Campus Club

Campus Club was one of the undergraduate eating clubs at Princeton University. Located on the corner of Washington Road and Prospect Avenue, Campus was founded in 1900. Campus was one of the eating clubs that abandoned the selective bicker process to choose members non-selectively, a status it held for over 20 years.

In 2004, in an attempt to restore the waning popularity of the club, the club's board pressured the undergraduate officers to reinstate bicker, causing Campus to become one of six selective clubs (out of eleven total clubs). However, due to the unpopularity of bicker among its members, Campus Club returned to being a sign-in club in the spring of 2005. In the face of another year of exceptionally low membership and resulting financial trouble, which as aggravated by heavy property taxes, Campus Club closed later the same year.

In November 2005, the former members and alumni of Campus Club voted to donate the building to the University, under the condition that the 11,000 sq ft (1,000 m²). mansion remain a social venue for Princeton students.

After undergoing renovations for over two years, Campus Club reopened on September 18, 2009 as a clubhouse open to all members of the Princeton community.

History

During the 1900-1901 school year, a number of undergraduates from the now-defunct Yama and Ovando Clubs took a lease on a small house on Olden Street in Princeton. Called "The Incubator," the undergraduates used this house as a temporary location while they searched for a more permanent clubhouse.

In January 1901, the newly elected members of "Campus Club" began negotiations to purchase the residence of Professor Andrew Fleming West, which was located at the corner of Washington Road and Prospect Avenue (where Campus Club stands today). The club members financed the purchase of the West house through sale of approximately $45,000 of "Princeton Campus Club Bonds." Once the residence was acquired, the new members began using the West residence as their clubhouse.

In 1909, the members of Campus Club elected to construct a new clubhouse, and the original West house was moved (the West house now stands at the corner of Nassau Street and Princeton Avenue). The new clubhouse, designed by Raleigh C. Gildersleeve, who had previously designed McCosh Hall and completed alterations to Cap and Gown Club, was completed weeks prior to the 1910 commencement.

On November 24, 1951, a fire broke out inside of Campus Club. The fire caused extensive damage to the third floor, and a major renovation was required. Renovations were completed in 1953, and the club remained in this state until it acquired by the University in 2005.

References

1. ^ Princeton Campus Club, Princeton University Press, 1956, introduction written by Roy P. McClenahan '02.
2. ^ Id.
3. ^ Id.
4. ^ Id.

• "Club's choice reflects our drive to exclude". The Daily Princetonian. 2003-05-14. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 
• "Campus Club closes, future uncertain". The Daily Princetonian. 2005-05-26. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 
• "Remembering better days: The Campus Club of old". The Daily Princetonian. 2005-09-27. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 
• "Campus Club's demise reveals social problems". The Daily Princetonian. 2005-09-27. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 
• "Campus Club hires director". The Daily Princetonian. 2007-09-19. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 
• "Campus Club asbestos deemed not dangerous". The Daily Princetonian. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 
• "April opening set for Campus Club". The Daily Princetonian. 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 
• "Official Campus Club opening delayed until next fall". The Daily Princetonian. 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2009-10-27. 
• "Campus Club reopens doors". The Daily Princetonian. 2009-09-21. Retrieved 2009-10-27. 

External links

• Alumni website
• Campus Club website

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