Birmingham Athletic Club: Difference between revisions
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'''Birmingham Athletic Club''' was a private club located at 502 [[20th Street North]]. It was organized in [[1888]] and incorporated on [[July 16]], [[1889]]. Its long-time home, a three story brick-clad building with a full basement, was completed in July [[1903]] at a cost of $57,000. The basement floor housed a rifle range, pressing club, bowling alleys and boilers. The first floor housed offices, lounges, pool and billiards, a library and barber shop. The director's office was on the second floor along with a gymnasium, hand-ball courts, boxing and wrestling rooms and a spectator's gallery. | '''Birmingham Athletic Club''' was a private club located at 502 [[20th Street North]]. It was organized in [[1888]] and incorporated on [[July 16]], [[1889]]. Its long-time home, a three story brick-clad building with a full basement, was completed in July [[1903]] at a cost of $57,000. The basement floor housed a rifle range, pressing club, bowling alleys and boilers. The first floor housed offices, lounges, pool and billiards, a library and barber shop. The director's office was on the second floor along with a gymnasium, hand-ball courts, boxing and wrestling rooms and a spectator's gallery. | ||
The club fielded its own entrants in numerous competitive events, including a football team. The club hosted an annual [[May 1|May Day]] track competition and also hosted a national wrestling championship in [[1920]] | The club fielded its own entrants in numerous competitive events, including a football team. The club hosted an annual [[May 1|May Day]] track competition and also hosted a national wrestling championship in [[1920]]. | ||
In [[1925]] the club built a [[YWCA Building|10-story building]] at the northeast corner of [[3rd Avenue North]] and [[23rd Street North|23rd Street]], which contained the club facilities and residential apartments. The apartments were later operated as hotel rooms. In [[1939]] the club sold the building, but continued to lease space. It was sold again in [[1940]] and operated as the Dixie-Carlton Hotel. In [[1948]] the [[YWCA Central Alabama|Birmingham YWCA]] purchased the building as its headquarters. | |||
The [[Regions Center]] building, constructed as the First National-Southern Natural Building in [[1972]], sits on the site of the former Birmingham Athletic Club and its neighbor, the [[Southern Club]]. | The [[Regions Center]] building, constructed as the First National-Southern Natural Building in [[1972]], sits on the site of the former Birmingham Athletic Club and its neighbor, the [[Southern Club]]. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
* {{Cruikshank-1920}} | * {{Cruikshank-1920}} | ||
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/1940-10.htm Athletic Club Building Sold To Noe Family Hotel Chain]" (October 1940) ''Birmingham News'' - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | |||
[[Category:Recreation clubs]] | [[Category:Recreation clubs]] | ||
[[Category:1889 establishments]] | |||
[[Category:20th Street North]] | [[Category:20th Street North]] | ||
[[Category:3rd Avenue North]] | |||
[[Category:23rd Street North]] | |||
Revision as of 21:57, 30 September 2010
- This article refers to the club located at 502 20th Street North, for the more information on clubs with similar names, see Birmingham Athletic Club (disambiguation).
Birmingham Athletic Club was a private club located at 502 20th Street North. It was organized in 1888 and incorporated on July 16, 1889. Its long-time home, a three story brick-clad building with a full basement, was completed in July 1903 at a cost of $57,000. The basement floor housed a rifle range, pressing club, bowling alleys and boilers. The first floor housed offices, lounges, pool and billiards, a library and barber shop. The director's office was on the second floor along with a gymnasium, hand-ball courts, boxing and wrestling rooms and a spectator's gallery.
The club fielded its own entrants in numerous competitive events, including a football team. The club hosted an annual May Day track competition and also hosted a national wrestling championship in 1920.
In 1925 the club built a 10-story building at the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue North and 23rd Street, which contained the club facilities and residential apartments. The apartments were later operated as hotel rooms. In 1939 the club sold the building, but continued to lease space. It was sold again in 1940 and operated as the Dixie-Carlton Hotel. In 1948 the Birmingham YWCA purchased the building as its headquarters.
The Regions Center building, constructed as the First National-Southern Natural Building in 1972, sits on the site of the former Birmingham Athletic Club and its neighbor, the Southern Club.
A new Birmingham Athletic Club was opened in the John A. Hand Building in 1999.
Presidents
- 1889-1891: H. L. Underwood
- 1982-1893: Leigh Caroll
- 1894-1904: Solon Jacobs
- 1905: W. D. Nesbitt
- 1906: R. P. Means
- 1907: John F. Fletcher
- 1908: Ed Warren, Jr
- 1909-1910: S. P. Spurgeon
- 1911-1912: Solon Jacobs
- 1913: S. P. Spurgeon
- 1914-1915: Ed Anderson
- 1916-1917: Wiley Alford
- 1918-1919: Herbert Cobbs
References
- Cruikshank, George H. (1920) History of Birmingham and Its Environs: A Narrative Account of Their Historical Progress, Their People, and Their Principal Interests 2 volumes. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- "Athletic Club Building Sold To Noe Family Hotel Chain" (October 1940) Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound