Illinois Athletic Club, Charlie Club and Resort Building, School of the Art Institute Wollberg Hall
Life Span: 1906-Present
Location: 112 S Michigan
Architect: Barnett, Haynes & Barnett
Inter Ocean, February 25, 1906
On June 1 the 5,000 members of the New Illinois Athletic club will move into their home on Michigan avenue between Monroe and Adams streets and a new era in amateur athletics in the West will have been entered upon.
The plan conceived less than two years ago by several active young Chicago business men has been well carried out, and for the last eighteen months work has been rushed on the new building that is now practically completed, and three months more will see the hoishing touches put upon what is claimed to be the finest athletic club building in the West. The projectors and incorporators of the New Illinois Athletic club are proud of what they have accomplished in so short a time.
They point out that although the organization has been without a home, it has, nevertheless, been an important factor in amateur athletes in the city, and that when they are finally housed in their palatial building. an Impetus will be given to athletics in the middle West which in ten years will result in Chicago becoming the real athletic center of the United States.
Already new life has been infused into athletle circles in the city, and it is claimed that the interest which has been aroused among the business men composing the membership of the new organization will spread until it will be found necessary to start several other similar organizations to the New Illinois Athletic club to accommodate those who desire to be identified with such an institution. When the project was conceived two fears ago there was but one athletic club of any size in the city, and its membership being full, there was small chance of requiring a membership.
It was felt that there was room for another first class athletic club, and the plan was broached to a number of prominent business men of Chicago.
Business Men Take Up Project.
Charles Henry Genslinger, who is now the secretary of the New Illinois Athletic club, had been quietly sounding publie sentiment on the subject of athletics, and found that the idea was not only considered feasible. but that business men who would make eligible members were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to identify themselves with such a club. Mr. Genslinger intervlewed personally more than 2,000 of the business men of
Chicago, and the suecess of the organization was practically assured even before the initials plans were put on paper. To William Hale Thompson, now president of the New Illinois Athletic club, the immense success which has attended the efforts of the promoters of the organization is due. Mr. Thompson’s reputation in athletic circles, together with his personal popularity and prominence, brought together the men who have built up the organization.
The plans for the building were soon prepared, the pollcy of the New Illinois Athletic club was formulated, and the project went ahead with a rush. Today a magnificent twelve story building overlooking the lake front, within easy access of Chicago’s business center, nearly completed, and an enthustastic membership of 5,000 represents the fruit of the labors of Mr. Thompson, Secretary Genslinger, and their associates.
The club bullding itself will have all the accessories of a modern first class hotel. It will require as heavy an equipment, and when completed and furnished will be one of the most attractive and up to date institutions in the country. The front of the building, twelve stories in height, will be a triumph in architecture and will form an ornamental addition to the imposing structures already erected on Michigan avenue. It will be built of stone, with a balcony extending the entire fron: of the building just above the main entrance, and the large windows will afford plenty of light for reception-rooms. Entering from Michigan avenue the visitor finds himself in the big rotunda. At the right of the rounda is the main ofce, where the secretary and officers of the club may be found. Immediately at the left of the rotunda is a small reception-room for ladies which opens into the ladies’ parlor. This is magnificently furnished and is equal in appointments to the drawing-room of any first class hotel in the eity. Back of the rotunda are cloakrooms and the immense kitchen.
Building of Steel Construction.
The building is entirely of steel construe-tion and has elevator service both day and night. The entire second floor is given up to the club dining-room, which is one of the main features of the club. The ladies’ dining-room will be an innovation in athletic clubs. It will be so arranged that the wife and ladies of a member’s family may take their meals in retirement and seclusion Entrance will be by private passage, so that contact with members may be avoided. The room will be lighted with French casement windows opening on the balcony which overlooks Michigan boulevard, and about this balcony groups of easy chatrs will be placed so that diners may retire to enjoy the breeze from the lake. The room itself and the entrance will be tastefully decorated.
The next floor will be devoted to the billiard and pool room, where twenty-two billlard and pool tables will be installed, in charge of a billiardist of note. It is the present intention to hold pool and billiard tourneys frequently. Above the billiard-room, on the next floor, will be installed eight regulation bowling alleys, which will be open to ladies on each Wednesday evening during the whole year.
The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth floors will be devoted to sleeping apartments, which will be so arranged as to avoid the difficulties and discomforts attending lodgings in less modern buildings. The matters of light, ventilation, and sanitary conditions have been admirably provided for, and every detail pleasing to the patrons of a club or in any way adding to their comfort will be looked after. Each apartment will be provided with a long distance telephone, and the service will be of an advanced order.
Upon the tenth floor will be located the gymnasium, which will be one of the most thoroughly equipped of its kind in the West. A gallery will extend about the gymnasium on the eleventh floor, and the lighting will be by means of a skylight through the roof. Back of the skylight on the eleventh floor will be a rifle gallery and handball court. A roof garden is to be one of the features also.
The natatorium, which in to occupy the greater portion of the first floor, basement, and cellar, will be one of the finest attractions of the club. It will be a revelation in aquatics, as it will have a larger capacity than any now in use, so arranged that by means of an adjustable bottom it can bo raised or lowered at will. It can be used also as a platform on which to pitch a large ring for boxing and other athletic exhibitions. The balconies and the space around the tank wIll easily accommodate 2,500 persons. The department will also be equipped with Turkish and Russian baths, cooling-rooms, and a masseur parlor. Competent attendants will be in charge, and polo swimming matches will be given every encouragement for the purpose of bringing out and developing the best talent in the West.
Mr. Thompson Prominent in Athletes.
President William Hale Thompson is known as one of the most progressive young business men in Chicago, and was one of the leading members of the Chicago Athletic club previous to the launching of the new organization. Mr. Thompson had spent number of years in Montana and Wyoming in the cattle business before returnIng to Chicago to take up his residence. He located here permanently in 1892, when he first became a member of the Chicago Athletic association. He played left end on the football team of that club, and was captain. The ensuing year he was elected a director of the club, and also chairman of the athletic committee. He served in that capacity for three years, and was one year vice president of the club.
Mr. Thompson is in the real estate business in Chicago, and was elected alderman from his ward several years ago. It was during his service in the city council that he inaugurated the plan of city playgrounds for children and caused the first one in Chicago to be constructed at Twenty-Fourth street and Wabash avenue.
“I believe we should try to do something once a year for charity,” said Mr. Thompson, “and while I was chairman of the athletic committee we played a charity football game which netted $5,000 for the Hahnemann hospital. The initial meet given by the New Illinois Athletic club for the benefit of the Children’s Memorial hospital was one of the largest, and was attended by the most fashionable audience that ever witnessed athletic games in this country.
“Our first annual Marathon race, given last September, was another of the great successes of the club, and astounded the followers of athletics by the general interest it attracted. The club’s first boxing tournament was also one of the greatest events in boxing that ever took place in this city. It is comparatively easy for a large organization like the New Illinois Athletic club to do something for charity, and I expect that something will be done in this line every year. The future of the New Illinois Athletic club is assured, and I anticipate a revival of interest in athletics in the West as a result of its formation that will make Chicago second to no city in the country.”
Record of Secretary Genslinger.
Secretary Charles Henry Genslinger has been connected with some of the leading athletic clubs In the United States. He saw the necessity of another large organization in Chicago, since it has fewer athletic clubs than any city of any size in the country. He was president of the Olympic club of New Orleans, which he helped to organize; secretary of the Manhattan Athletic club of New York, which he also organized, and secretary of the Missouri Athletic club of St. Louls, each of which is larger than any athletic association in Chicago.
“With its population of more than 2,000,000 there is room for a dozen athletic elubs,” said Mr. Genslinger in discussing the future of the New Hiltnois Aihletic club. “I predict that within ten years Chicago will be the center of amateur athletics In the West, having the prestige now held by New York. The movement which resulted in the formation of the New Illinois Athletic club is destined to grow, and ten years will see a decided change in the athletic centers of the country.”
The officers of the club are: President, William Hale Thompson; vice president, William A. Merigold; treasurer, Charles B. Pike; secretary, Charles Henry Genslinger; advisory board, William Hale Thompson, William A. Merigold, Charles B. Pike, Dr. Frank C. Greene, James.W. Nye, Arthur H. Chetlain, Dwight Lawrence, Charles B. Stafford, Caryl Young, Frederick E. Trotter, Frank L. Pasdeloup. Roger J. Faure, George M. Wiser, Charles Henry Genslinger.
- Illinois Athletic Club
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1906
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