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{{Infobox NRHP
]
⚫ | name = Princeton Charter Club
⚫ The '''Princeton Charter Club''' is one of ]'s ten active undergraduate ] located on or near Prospect Avenue in ], ]. <ref></ref>
| nrhp_type = cp
| nocat = yes
| partof = ]
| partof_refnum = 75001143<ref>{{cite web|title=Princeton Historic District|url={{NRHP url|id=75001143}}|website=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| image = Charter Eating Club, Princeton University.jpg
| caption =
| location = 79 Prospect Ave, ]
| coordinates = {{coord|40|20|55.6|N|74|39|00.2|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = USA New Jersey Mercer County#New Jersey#USA
| area =
| built = 1914
| architect = ]
| architecture = ] and ] Revival
| added = 27 June 1975
}}

⚫ The '''Princeton Charter Club''' is one of ]'s eleven active undergraduate ] located on or near Prospect Avenue in ], ].<ref></ref>


==Club history== ==Club history==
The Princeton Charter Club was organized in the fall of 1901 as Princeton's ninth eating club, with a Senior Section from the Class of 1902 and a Junior Section from the Class of 1903. The name Cloister was at first selected until it was discovered that Yale already had an institution of similar name. About that time the document known as the Charter for the College of New Jersey was found and presented to the University. On the suggestion of Professor McDonald, an honorary member, the name Charter was substituted for Cloister. Charter's current neighbor to the west, ], later took the discarded name. The Princeton Charter Club was organized in the fall of 1901 as Princeton's ninth eating club, with a Senior Section from the Class of 1902 and a Junior Section from the Class of 1903. The name Cloister was at first selected until it was discovered that Yale already had an institution of similar name. About that time the document known as the Charter for the College of New Jersey was found and presented to the university. Charter's current neighbor to the west, ], later took the discarded name.


A small building on Olden Street -- known as the "Incubator" because several other clubs had started there while they waited for sufficient finances to buy or build a proper clubhouse -- was leased and the furnishing paid for by subscriptions. A small building on Olden Street—known as the "Incubator" because several other clubs had started there while they waited for sufficient finances to buy or build a proper clubhouse—was leased and the furnishing paid for by subscriptions.


In the spring of 1903 the Club purchased three lots and a house on Prospect Avenue which constitutes three-quarters of the present property. The house was redesigned and enlarged under the supervision of an undergraduate member ] of the 1904 Section, with the assistance of Professor Harris of the Faculty.<ref></ref> The funds for the purchase of this property and the alterations to this second clubhouse were raised by the sale of nineteen $1,000 mortgage bonds. In the spring of 1903 the club purchased three lots and a house on Prospect Avenue which constitutes three-quarters of the present property. The house was redesigned and enlarged under the supervision of an undergraduate member ] of the 1904 Section, with the assistance of Professor Harris of the faculty.<ref></ref> The funds for the purchase of this property and the alterations to this second clubhouse were raised by the sale of nineteen $1,000 mortgage bonds.


The so-called "Adler Clubhouse" would house Charter Club for a decade, until the present "Third Clubhouse", designed by noted architectural firm Mellor & Meigs<ref></ref> was completed in the fall of 1914. In the intervening years, Charter had grown into an institution of no small renown known for its extravagant banquets. Additionally, Charter's real estate assets had grown. In early 1905, at least one adjacent lot was purchased. In the summer of 1905, a squash court was built behind the clubhouse. The expansion of the land holdings encouraged the membership and graduate section of Charter to build the Third Clubhouse, which was and is a far more imposing edifice than either the Adler Clubhouse or most of Charter's peer institutions. Today, Charter is widely regarded as having one of the nicest clubhouses on "The Street." The "Adler Clubhouse" would house Charter Club for a decade, until the present "Third Clubhouse", designed by architectural firm Mellor & Meigs<ref></ref> was completed in the fall of 1914. Additionally, Charter's real estate assets had grown. In early 1905, at least one adjacent lot was purchased. In the summer of 1905, a squash court was built behind the clubhouse. The expansion of the land holdings encouraged the membership and graduate section of Charter to build the Third Clubhouse, which was and is a far more imposing edifice than either the Adler Clubhouse or even the "Incubator". Today, Charter is widely regarded as having one of the finest clubhouses on "The Street."


After the ] entered ], Charter was temporarily closed due to reduced membership caused by widespread member enlistment in the armed forces. For a period of less than two years, between 1917 and 1919, the Charter clubhouse closed its doors, and Charter members left on campus received full membership privileges at ]. Charter lost seven members in the war, and their sacrifice is commemorated by a plaque located in the "Great Room." After the ] entered ], Charter was temporarily closed due to reduced membership caused by widespread member enlistment in the armed forces. For a period of less than two years, between 1917 and 1919, the Charter clubhouse closed its doors, and Charter members left on campus received full membership privileges at ]. Charter lost seven members in the war, and their sacrifice is commemorated by a plaque located in the "Great Room."


Reopening in 1919, Charter quickly gained a reputation as a club personifying the era of the Roaring '20's. Known for its sophistication and its raucous bacchanalian moments, Charter Club carved a niche for itself on campus in the inter-war years.<ref></ref> At the notorious section party of 1930, thirty Charter members famously consumed four entire barrels of beer in the town firehouse, and decided to ring the fire bell, an action which drew a University proctor and minor disciplinary repercussions from the University after the intervention of the Charter Board of Governors on behalf of their younger charges. Reopening in 1919, Charter quickly gained a reputation as a club personifying the era of the Roaring '20s, carving a niche for itself on campus in the inter-war years.<ref></ref> ] saw Charter closing along with all of its peer institutions, as members almost universally went off to fight abroad. Charter greatly expanded its membership after the war, but disaster struck closer to home in 1949 when a fire spread rapidly through much of the first and second floors causing heavy damage. A ] summoned to the scene of the fire, on seeing the facade of Charter seemingly unaffected, declared famously, "I have never seen a building survive a fire like this, nothing is indestructible, but this place is damn near." Charter's membership has since often referred to it as "The Indestructible Charter Club," or simply "The Indestructible."

] saw Charter closing along with all of its peer institutions, as members almost universally went off to fight abroad. Charter greatly expanded its membership after the war, but disaster struck closer to home in 1949 when a fire spread rapidly through much of the first and second floors causing heavy damage. A ] summoned to the scene of the fire, on seeing the facade of Charter seemingly unaffected, declared famously, "I've never seen a building survive a fire like this, nothing's indestructible, but this place is damn close." Charter's membership has since often referred to it as "The Indestructible Charter Club," or simply "The Indestructible." As always, Charter recovered from this crisis as it has many in its history, throwing a famously lavish party to celebrate the completion of repairs and renovation in the spring of 1950.

⚫ Charter was known throughout the '50's and '60's for its hard partying ways -- Charter parties were only rivaled at the time by those at perennial animal house ]. It is suspected, but not known, that at least one Charter member rode with members of ] in the so-called ] of '63, in which the "dinky" train running from Princeton Junction into Princeton was forced to make a dramatic emergency stop after a car was seen on the tracks, at which point ersatz cowboys rode up to the train on horseback and carried off their dates who had been arriving for the weekend.

⚫ The greatest era of the Eating Clubs was beginning to fade by the late sixties, however, and looking to prop up stagnating membership figures, Charter announced that it would accept female members, over the objection of many members of the grad board, shortly after the University made the switch to ]. In 1977, Charter made the switch from bicker selectivity to sign-in openness in order to draw more members. The club remained financially stable throughout the 70's, 80's, and 90's, as six of its peers shut their doors permanently, no small accomplishment.


⚫ Charter was known throughout the 1950s and 1960s for its hard partying ways—Charter parties were only rivaled at the time by those at perennial animal house ]. It is suspected, but not known, that at least one Charter member rode with members of ] in the so-called ] of '63, in which the "dinky" train running from Princeton Junction into Princeton was forced to make a dramatic emergency stop after a car was seen on the tracks, at which point ersatz cowboys rode up to the train on horseback and carried off their dates who had been arriving for the weekend.
⚫ Throughout this tumultuous period, Charter never quite lost its carefree atmosphere and wild touch -- best exemplified perhaps by the infamous Initiation Night of 1988. In 1988, Charter counted as members most of the Varsity Football Team, and many of the '89 section's officers were part of this particular group. It was some of these gridiron heroes who allegedly planned the raucous celebration of the admission of the new sophomore section which led to 45 members sent to McCosh Infirmary or Princeton Medical Center for alcohol-related reasons. The Princeton Borough Police quickly rounded up the Charter officer corps, and criminal charges were brought against the president and social chair, who were convicted of serving alcohol to minors, fined $500, and sentenced to 30 days in jail. The sentences were later overturned by a Mercer County Court judge, and the two undergraduate officers received probation and were ordered to perform community service.<ref> </ref> To prevent a similar occurrence, but also to commemorate forever this fateful night, Charter now conducts formal initiations a week after all the other eating clubs, and on what would otherwise be initiation night officially "goes dry", although unsubstantiated rumors of a third-floor "speakeasy" often abound in the lead-up to this night. Initiation Night '88 is generally considered to be, along with the Section Party of 1930, one of Charter's most infamous moments.


⚫ The greatest era of the Eating Clubs was beginning to fade by the late 1960s, however, and looking to prop up stagnating membership figures, Charter announced that it would accept female members, over the objection of many members of the grad board, shortly after the university made the switch to ]. In 1977, Charter made the switch from bicker selectivity to sign-in openness in order to draw more members. The club remained financially stable throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, as six of its peers shut their doors permanently.
Charter is now known as a politically conservative club with many science and engineering students as members.


⚫ Throughout this tumultuous period, Charter never quite lost its carefree atmosphere and wild touch—best exemplified perhaps by the infamous Initiation Night of 1988. In 1988, Charter counted as members most of the Varsity Football Team, including many of the '89 section's officers. It was some of these gridiron heroes who allegedly planned the raucous celebration of the admission of the new sophomore section which led to 45 members sent to McCosh Infirmary or Princeton Medical Center for alcohol-related reasons. The Princeton Borough Police quickly rounded up the Charter officer corps, and criminal charges were brought against the president and social chair, who were convicted of serving alcohol to minors, fined $500, and sentenced to 30 days in jail. The sentences were later overturned by a Mercer County Court judge, and the two undergraduate officers received probation and were ordered to perform community service.<ref></ref> To prevent a similar occurrence, but also to commemorate forever this fateful night, Charter now conducts formal initiations a week after all the other eating clubs, and on what would otherwise be initiation night officially "goes dry." Initiation Night '88 is generally considered to be, along with the Section Party of 1930, one of Charter's most infamous moments.<ref></ref>
Charter is known for excellent food.<ref></ref>


In the fall of 2010, Charter announced major modifications to its membership admission system, creating a "weighted sign-in" system that gives preference to sophomores judged to be more enthusiastic about the club, based on their involvement in club activities and attendance at events open to sophomores."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/09/20/26263/ |title=Charter will use weighted sign-in system - The Daily Princetonian |website=www.dailyprincetonian.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923072610/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/09/20/26263 |archive-date=2010-09-23}} </ref> In February 2011, operating under this new system, Charter was again the only sign in club to fill its sophomore section in the first round of sign-ins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2011/01/31/27406/ |access-date=March 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204122437/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2011/01/31/27406/ |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |title=Colonial takes 71 more members than last year - the Daily Princetonian }}</ref>
In 2009, the Princeton Charter Club led all sign in clubs with 118 first round sign-ins, compared to the 13 sign-ins of former rival club Colonial. At this moment in time, Charter and Terrace remain the most popular clubs on the street. <ref>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/02/01/24939/</ref>


==Notable alumni== ==Notable alumni==
*] (1904 Section), architect<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Richard|title=The Styles of David Adler|year=2002|publisher=The Art Institute of Chicago|pages=20}}</ref>
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2008}}
*Arthur Schmidt (1912 Section). Infantry officer and recipient of the Army Cross <ref name=Charter>from Charter Club official records</ref>
*] (1904 Section), architect
*] (1916 Section), literary critic<ref>{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Carlos|title=Edmund Wilson|url=http://etcweb.princeton.edu/CampusWWW/Companion/wilson_edmund.html|work=A Princeton Companion|publisher=Princeton University Press}}</ref>
*] (1910 Section), lawyer, naval officer
*] (1933 Section), ] and ]<ref>{{cite book|last=Dewey|first=Donald|title=James Stewart, A Biography|year=1996|publisher=Turner Publishing, Inc}}</ref>
*] (1916 Section), literary critic
*] (1940 Section), physician<ref>{{cite news|last=Krauss |first=Sam|title=Andrews '40 left mark on medicine|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/10/20/16294/|access-date=8 November 2010|newspaper=The Daily Princetonian|date=October 20, 2006 }}</ref>
*] (1932 Section), actor<ref></ref> *] (1932 Section), actor<ref></ref>
*] (1933 Section), ] and ]
*] (1948 Section), former ] Commissioner<ref>{{cite news|last=The Class of 1948|title=May 9, 2007 Memorials|url=https://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_new/PAW06-07/13-0509/memorials.html|access-date=8 November 2010|newspaper=Princeton Alumni Weekly|date=May 9, 2007}}</ref>
*] (1940 Section), noted pediatrician and author
*] (1948 Section), former ] Commissioner *] (1956 Section), Harvard Law professor and former Solicitor General
*] (1963 Section), co-creator of the ]<ref name="Charter"/>
*] (1966 Section), author, biographer, social critic
*] (1971 Section), ] of ] *] (1971 Section), Governor of Indiana<ref name=Charter/>
*] (1978 Section), co-founder, ] *] (1977 Section), British diplomat<ref name="Charter"/>
*] (1982 Section), writer<ref>{{cite news|last=Achenbach|first=Joel|title=Princeton the second time around |url=https://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_new/PAW02-03/05-1120/perspective.html|access-date=8 November 2010|newspaper=Princeton Alumni Weekly|date=November 20, 2002}}</ref>
*] (1981 Section), noted pediatrician and author
*] (1982 Section), actor<ref>{{cite news|last=Krattenmaker|first=Tom|title=Before The X-Files|url=https://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/PAW96-97/15-0507/0507feat.html|access-date=8 November 2010|newspaper=Princeton Alumni Weekly|date=May 7, 1997}}</ref>
*] (1982 Section), writer
*] (1982 Section), Washington Post journalist *] (1986 Section), founder of ]
*] (1982 Section), actor *] (1989 Section), cartographer, inventor, and attorney
*] (1989 Section), Delaware State Treasurer, 2015 to 2019 <ref></ref>
*] (1984 Section), founder of ]
*] (1986 Section), founder of ] *] (2008 Section), American computer scientist and lawyer
*] (2018 Section), child actor
*] (1989 Section), son of former Vice President ]
*] (1989 Section), Executive Vice President & General Manager of the ]


==References== ==References==
Line 54: Line 64:


==External links== ==External links==
* *
*


{{Princeton}} {{Princeton}}


] ]
]
⚫ ]

Latest revision as of 18:59, 29 May 2024

United States historic place
Princeton Charter Club
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
Princeton Charter Club is located in Mercer County, New JerseyPrinceton Charter ClubShow map of Mercer County, New JerseyPrinceton Charter Club is located in New JerseyPrinceton Charter ClubShow map of New JerseyPrinceton Charter Club is located in the United StatesPrinceton Charter ClubShow map of the United States
Location79 Prospect Ave, Princeton, New Jersey
Coordinates40°20′55.6″N 74°39′00.2″W / 40.348778°N 74.650056°W / 40.348778; -74.650056
Built1914
ArchitectArthur Ingersoll Meigs
Architectural styleGeorgian and Colonial Revival
Part ofPrinceton Historic District (ID75001143)
Added to NRHP27 June 1975

The Princeton Charter Club is one of Princeton University's eleven active undergraduate eating clubs located on or near Prospect Avenue in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.

Club history

The Princeton Charter Club was organized in the fall of 1901 as Princeton's ninth eating club, with a Senior Section from the Class of 1902 and a Junior Section from the Class of 1903. The name Cloister was at first selected until it was discovered that Yale already had an institution of similar name. About that time the document known as the Charter for the College of New Jersey was found and presented to the university. Charter's current neighbor to the west, Cloister Inn, later took the discarded name.

A small building on Olden Street—known as the "Incubator" because several other clubs had started there while they waited for sufficient finances to buy or build a proper clubhouse—was leased and the furnishing paid for by subscriptions.

In the spring of 1903 the club purchased three lots and a house on Prospect Avenue which constitutes three-quarters of the present property. The house was redesigned and enlarged under the supervision of an undergraduate member David Adler of the 1904 Section, with the assistance of Professor Harris of the faculty. The funds for the purchase of this property and the alterations to this second clubhouse were raised by the sale of nineteen $1,000 mortgage bonds.

The "Adler Clubhouse" would house Charter Club for a decade, until the present "Third Clubhouse", designed by architectural firm Mellor & Meigs was completed in the fall of 1914. Additionally, Charter's real estate assets had grown. In early 1905, at least one adjacent lot was purchased. In the summer of 1905, a squash court was built behind the clubhouse. The expansion of the land holdings encouraged the membership and graduate section of Charter to build the Third Clubhouse, which was and is a far more imposing edifice than either the Adler Clubhouse or even the "Incubator". Today, Charter is widely regarded as having one of the finest clubhouses on "The Street."

After the United States entered World War I, Charter was temporarily closed due to reduced membership caused by widespread member enlistment in the armed forces. For a period of less than two years, between 1917 and 1919, the Charter clubhouse closed its doors, and Charter members left on campus received full membership privileges at Cottage Club. Charter lost seven members in the war, and their sacrifice is commemorated by a plaque located in the "Great Room."

Reopening in 1919, Charter quickly gained a reputation as a club personifying the era of the Roaring '20s, carving a niche for itself on campus in the inter-war years. World War II saw Charter closing along with all of its peer institutions, as members almost universally went off to fight abroad. Charter greatly expanded its membership after the war, but disaster struck closer to home in 1949 when a fire spread rapidly through much of the first and second floors causing heavy damage. A fire marshal summoned to the scene of the fire, on seeing the facade of Charter seemingly unaffected, declared famously, "I have never seen a building survive a fire like this, nothing is indestructible, but this place is damn near." Charter's membership has since often referred to it as "The Indestructible Charter Club," or simply "The Indestructible."

Charter was known throughout the 1950s and 1960s for its hard partying ways—Charter parties were only rivaled at the time by those at perennial animal house Cannon Club. It is suspected, but not known, that at least one Charter member rode with members of Cap and Gown Club in the so-called Great Train Robbery of '63, in which the "dinky" train running from Princeton Junction into Princeton was forced to make a dramatic emergency stop after a car was seen on the tracks, at which point ersatz cowboys rode up to the train on horseback and carried off their dates who had been arriving for the weekend.

The greatest era of the Eating Clubs was beginning to fade by the late 1960s, however, and looking to prop up stagnating membership figures, Charter announced that it would accept female members, over the objection of many members of the grad board, shortly after the university made the switch to coeducation. In 1977, Charter made the switch from bicker selectivity to sign-in openness in order to draw more members. The club remained financially stable throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, as six of its peers shut their doors permanently.

Throughout this tumultuous period, Charter never quite lost its carefree atmosphere and wild touch—best exemplified perhaps by the infamous Initiation Night of 1988. In 1988, Charter counted as members most of the Varsity Football Team, including many of the '89 section's officers. It was some of these gridiron heroes who allegedly planned the raucous celebration of the admission of the new sophomore section which led to 45 members sent to McCosh Infirmary or Princeton Medical Center for alcohol-related reasons. The Princeton Borough Police quickly rounded up the Charter officer corps, and criminal charges were brought against the president and social chair, who were convicted of serving alcohol to minors, fined $500, and sentenced to 30 days in jail. The sentences were later overturned by a Mercer County Court judge, and the two undergraduate officers received probation and were ordered to perform community service. To prevent a similar occurrence, but also to commemorate forever this fateful night, Charter now conducts formal initiations a week after all the other eating clubs, and on what would otherwise be initiation night officially "goes dry." Initiation Night '88 is generally considered to be, along with the Section Party of 1930, one of Charter's most infamous moments.

In the fall of 2010, Charter announced major modifications to its membership admission system, creating a "weighted sign-in" system that gives preference to sophomores judged to be more enthusiastic about the club, based on their involvement in club activities and attendance at events open to sophomores." In February 2011, operating under this new system, Charter was again the only sign in club to fill its sophomore section in the first round of sign-ins.

Notable alumni

References

  1. "Princeton Historic District". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. Princeton University - ODUS - Eating clubs
  3. Charter Club
  4. Mellor & Meigs (fl. 1906–1916 and 1928–1941) - Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
  5. Hometown Boy | The Jimmy Stewart Museum
  6. The New York Times, Craig Bloom, "Clubs at Princeton Curb Drinking" 12 February 1989
  7. More Than a Meal Plan - New York Times
  8. "Charter will use weighted sign-in system - The Daily Princetonian". www.dailyprincetonian.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-23.
  9. "Colonial takes 71 more members than last year - the Daily Princetonian". Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  10. Wilson, Richard (2002). The Styles of David Adler. The Art Institute of Chicago. p. 20.
  11. ^ from Charter Club official records
  12. Baker, Carlos. "Edmund Wilson". A Princeton Companion. Princeton University Press.
  13. Dewey, Donald (1996). James Stewart, A Biography. Turner Publishing, Inc.
  14. Krauss, Sam (October 20, 2006). "Andrews '40 left mark on medicine". The Daily Princetonian. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  15. Hometown Boy | The Jimmy Stewart Museum
  16. The Class of 1948 (May 9, 2007). "May 9, 2007 Memorials". Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 8 November 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. Achenbach, Joel (November 20, 2002). "Princeton the second time around". Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  18. Krattenmaker, Tom (May 7, 1997). "Before The X-Files". Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  19. The New York Times, Craig Bloom, "Clubs at Princeton Curb Drinking" 12 February 1989

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