Monday, December 6, 2010

The Maryland Club

This post virtually guarantees that I will never be able to become a member of the Maryland Club, as does my gender, but here goes…

The Baltimore Architecture Foundation’s Groundhog Day party was held last night at The Maryland Club, despite the unexpected six inches of snow we got yesterday. We spend the day doing last minute things to get ready for the party including rolling a $995 chair carrying two Kohler faucets through the snow to the Club.Maryland Club The moment you enter The Maryland Club (MC), you are assaulted by whispers of old money, old traditions and a nearly extinct way of life, as well as nearly extinct animals. Maryland Club 006

Maryland Club 008 Maryland Club 009

The walls on the first floor of the MC are essentially papered with trophy animals, including a fully intact mountain goat. Now, I don’t want to hear from any PETA people, because I didn’t shoot these animals, I am just showing them. It is a but un-nerving to round a corner and see a nine-foot bear standing by the window!Maryland Club 002 However, what is most incredible about this building is the sheer amount of workmanship that has gone into it. The building had a serious fire in 1996 and has been rebuilt and upgraded since that time. That it was rebuilt at all is a testimony to the membership and their traditions.

Maryland Club 005The main corridors are a series of enfiladed rooms, stretching the length of the building. Funnily enough, they are not symmetrical, but slightly off-center. We were greeted by a roaring fire last night, very welcome, as it was still snowing.  The fireplace, and the moose above it, are both massive, and with my firebug tendencies, I longed to be able to poke at it with the huge iron tools next to it!Maryland Club 085 The ceilings on the first two floors are about 14 feet, which makes for a massive grand space. The windows all have wood shutters, which both keep the cold air out and the sun from coming in. When I swung open one of the shutters, I could feel the bitter cold air! (It was 15F last night.)Maryland Club 019Each room has a large fireplace, many of them still in working condition. They are all faced in stone, most likely Maryland stone, and large wood mantelpieces.

Maryland Club 012 Maryland Club 017
Maryland Club 067 Maryland Club 021
Maryland Club 047 Maryland Club 058

There is a huge staircase, not a long and graceful one, but a solid masculine one. Following the staircase up to the third floor is an amazing detail – a huge stenciled and gold-leafed painting.






Maryland Club 065
Maryland Club 066

At the very top of the staircase, there are a number of significant flags, including the Maryland State flag, the Baltimore City flag and the club’s flag, amongst others.  Behind them is a huge stained glass window with the state motto in Latin, translating as “manly deeds, womanly words”. Maryland Club 075The Governor’s Room, on the third floor of the Club was one of the most beautiful rooms. Although it didn’t have the grand proportions as other rooms, it was stunning. The ceilings were detailed with a quatrefoil pattern and there were lovely fireplaces at either end. There was a row of chandeliers down the center of the room, and at either end there were china cabinets behind leaded glass doors.  While most of the other rooms had dark wood, in this room, all of the wood was painted a pale cream. It made the room more feminine.

Maryland Club 068 Maryland Club 070

Three of the rooms, all adjacent to each other, were the Hunting Room, the Maritime Room and the Duck Room. I loved the hunting room, as it referred to fox hunting, not the big game hunting. The Maritime Room had lots of pictures of ships and ship models, as well as the most incredible window-seat. The Duck Room had numerous duck-types mounted on the wall. Maryland Club 039

Maryland Club 081Maryland Club 046

At the end of the evening, three of us snuck into one of the gentlemen’s rooms, and were stunned to find walls of the most beautiful Beaver Dam marble on the walls and stalls. Rumour has it that the MC puts ice cubes in the urinals.  I did love the sinks in the Gent’s.Maryland Club 106  Here are a few more details:

Door knobMaryland Club 035

Foo Dog Lamp. Notice the buzzer behind the lamp? They were all over the MC, so members could call for a servant.Maryland Club 056 The hallway leading from the Members’ Dining RoomMaryland Club 060 Detail of a ceiling lampMaryland Club 129 Detail from a book caseMaryland Club 125 Push-button light switches with mother of pearl insets.Maryland Club 111

This was a great evening for a great cause, and I was so glad to be included!

8 comments:

Reggie Darling said...

What a fun post. As a boy I went to a large wedding reception at the MC, which I will never forget. Thanks for helping me remember it again. Reggie

strawberriesinparis said...

My cousin got married there this summer. I had no idea what that building was for before that! Super neat place to hang out for several hours.

LoveFeast Table said...

What a great journey into our history. Thanks for taking us along!
~Kristin

Michael Lantz said...

That looks like City Hall.I tried to walk in there when I was a kid back in the 1970's the guard told me I had to leave.That was not far apart when there was a shooting back in the 1970's.William Donald Shaffer was Mayor at the time.I miss those days.

Milly said...

I'm loving your blog, I'm following!

Would love you to enter my amazing GIVEAWAY- to win a pasta making course and meal with wine for two:

http://thoroughlymodernmilly5.blogspot.com/2011/02/best-gievaway-yet-ida-restaurant-pasta.html

xx

Dovecote Decor said...

I'm surprised you weren't thrown out with all that shutterbugging. It is a fabulous city club and the door knobs alone are worth the price of admission, not to mention the "gents."
Best,
Liz

Theworkoutguy said...

I used to work there from 2010- mid 2011. A great place although it only has male members.

Anonymous said...

I use to work there from 1998-2000. Great staff along with lovely members!