Hartford Business Journal Special Editions

BP-22 Hartford Business Journal • March 3, 2014 www.HartfordBusiness.com HBJBUSINESSPROFILES 140 Years with Twain, Lindbergh and Other Guests S amuel Langhorne Clemens (more famously known as Mark Twain) and Charles A. Lindbergh are just two of the great persons in history who have walked the halls of The Hartford Club during its 140 years in existence. It might come as no surprise to many that Twain was a club member. After all, a bust of the great American writer, perhaps the most famous Hartford resident ever, sits in the lobby of The Hartford Club at 46 Prospect St. But did you know that Lindbergh visited The Hartford Club for a testimonial dinner in his honor just two months after making history as the first person to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean? The testimonial was July 27, 1927, while his record-making flight was May 20-21, 1927. There have been many other instances over the years when the great and the near great have either visited or been members of The Hartford Club. To this day it's not unusual to see former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who guided NYC following the tragic and tumultuous events of 9/11, using the club's Cigar Bar whenever he is in Hartford. Other famous members, however, have included gov- ernors, senators and other politicians whose names have become synonymous with various streets, roads, highways and bridges across the state. For instance, it was Gov. John Harper Trumbull — think Trumbull Street in downtown Hartford — who requested that the club have the testimo- nial dinner for Charles Lindbergh. Back in 1939, the Hartford Club was "a gentlemen's club," which means membership was exclusively male. The wives of club members had their own entrance and their own room, the Ladies Dining Room that is now called The Fair Play Room, in the front left of the first floor. But except for events like the "The Holly Ball" when young debutantes were introduced to society, membership was decidedly male. This changed in 1973 when Laura A. Johnson, then president of the Hartford College for Women, became the first woman to be accepted as a full member. And of course Ella T. Grasso — the first woman to be elected governor of a state — received an honorary membership in 1976. Since then the club has had one woman president, Mar- garet W. Lawson, who was elected in 1983, while the first African-American president was the late Richard Weaver-Bey, who served from 1999 to 2001. The Hartford Club can be hired for pri- vate events such as weddings, bar/bat mitz- vahs, anniversaries, birthday parties, gradu- ations, holiday parties and meetings. What makes the club an ideal facil- ity is its flexibility. Menus can be custom designed to your budget (with the club's impeccable cui- sine) and its eight private rooms can accommodate from two to 300 guests Plus, it's all delivered with the impeccable service The Hartford Club has been known for since 1873. "There are a lot of things we do well or better than the next guy," says Chef Chris Kube. One of those things, rarely found in a restaurant, is catering to members' health needs. "If they want steamed broccoli with fish, we'll do it. It's their club. We'll do what we can," Kube said. "The member comes first. Any request we can fulfill will be fulfilled. I try to never say no." "We're trying to make a positive experience. The mem- ber deserves it. The Hartford Club Address: 46 Prospect Street Hartford, CT 06103 Phone: 860-522-1271 Fax: 860-240-7581 Web Site: www.hartfordclub.com Number of Employees: 30 Product or Service: Private Event and Meeting services and Business and Social Club Top Executives: Larry C. Brown, President, Board of Governors; James D. Fisher, General Manager Year founded: 1873 ' ' The member comes first. Any request we can fulfill will be fulfilled. above left: the Hartford Club celebrated 140 Years in 2013. above right: Members and their guests enjoy a holiday brunch. Bottom left: outdoor dining is a popular benefit to members of the Hartford Club. Bottom right: Members stand with the U.S. Marines spearheading the local collection of toys for tots efforts in Hartford. p h o T o S / h . r o b e r T T h i e S f i e l d

• Cover