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More than 85 years ago, a founding
group of eleven Santa Barbara men, each representing
a different alma-mater, formed the University Club
of Santa Barbara as a place to meet, enjoy a good
meal, discuss news of the day, shoot a game of billiards,
or play a round of cards.
As a gathering place, they
rented a small house on Micheltorena Street in Santa
Barbara. All went well until membership in this (men’s
only) Club grew to more than 100. They needed more
room. |
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In 1923, the members got together
and purchased what was called the old “Lacy House” or “Calkin’s
Castle” at 1332 Santa Barbara Street. This mansion
has been the home of the U-Club ever since.
They got
rid of the Victorian / Gothic look and remodeled it
in grand fashion – in the “Santa Barbara
Mediterranean” style that better suited their
tastes. Good solid construction proved helpful, as this
building was one of the few to survive the 1925 6.2
magnitude earthquake with only little damage. In good
times and bad, this Club endured through camaraderie,
good sense and the willingness of its members to help
each other. |
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DEPRESSION
ERA
The Depression was also the time of prohibition
and liquor was available only through a medical prescription.
Of course, here at the Club, there seemed to be an unusual number
of sudden, acute illnesses among the membership. Luckily, there
was almost always a member-doctor at hand here for “urgent care” and
a prescription. Rumors of “bootlegging” here were
never proven.
Because of this steadfastness, the U Club
survived when others Clubs were closing their doors. A donation
from Mrs. Frederic Saltonstall Gould built a substantial addition,
including a Library, to the building in the 30’s. |
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WORLD WAR II
The onset of World War II took a toll on
membership. Many members, who were all college graduates, were
called to active service as officers. The Club survived on creativity
as much as anything. The installation of a slot-machine (“one-armed bandit”)
not only paid the bills, but paid for major redecorating at
the time. This went on for several years, until the President
of the Club was summoned over to the “judge’s table” and
told that gaming equipment was illegal. It was, of course, removed. |
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POST WAR
In
the 1950’s, with the war at a close and members who had
entered the service “reactivated” as members, the
Club prospered and expanded -- buying adjacent properties at
reasonable prices and renovating the building as needed. A tennis
court was located outside the side-door and was the site of
many hours of entertainment and argument for the members. In
this “hey-day,” members could rent upstairs apartments.
It wasn’t unusual, if a member divorced, to move into
the Club to be around his friends 24 hours a day. This Club
was home to many a late-night poker games over the years. |
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RECENT HISTORY
In the 1970’s
the Club had a “burning-of-the-mortgage” party
and the members celebrated their outright ownership
of this prime real estate.
In the 1980’s, with
this Club being more progressive than some, women
were finally admitted as members of the Club. The
women’s touch was much needed. The curtains
were opened up, and the old smoke-filled red leather
in the Living Room was replaced with more suitable
fabrics. By their own account, “the language
improved at the Round Tables as well as in the Card
and Billiard Rooms.” |
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TODAY
Today,
the University Club of Santa Barbara continues to serve the
needs of its contemporary members. Women now have a prominent
role in the University Club and are an integral part of membership
and Club leadership. The “roundtable” in the Grill
Room still exists for the members who come in to dine and keep
up on the news of the day with fellow members. It is not unusual
for some of Santa Barbara’s most influential business
and civic leaders to be lunching at the roundtable. The judges
still preside at the “judge’s table” – table
# 30 in the main dining room, as their predecessors have since
the 1940’s.
While the tennis court has been replaced by
additional parking and the bachelor “apartments” have
been converted to member offices, the U Club is still a traditional,
private “city” club with a serene and sophisticated
setting. It still boasts spacious rooms, huge fireplaces, a
significant Library, a fully stocked bar, and small cozy rooms
for business meetings. The mansion is comfortably decorated
with beautiful antiques, overstuffed sofas, bold chandeliers,
and extraordinary paintings. |
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The Club boasts
some of Santa Barbara’s finest cuisine and pours the best
California wines with a fine service staff -- some have worked
here for over 25 years. The Game Room is furnished with a pool
table, a (pocket-less) billiards table, game tables, two wall-mounted
television sets, and a theater-style corn popper for the enjoyment
of members who may drop by at almost any hour.
The University
Club is a place where business people gather with clients, with
friends, and with their families. Over the years, more than
a few high-powered deals have been brokered within these walls.
Additionally, many a member has taken advantage of the Club’s
amenities for weddings, receptions, birthday or anniversary
celebrations, or other private festivities. Club members enjoy
an active round of social events during the year. A few of the
ongoing member events are weekly happy hours and fine dining,
an annual Easter Brunch, a Fiesta Bash, and a Holiday Dinner.
Most popular are the bi-monthly “mixers.” These
popular gatherings have a theme, such as a Tax Payers’ Bawl
in April, a western barbeque in June, or a Luau in late August.
Other favorites are Monday Night Football, cooking classes,
opera nights and Winemaker dinners.
Special treats, such as
bus tours to the Wine Country, the horse races, and theaters
and museums in Los Angeles round out the Club’s busy social
calendar. An added benefit enjoyed by University Club members
is access to more than 200 reciprocal clubs throughout the world.
This includes not only other “University Clubs” (University
Clubs are not officially affiliated), but some of the finest
Clubs worldwide. |
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As with any
Club, the University Club is looking for its next generation
of members who will take the reins and steward this Club in
its second century -- while still preserving its rich history
and traditions of the 1900’s. Membership consideration
is available to college graduates who are sponsored by two current
members. If you don’t happen to know any members, the
Membership Committee will take you under their wing and make
the introductions. |
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The members of the University Club of Santa Barbara encourage you to walk through these doors soon to experience a unique and rewarding taste of contemporary Santa Barbara. |
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