University Club of Montreal facts for kids
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| Formation | 8 November 1907 |
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| Purpose | Private club |
| Headquarters | Maison James-Reid-Wilson, 1201, rue Sherbrooke Ouest |
| Location | |
The University Club of Montreal is a special private club in Montreal, Quebec. It started in 1907 and has been an important part of Montreal's social and thinking community for more than 100 years. It was first thought of in December 1906 as a club for men who had finished university. The club officially began on November 8, 1907.
Contents
The Story of the University Club
How the Club Began
The University Club first used a three-story building on Dorchester Street West. In 1911, the club bought a house at 176 Mansfield Street. They wanted a permanent home. So, they bought land right across the street.
They asked a Scottish architect named Percy Erskine Nobbs to design a new clubhouse. He was the head of the McGill School of Architecture at the time. The new building was finished in 1913. It looked like a Neo-Georgian style building. It had a stone ground floor and red brick on the upper parts. Inside, there were beautiful rooms. The main dining hall still looks much the same as it did when it was first built.
How the Club Changed Over Time
The University Club has changed a lot over the years. It has kept up with how society has changed. In the early 1920s, a special area for women was added. However, women could only go to certain parts of the club unless a male member was with them.
In 1988, women finally gained full membership rights. This meant they could join and use all parts of the club just like men. The club also started letting Jewish members join in the 1960s. In 1973, they removed the rule that members had to have a university degree. This made the club open to even more people.
Moving to a New Home
The club faced some money problems. Because of this, they sold their old building on Mansfield Street in 2017. In 2022, the club moved to a new place. This new home is called the Maison James-Reid-Wilson. It is located at 1201 Sherbrooke Street West. This old building was fixed up by a company called Provencher_Roy.
This move started a new chapter for the club. It mixes the club's long-standing traditions with modern features.
Art and Culture at the Club
The club has a large collection of art. It includes almost 100 high-quality artworks by Canadian artists. This collection shows that the club cares about supporting art and culture. It shares these with its community.
Important Moments
In 2007, the club celebrated its 100th birthday. To remember this special event, they published a detailed history book.
External links
- "The University Club of Montreal: 1907-2007," University Club of Montreal, 2007. [1]
- "The University Club of Montreal: One of the Most Prestigious Private Clubs in Canada Presents Its New Location in an Historical Building," *GlobeNewswire*, September 27, 2022. [2]
- "Four Former Quebec Premiers Salute the University Club's 110th Anniversary Gala," *The Montrealer*, October 2017. [3]
- "The University Club of Montreal Giving Up Its Percy Nobbs-Designed Downtown Digs," *Montreal Gazette*, December 25, 2017. [4]
- "The University Club of Montreal," *Provencher_Roy*. [5]
