Iroquois Club
- Identifier
- DBB-BUS-01312
- Name
- Iroquois Club
- Type
- Business
- Activity
- club / theater / entertainment venue
- recreation and leisure clubs
- Year Established
- 1896
- Description
-
The original Iroquois Club was established at the turn of the 20th century as a private club for Black men in Detroit. It was located on St. Antoine Street near Adams Avenue.
An article published in 1901 in the Detroit Free Press said that the club was "organized about five years ago" and had about 300 members, including some of the most prominent Black professionals in the city. The officers at that time were William E. Stone (president), George H. Owens (vice president), Michael Park (manager), W. M. Pfeiffer (secretary), Charles G. Smith, and Charles H. Stone. Photographs of the manager, vice president, and secretary and an image of the Iroquois club house were printed in the 1901 article. The address for the club was given as "304 St. Antoine street, near Adams avenue." Note that Detroit's street numbering system changed around the year 1920, and the address for this location changed. The modern address for this location would be at or near 1922 St. Antoine Street.
How long the club continued in existence in its original form is uncertain, and information about this club after 1901 is scant. Around 1933, the Simpson brothers began advertising Iroquois Recreation at 1905 St. Antoine Street, which would be across the street from the club's original location. The Simpson brothers may have revived the club as a private enterprise. In 1942, Charles Simpson was listed as the proprietor of the Iroquois Club at 1905 St. Antoine. Simpson's advertisement boasted that the club was "established 1901," but it is not entirely clear whether the club was in continuous existence throughout the entire period claimed by Simpson. - Affiliates
-
Burnell, Fred
Role: Manager (manager in 1941)Owens, George H.
Role: Officer (vice president in 1901)Park, Michael
Role: Manager (manager in 1901)Pfeiffer, W. M.
Role: Officer (secretary in 1901)Simpson, Charles S.
Role: Owner and/or Operator (proprietor in 1941)Smith, Charles G.
Role: Board Member (club leader in 1901)Stone, Charles H.
Role: Board Member (club leader in 1901)Stone, William E.
Role: Officer (president in 1901) - References
-
"The Iroquois Club," Detroit Free Press, September 29, 1901, https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-the-iroquois-club-d/150965446/.
- Documentation
-
1901-09-29 Detroit Free Press, 2 (Iroquois Club)
- 1933-04-14 Detroit Tribune, 5 (Iroquois Recreation)
- 1942-06-27 Michigan Chronicle, 10 (Iroquois Club)
- Title
- Iroquois Club