Woodstock Club
Historical Foundation, Inc.
Investing in the Next Generation
Visionary Founders
The Woodstock Club was founded by a collection of Indianapolis
civic and business leaders who sought to establish a convenient,
family-friendly club near Downtown. The vision of this group
continues to live on in our club today.
Woodstock Club’s Founding Board Members
A Family Tradition
The Woodstock Club was officially chartered in 1915 and is now
approaching its 100th anniversary.
A family focus has been at the heart of the Woodstock Club since
its earliest days. When the Country Club of Indianapolis moved to
the outskirts of Marion County in 1914, several couples organized
an effort to start a new club to make use of the property being
vacated.
We take pride in our rich history and the fact that our club has
served the needs of so many accomplished Hoosiers during its
first century. We are also proud that, regardless of profession,
Woodstock has – as its founders intended – become a second home
for many, and its members an extension of each other’s family.
Woodstock is a place where families feel comfortable coming
together and being themselves. The club is, and has always been,
a beautiful haven for recreation and an elegant venue for life’s
celebrations and gatherings for friends and family.
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Augustus Coburn, President of the Michigan Lumber Co.
William Coburn, President of Coburn Photo and Film
Charles Coffin, President of Indiana Savings & Investment Co.
Henry Danner, President of Burfurd Printing Co.
William Day, Partner at Thomas C. Day and Co.
Jaquelin S. Holliday, Chairman of Holliday and Co.
Gilbert Hurty, President of Hurty, Peck and Co.
Hugh Mckenna Landon, Chair of the Fletcher Trust Co.
Meredith Nicholson, Hoosier author and diplomat
Illustrious Early Members
Woodstock Club has been fortunate to count among its membership
local and national business leaders, two U.S. vice presidents,
multiple mayors of Indianapolis, U.S. senators, and noted authors
and artists have all shared in the history and tradition of our Club.
James Allison
Co-Founder of the
Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, Presto-Lite and
Allison Engine Company
Charles
Fairbanks
U.S. Senator & 26th Vice
President of the U.S.
Jaquelin S.
Holliday
Chairman of
Holliday & Co.
Josiah K.
Lilly Sr.
Son of Eli Lilly Sr. and head
of Eli Lilly and Co.
The Foundation
The Woodstock Club Historical Foundation was established in
2006 with the intent of preserving the rich history and tradition
of our Club. Today, the Foundation is embarking on a campaign
to secure Woodstock’s historic Clubhouse for the enjoyment of the
next generation of members, community leaders and their families.
Thomas
Marshall
Governor of IN and 28th
Vice President of the U.S.
Thomas
Taggert
Mayor of Indianapolis and
U.S. Senator
Booth
Tarkington
Pulitzer Prize winning
author
Woodstock Club Historical Foundation | 2
A Living Landmark
In the 90 years since this building was constructed, it has been
witness to countless events and milestones in the lives of members
and the community-at-large. From large crowds visiting Woodstock
for the Western Open or watching fireworks on the fourth of July, to
weddings and retirement parties, and even memorial services, the
Woodstock Clubhouse is woven into the life stories of its members
and the broader Indianapolis community.
In 2007 the Clubhouse was placed on the National Register
of Historic Places. The designation was granted not just in
recognition of the Clubhouse’s
architectural
beauty,
but
also in honor of its historical
significance in the country club
movement, and its place in the
history of Indianapolis.
The Clubhouse
The Woodstock Clubhouse
has always been the heart
of the club’s hospitality and
activity.
“I just love the feeling I get when
I’m there. As soon as you walk
in you can feel the history and
the warmth of the place.”
- Clarence Doninger,
Woodstock Historical Foundation
Board Member
Frederick Wallick, the architect
who designed the Clubhouse
in 1922, designed homes
for a number of prominent
Indianapolis executives and
their families, including Dr.
George H.A. Clowes, Senator
Thomas Taggart, Nicholas
Noyes, and Eli Lilly.
The Woodstock Club approached Wallick to create a replacement
for the previous clubhouse after it was destroyed by a fire. Wallick
incorporated many of the same features of his home plans into
the Italian Villa-style design for the new Clubhouse. The resulting
building even includes a room that is still referred to today as the
“Living Room.” Built in 1923 the Clubhouse was envisioned as
and remains a quiet escape where members and their families can
relax, connect, and enjoy fine food and company.
3 | Investing in the Next Generation
Woodstock Club Historical Foundation | 4
Preserving Our Past, Ensuring our Future
Debt Reduction
Social clubs in America face multiple challenges to their longterm viability in the modern era. Aging facilities and growing
competition for the attention, time, and resources of increasingly
suburban families have combined to threaten the sustainability of
many historic social clubs across the country. The Woodstock Club
has worked diligently to
maintain and improve
its facilities and services
over time and as a
result has sustained
strong finances and
membership in the face
of these challenges.
In order to complete a number of past improvements, the Woodstock
Club took out a mortgage on the Clubhouse. With an original
balance of $4 million, the Woodstock Club and the Foundation
have effectively paid down this debt to $2 million.
In 2006, members of
the Woodstock Club
proactively
launched
the
Woodstock
Historical Foundation
to address some of
these challenges.
A
separate legal entity
from the Woodstock
Club, this nonprofit
foundation was created
with the mission of
preserving and maintaining the historic Woodstock Clubhouse,
thereby helping to ensure the vibrancy of the Woodstock Club
for future generations.
The Foundation now seeks to eliminate this debt and the
club’s monthly mortgage payments entirely, and in so doing
reduce the ongoing burden on Club finances of paying down
the principal and interest on this loan.
Endowment Creation
While eliminating the Clubhouse mortgage will provide immediate
flexibility, we also know that the long-term costs of maintaining
a nearly century-old building can be significant. At Woodstock
we are unquestionably proud of our historic home, but we are
also cognizant that many
of the clubs and social
opportunities with which
we compete do not face the
same costs of upkeep.
In order to assure that
the Woodstock Club can
continue
to
compete
with
newer
facilities,
and continue to provide
opportunities to young
families, the Foundation
seeks
to
build
an
endowment to support
the ongoing needs of the
Clubhouse and reduce this
burden on the club.
Since its creation, the Foundation has raised $1.3 million to
support the conservation and upkeep of the historic Clubhouse.
With this funding, the Foundation has been able to reduce the
Club’s debt by $1.2 million, yet we intend to do more.
Now the Foundation has set its sights on a new ambitious goal
that would eliminate a current mortgage on the ninety-year-old
Clubhouse and provide resources for its ongoing maintenance.
In so doing, the Foundation will provide the Woodstock Club
with the financial flexibility necessary to maintain its exemplary
service to its members and build upon its strong membership
and finances in the future.
4 | Investing in the Next Generation
Your Support
The Woodstock Club Historical Foundation requests your support
to ensure the future of our great Clubhouse. Please use the
enclosed Commitment Card to signify your investment in the
future of Woodstock Club and its rich tradition of serving central
Indiana’s great families.
The Woodstock Club Historical Foundation, Inc
1301 West 38th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317.926.3348
woodstockclub.com