House 
and Garden 
Vol. XI MARCH, 1907 
AMERICAN COUNTRY 
No. 3 
CLUBS 
I. THE GERMANTOWN CRICKET CLUB 
By MABEL TUKE PRIESTMAN 
T WENTY-FIVE years ago there were no coun¬ 
try clubs in America. In fact it is only within 
the last twenty years that they have come into 
existence. The first home of the real country club 
was at Clyde Park near Boston. The estate was 
leased in 1882, and a building over one hundred and 
twenty-five years old was remodeled, and here were 
held the first social gatherings of the club. The 
grounds, at that time, consisted of over one hundred 
and fifty acres and possessed every facility for sports. 
I he club was named “The Country Club,” show¬ 
ing as no other appellation would, its priority. 
In 1898 there were comparatively few country 
clubs, but since that time their increase has been 
really remarkable. In the spring of 1895 there were 
about forty clubs, where golf was played; this 
included all hunt and country clubs. Before the 
summer was over the number had increased to over 
one hundred. 
Golf has been a great factor in the growth of the 
country club, but the greatest impetus it has yet 
received, is in the fact of the half holiday on Saturday 
having become general. 
The influence of the country club is a good one. 
It has made men into boys again, by inducing a love 
of play, and it has brought renewed health into the 
lives of many who were allowing the cares of business 
to monopolize all their time and energy. 
The women, too, have benefited by its existence. 
It has brought new interests into their lives and the 
active outdoor life has improved the physique of the 
American girl. 
The country club is now a recognized social center, 
where men and women may meet on an equal footing 
THE MEN’S CLUB HOUSE 
Copyright, 1907, by The John C. Winston Co. 
87 
