The University Club of New York was founded in 1865 by group of recent Yale college graduates in order to maintain their collegiate association. Its charter stated its goals as being for the "promotion of Literature and Art by establishing and maintaining a Library, Reading Room and Gallery of Art, and by such other means as shall be expedient and proper for such purposes." While founded by Yalies, the Club did have "a determination to suppress in the University Club all college rivalries and to foster only a catholic spirit among the sons of all reputable educational schools." While it was not exclusive to Yale alumni, it certainly was exclusive: Initial dues were a $200 entry fee plus $60 annual dues. Today fees are $1,000-$5,000.
The Club met at various locations, finally settling at the Leonard Jerome mansion at 26th and Madison. However, its membership had ballooned over the decades, and its membership was capped at 1,500 New York residents and 600 non-residents, with nearly 600 people on its waiting list, and the Jerome mansion did not have the space to accommodate. The land at 54th St. and 5th was then occupied by St. Luke's Hospital, and when the hospital announced in 1893 that it would be moving to Morningside Heights and selling the property, the University Club purchased the plot.
The University Club commissioned architects Charles McKim, William Mead and Stanford White - all of whom were members - to design the new club building. The $1 million building, built in the Italian Renaissance style, opened in 1899. It is six stories tall, but high archways that span two floors give it the appearance of only being three. Seals of eighteen "reputable" universities are mounted to the facade. Competition to secure a space was fierce, and Annapolis created a seal specifically for the purpose. Some of the seals have errors in their depiction, but the Club never saw fit to correct and replace them.
A few years after its opening, Arnold Bennett, a writer for Harper's Magazine, recounted: "One afternoon I was driving up Fifth Avenue in the company of an architectural expert, who, with the incredible elastic good nature of American business men, had abandoned his affairs for half a day in order to go with me on a voyage of discovery, and he asked me, as as to get some basis of understanding or disagreement, what building in New York had pleased me most. I at once said the University Club to my mind a masterpiece. He approved, and a great peace filled our automobile, in which peace we expanded."
It was constructed from Milford granite, a cool pink granite. Over time, the granite became dark with soot. It was cleaned in the mid-1980's, but the original facade had aged to a charcoal gray. I found this color difficult to capture. It really changes over the course of the day, and depending on the weather. The day I worked on it, it had taken on a warm, yellowish cast from the direct midday sunlight.
In addition to promoting arts and literature, the club was a "bachelor house of refuge." Women were not allowed, not just as members, but even as guests, with the exception of a few days set aside for the purpose of showing off to wives. In 1987, the Human Rights Commission filed a gender-discrimination lawsuit, and membership was opened to women.
Now known only by its address, 689 Fifth Ave., this neo-Classical/French Renaissance building was originally known as the Aeolian Building and listed as such by Landmarks Preservation Committee in 2002.
The Aeolian Organ and Music Company was founded in 1887 by William B. Tremaine and manufactured automatic player pianos. Prominent pianists would have their performances recorded onto paper rolls to be played on these machines, the equivalent of a recording contract of their day. In 1912, the company constructed a large concert hall on 42nd St., and in 1926 commissioned architects Warren & Wetmore to design this building as the company's headquarters.
In 1926, during construction, a fire broke out on a wooden scaffolding. New Yorker columnist George S. Chappell wrote, "the recent fire woke up members of the University Club, who had not been roused in years." The building finally opened 1927, with five floors of showrooms and a recital hall seating 150. The Fifth Avenue Association awarded it gold medal for "the most beautiful building in the Fifth Avenue District in 1926."
The 1929 stock market crash and then the advent of radio killed player piano business. Aeolian merged with another company and left building in 1938. In 1930, Elizabeth Arden opened a store in ground floor; remaining there for decades, and the building eventually became popularly known as the Elizabeth Arden building. Another early tenant, shoemaker I. Miller, altered the corner facade. Later, in the 1970s, Gucci occupied space there, and the facade was altered again.
University Club Sources
NY Times: The Perfect Picture of an Urban Club
Daytonian In Manhattan
An extraordinarily detailed history of the University Club of New York
Aeolian Building
NY Times: Streetscapes
Daytonian in Manhattan
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