lectures, brunches, and various social events.

==History==
The Portland Club began in 1886, after [[Fred Dow|Fred N. Dow]] and a group of influential friends decided to organize their informal gatherings into a club. The men's purpose was to "discuss current events," and though never part of the by-laws, to promote the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] agenda. Because Republicans controlled Maine's government, the club was widely recognized as the ''de facto'' seat of political power for decades. Another social club, [[Woodfords Club]] was formed in the burgeoning suburban neighborhoods of Portland in 1913. The club acquired the mansion in 1921 and has been the home of The Portland Club ever since.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
{{Commons category|Shepley House (Portland Club)}}
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine]]
[[Category:Houses completed in 1805]]
[[Category:Clubhouses in Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:1805 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Houses in Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:Historic district contributing properties in Maine]]

Latest revision as of 11:47, 28 June 2024

The Portland Club
Front of The Portland Club, 1969 HABS photo
Portland Club (Portland, Maine) is located in Maine
Portland Club (Portland, Maine)
Portland Club (Portland, Maine) is located in the United States
Portland Club (Portland, Maine)
Location156 State Street, Portland, Maine
Coordinates43°39′7″N 70°15′58″W / 43.65194°N 70.26611°W / 43.65194; -70.26611
Built1805
Architectmultiple
Part ofSpring Street Historic District (ID70000043)
NRHP reference No.73000120[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 25, 1973
Designated CPApril 3, 1970

The Portland Club is a social club at 156 State Street in Portland, Maine.

Services and facilities

[edit]

The Portland Club is located in the Hunnewell-Shepley Mansion,[2] on the south side of State Street, between Pine and Spring Streets, on the east side of Portland's West End. The Federal-style mansion was built in 1805 to a design by Alexander Parris, with later Colonial Revival updates by John Calvin Stevens. It has housed the club since 1921.[3] The building is an important local work by Parris, a Boston architect who, under the direction of Joseph Ingraham, helped to define much of Portland's skyline with his beautiful structures. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1]

The Portland Club holds many meetings of social and political interest. The mansion itself is home to many paintings and antiques that are original to the club, along with over 12 antique mahogany pool tables on the second floor. The Portland Club has a history of being on the top for all of the social events in Portland, as well as having the history of being one of the first clubs to bring women into the organization as The Woman's Portland Club.

The club currently hosts seasonal dinner meetings with lectures, brunches, and various social events.

History

[edit]

The Portland Club began in 1886, after Fred N. Dow and a group of influential friends decided to organize their informal gatherings into a club. The men's purpose was to "discuss current events," and though never part of the by-laws, to promote the Republican Party agenda. Because Republicans controlled Maine's government, the club was widely recognized as the de facto seat of political power for decades. Another social club, Woodfords Club was formed in the burgeoning suburban neighborhoods of Portland in 1913. The club acquired the mansion in 1921 and has been the home of The Portland Club ever since.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "The Portland Club, Portland, ca. 1921". Maine Memory Network. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "NRHP nomination for Portland Club". National Park Service. Retrieved February 10, 2016.