Our Story
As the fifth oldest of all existing New York clubs the Down Town Association enjoys a rich history that provides a strong foundation for our future
Our Founding
The DTA enjoys a long history. Our organizational meeting, which resulted in the formation of the Association, was held at the Astor House on December 23, 1859. The first general meeting of the Association was held on February 14, 1860, and a charter was granted by an act of the legislature of the State of New York on April 17, 1860. To provide for a clubhouse, 22 Exchange Place was purchased, and the Association's first home was opened for luncheon on September 10, 1860.
Second Club House
By 1877 there were more industries headquartered in New York than ever. This created a growing need for luncheon services for working executives in the downtown business district. The Club sought a larger space to meet this need.
A new Clubhouse opened in February 1878 at 50-52 Pine Street.
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Lithograph drawn by Hughson Hawley of the current Club House soon after opening in 1887, prior to the 1911 addition to the east
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Current Club House
By 1884, membership growth necessitated an even larger clubhouse so the membership voted to purchase 60-62 Pine Street, running through to Cedar Street. Noted architect Charles C. Haight, a member of the Association, was engaged as architect in April 1886. The current Club House opened on May 23, 1887.
The new Clubhouse offered multiple dining rooms on four floors and plenty of back-of-the-house space to offer different specialty cuisine in each room while serving members with the highest of standards.
Club members are proud of the enduring legacy laid by our founders. Ours is the oldest clubhouse in New York City built and still occupied by its members, and, we believe, the third such oldest in the United States (behind the Union League of Philadelphia and the Hope Club of Providence).
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Membership Growth and Focus on Lunch
By the early 1900's membership had increased so much that additional capacity was sought to continue to serve daily luncheon to all the members. In 1902, 64 Pine Street, just to the east, was leased for use and in 1906, 20 Cedar Street was leased. Membership, which stood at 500 when the Club House opened, was 1,000 at this time, and more permanent room was needed. Accordingly, building plans were circulated to the members on January 19, 1910, and, the response to these being favorable, Warren & Wetmore were engaged as architects. Architect Whitney Warren was a member of the Association. On March 16, 1911, the expanded Club House was completed which added rooms to the east of the lobby and staircase. The expanded Club House added amenities for members and more staff rooms to maintain the high service level members had come to expect. The Club House was built to the highest standards, and it remains one of the finest examples of Romanesque Revival architecture in New York City.
Conceived as a luncheon club, the DTA at one time was only the most prestigious of many similar clubs in Lower Manhattan. Because the typical club member resided uptown and only worked in Lower Manhattan, the downtown clubs had no need to offer the divertissements of their uptown brethren such as breakfast and dinner, athletic facilities or sleeping rooms. However, when the DTA Club House was built, amenities such as athletic facilities and sleeping rooms were also non-existent in the better social clubs, then located all the way up around Madison Square.
Stained glass window painted by Club president Gherardi Davis in 1930
Changes in the 20th Century and Expanded Programming
As the skyscraper became synonymous with Lower Manhattan so too did most luncheon clubs become synonymous with dining high in the sky. Almost all of the better clubs, the Bankers, the Lawyers, the Broad Street Club, and the Recess were a few, occupied aeries, with only the DTA, India House, and the Merchants Club staying firmly on the ground. Indeed, even the DTA was offered the opportunity, in November 1929, to sell our building and move to several upper floors of what became 70 Pine Street. This proposal was soundly rejected by the members, undoubtedly a wise decision as none of the once numerous groups of clubs with a view remain today.
Times, tastes, and financial priorities change, and by the 1990s Lower Manhattan and the focus on extensive luncheon lessened. Almost every one of the downtown luncheon clubs would close over the following decade. Where our Club once served more than 800 lunches per day we now typically served 100. Businesses were opening their own executive dining rooms and client entertaining spaces or moving uptown with our members. However, thanks to the dedication of our members the DTA began a transformation into a club which reflects the new Lower Manhattan and the interests of a new generation of members focused on evening and other activities.
Our Membership
The Association's membership has always been drawn from among the leading individuals of the New York business community. Originally weighted heavily towards brokers and financiers, the membership was predominately drawn from the legal community after 1920. More recently, Wall Street has regained its former position at the Club with a healthy component of members from the insurance, medical, educational, and technology industries. While women were always welcome to the Club House from the opening of the Association, they were first admitted to full voting membership in 1985.
Looking Ahead
For the DTA lunch became one of only several options for members: breakfast and evening drinks began in 1995, the wine cellar opened in 1996, pool tables arrived in 1997, dinner service was started in 2001, and the Fitness Center opened in 2004. Our list of reciprocal clubs was expanded from a few to more than 130 across the United States and throughout the world. The club hosted new events such as lectures, literary dinners, art exhibitions, backgammon tournaments and more. Along the way the Club House was rewired, replastered, repainted, redecorated and given its first good exterior cleaning ever. Fireplaces were uncovered and reopened, bathrooms were added, and storage rooms and some dining rooms gave way to the Main Bar, the Game Room, the Art Gallery, and the Fitness Center. The DTA member of 1911 would still feel quite at home, however, in everything that matters.
The Down Town Association remains an island of quiet civility in a bustling Lower Manhattan filled with a new generation of workers and residents. As a locus for nourishment, entertainment, relaxation or quiet discourse, it remains of and for its members.
To inquire about membership submit the Request Form on the Membership page.