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Coordinates: 40°40′29″N 73°58′18″W / 40.6748°N 73.9717°W / 40.6748; -73.9717
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{{Short description|Social club in New York City}}
[[Image:Montauk Club J43 jeh.JPG|thumb|Near sunset]]
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
[[Image:Montauk Club cloudy jeh.JPG|thumb|Across Lincoln Place]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{commonscat}}
{{for|the 1894 building in Detroit, Michigan|Harmonie Club (Detroit, Michigan)}}
The '''Montauk Club''' is a private social club located at 25 Eighth Avenue in [[Brooklyn]]'s [[Park Slope]] neighborhood of [[New York City]].
{{infobox organization
|name = The Montauk Club
|image = Montauk Club from 8th Avenue.jpg
|image_border =
|size = 275px
|caption = The club as seen from Eighth Avenue (2013)
|map =
|msize =
|mcaption =
|abbreviation =
|motto =
|formation = {{Start date|1889|3|11}}
|extinction =
|type = [[Social Club]]
|status =
|purpose =
|headquarters = 25 [[Eighth Avenue (Brooklyn)|Eighth Avenue]]
|location = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|region_served = [[New York metropolitan area]]
|coords = {{coord|40.6748|N|73.9717|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|membership =
|language =
|leader_title = President
|leader_name =
|main_organ =
|parent organization =
|affiliations =
|num_staff =
|num_volunteers =
|budget =
|website = [http://montaukclub.com montaukclub.com]
|remarks =
|former name =
}}


The '''Montauk Club''' is a social club located in a Francis Kimball-designed building in [[Park Slope]], Brooklyn. The Club provides dining and drinking services.
The Club was founded in 1889 by prominent Brooklyn residents excited about Brooklyn's economic boom following the construction of the [[Brooklyn Bridge]]. The founding members of the Club included [[Charles Pratt]], [[Richard Schermerhorn]], and [[Edwin C. Litchfield]]. Since its erection, the Club has hosted prominent political figures including former U.S. presidents [[Grover Cleveland]], [[Herbert Hoover]], [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[John F. Kennedy]] and Senator [[Robert Kennedy]].[http://www.montaukclub.com/history.cfm]


==History==
In the late twentieth century, the club faced declining membership and financial difficulties. It eventually sold its upper two floors.[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E4D81639F93BA15757C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1] However, the clubhouse has enjoyed a revival in recent years. A "house subcommittee for under 35s," also known as the Stephen Talkhouse Fellows, has attracted new membership. The Corduroy Club holds meetings at the Montauk Club on January 11 (1/11) and November 11 (11/11), the dates most resembling [[corduroy]].[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/nyregion/thecity/19cord.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/O/Organizations,%20Societies%20and%20Clubs&pagewanted=all] In 2007, the bar and dining areas of the club began hosting events aimed at young men and women in the rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood.[http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/features/29736/]
The Club was founded in 1889 as a traditional men's social club by a group looking for a club located in the rapidly-developing Park Slope area. The initial group of 25 charter members quickly grew to 300 and became the most prominent club in Brooklyn. [[Charles Pratt]], [[Richard E. Schermerhorn|Richard Schermerhorn]], [[Litchfield Villa|Edwin Clark Litchfield]] and [[Robert Pinkerton]] were early members. Of the hundreds of clubs in Brooklyn at the time, the Montauk Club is the only one still in existence.


The landmark clubhouse was built in 1889-91 and was designed by [[Francis H. Kimball]] in the [[Venetian Gothic]]. It is reported to have been modeled after the Palazzo Santa Sofia ([[Ca' d'Oro]]) on [[Venice]]'s [[Grand Canal (Venice)|Grand Canal]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Brooklyn's Park Slope|last1=Merlis|first1=Brian|last2=Rosenzweig|first2=Lee|publisher=Sheepshead Bay Historical Society & Israelowitz Publishing|year=1999|isbn=1878741470|location=New York|pages=145}}</ref> Built of brownstone and brick, it features verdigris copper and [[terra cotta]] produced by the [[New York Architectural Terra-Cotta Company|New York Architectural Terra Cotta Works]]. It is ornamented with representations of the [[Montaukett|Montauk tribe]] of Native Americans the club is named after, which can be found on the building's [[Capital (architecture)|capitals]], over the main entrance, and on a continuous [[frieze]] between the third and fourth floors. Other panels depict a meeting in 1659 between the Montauks and Europeans, and the laying of the cornerstone of the building. The smaller staircase to the left of the main entrance was built as the Ladies' Entrance, the first of its kind in any social club in Brooklyn or Manhattan. It is now used as the entrance to the condominium units (see below).<ref name=nycland>{{cite nycland|page=254}}</ref><ref name=aia>{{cite aia5|page=653}}</ref>
==Architecture==


The club is located within the [[New York City Landmark Preservation Commission]]'s [[Park Slope Historic District]].<ref name=nycland /> In 2017, the Montauk Club building received the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy and the [[Municipal Art Society]]'s MaSterworks Award for Best Restoration.


Although not a political club, many prominent politicians of both parties were members, and the Club has hosted many prominent politicians over the years, including [[William McKinley]], [[Grover Cleveland]], [[Herbert Hoover]], [[Dwight Eisenhower]], [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Robert F. Kennedy]]. [[Hugh L. Carey]], Governor of New York, was a member for many years.
⚫
== External links ==

* [http://www.montaukclub.com The Montauk Club Web Site]
Club membership declined in the period before Brooklyn's renaissance, and it became difficult to maintain the beautiful but aging clubhouse. The upper and basement floors were sold to a developer for condominiums, with the Club ultimately retaining ownership of the first and second floors.

With a growing membership, especially of younger members, the Club continues to provide community for families and individuals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://montaukclub.com/about/club-history/ |title=Club History |work=The Montauk Club of Brooklyn |accessdate=2010-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|title=New blood tries to save Slope's Montauk Club |first=Christine |last=Rizk |url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/16/30_16montaukclub.html |newspaper=[[The Brooklyn Paper]] |date=April 21, 2007 |accessdate=2010-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Montauk Club in Brooklyn; A Venetian Palace With a Native American Motif |first=Christopher |last=Gray |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E4D81639F93BA15757C0A960958260 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 28, 1996 |accessdate=2010-07-31}}</ref><ref name=nycland /><ref>{{cite news |title=The Takeover |first=Michael |last=Idov |url=http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/features/29736/ |magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=March 25, 2007 |accessdate=2010-07-31}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
The club has been used as a location in films such as ''[[Prizzi's Honor]]'', ''[[Definitely, Maybe (film)|Definitely, Maybe]]'', ''[[Gigantic (2008 film)|Gigantic]]'', '''[[Rounders (film)|Rounders]]'', ''[[Illuminata (film)|Illuminata]]'', [[Q&A (film)|Q&A]], and ''[[City Hall (1996 film)|City Hall]]'' and television shows such as ''[[The Mysteries of Laura]], [[Boardwalk Empire (TV series)|Boardwalk Empire]], [[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]], [[The Good Wife (TV series)|The Good Wife]], [[Public Morals (2015 TV series)|Public Morals]]'' and ''[[Person of Interest (TV series)|Person of Interest]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="187px" heights="167px">
File:Montauk Club from Park Street West.jpg|View of the building from the southeast, on Plaza Street West
File:Montauk Club Park Street West facade detail.jpg|Detail of the Plaza Street West facade
File:Montauk Club doorway.jpg|The main entrance to the building
File:Montauk Club 8th Avenue facade detail.jpg|Detail of the Eighth Avenue facade, above the entrance
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of American gentlemen's clubs]]


== References ==
== References ==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist}}


⚫
== External links ==
*Ames, Jonathan (November 19, 2006) [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/nyregion/thecity/19cord.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/O/Organizations,%20Societies%20and%20Clubs&pagewanted=all Better Living Through Corduroy] ''The New York Times''.
*{{commons category-inline}}
*Gray, Christopher (April 28, 1996). [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E4D81639F93BA15757C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 Streetscapes: The Montauk Club in Brooklyn]. ''New York Times''.
*{{Official website|http://www.montaukclub.com}}
*Idov, Michael (March 26, 2007). [http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/features/29736/ The Takeover: A Once-Grand Park Slope Club is Infiltrated by Pretentious Whippersnappers]. ''New York Magazine''.
*Rizk, Christie(April 21, 2007) [http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/16/30_16montaukclub.html New blood tries to save Slope’s Montauk Club]. ''The Brooklyn Paper''.


[[Category:Clubs and societies in New York City]]
⚫
[[Category:Gentlemen's clubs in New York City]]
⚫
[[Category:Park Slope]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Brooklyn]]
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[[Category:Traditional gentlemen's clubs in the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:1891 establishments]]
[[Category:Culture of New York City]]
[[Category:Culture of New York City]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1891]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in New York City]]
[[Category:Venetian Gothic architecture in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 10:31, 26 October 2024

For the 1894 building in Detroit, Michigan, see Harmonie Club (Detroit, Michigan).
The Montauk Club
FormationMarch 11, 1889 (1889-03-11)
TypeSocial Club
Headquarters25 Eighth Avenue
Location
Coordinates40°40′29″N 73°58′18″W / 40.6748°N 73.9717°W / 40.6748; -73.9717
Region served
New York metropolitan area
Websitemontaukclub.com

The Montauk Club is a social club located in a Francis Kimball-designed building in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The Club provides dining and drinking services.

History

[edit]

The Club was founded in 1889 as a traditional men's social club by a group looking for a club located in the rapidly-developing Park Slope area. The initial group of 25 charter members quickly grew to 300 and became the most prominent club in Brooklyn. Charles Pratt, Richard Schermerhorn, Edwin Clark Litchfield and Robert Pinkerton were early members. Of the hundreds of clubs in Brooklyn at the time, the Montauk Club is the only one still in existence.

The landmark clubhouse was built in 1889-91 and was designed by Francis H. Kimball in the Venetian Gothic. It is reported to have been modeled after the Palazzo Santa Sofia (Ca' d'Oro) on Venice's Grand Canal.[1] Built of brownstone and brick, it features verdigris copper and terra cotta produced by the New York Architectural Terra Cotta Works. It is ornamented with representations of the Montauk tribe of Native Americans the club is named after, which can be found on the building's capitals, over the main entrance, and on a continuous frieze between the third and fourth floors. Other panels depict a meeting in 1659 between the Montauks and Europeans, and the laying of the cornerstone of the building. The smaller staircase to the left of the main entrance was built as the Ladies' Entrance, the first of its kind in any social club in Brooklyn or Manhattan. It is now used as the entrance to the condominium units (see below).[2][3]

The club is located within the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission's Park Slope Historic District.[2] In 2017, the Montauk Club building received the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Municipal Art Society's MaSterworks Award for Best Restoration.

Although not a political club, many prominent politicians of both parties were members, and the Club has hosted many prominent politicians over the years, including William McKinley, Grover Cleveland, Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. Hugh L. Carey, Governor of New York, was a member for many years.

Club membership declined in the period before Brooklyn's renaissance, and it became difficult to maintain the beautiful but aging clubhouse. The upper and basement floors were sold to a developer for condominiums, with the Club ultimately retaining ownership of the first and second floors.

With a growing membership, especially of younger members, the Club continues to provide community for families and individuals.[4][5][6][2][7]

[edit]

The club has been used as a location in films such as Prizzi's Honor, Definitely, Maybe, Gigantic, 'Rounders, Illuminata, Q&A, and City Hall and television shows such as The Mysteries of Laura, Boardwalk Empire, Gotham, The Good Wife, Public Morals and Person of Interest.

[edit]
  • View of the building from the southeast, on Plaza Street West
    View of the building from the southeast, on Plaza Street West
  • Detail of the Plaza Street West facade
    Detail of the Plaza Street West facade
  • The main entrance to the building
    The main entrance to the building
  • Detail of the Eighth Avenue facade, above the entrance
    Detail of the Eighth Avenue facade, above the entrance

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

  1. ^ Merlis, Brian; Rosenzweig, Lee (1999). Brooklyn's Park Slope. New York: Sheepshead Bay Historical Society & Israelowitz Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 1878741470.
  2. ^ a b c New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; Dolkart, Andrew S.; Postal, Matthew A. (2009). Postal, Matthew A. (ed.). Guide to New York City Landmarks (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1.
  3. ^ White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 653. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7.
  4. ^ "Club History". The Montauk Club of Brooklyn. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  5. ^ Rizk, Christine (April 21, 2007). "New blood tries to save Slope's Montauk Club". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  6. ^ Gray, Christopher (April 28, 1996). "The Montauk Club in Brooklyn; A Venetian Palace With a Native American Motif". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  7. ^ Idov, Michael (March 25, 2007). "The Takeover". New York. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
[edit]
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