WELCOME TO THE OUTING CLUB

THE OUTING CLUB HISTORY

Three men – two successful businessmen, one a Civil War hero, the other a carriage and early automobile manufacturer, and a Unitarian pastor – drove across the unpaved roads of Davenport in 1891 on a mission. They were embarking on establishing a club where families could bring their children to dine, and where adults, teens and youngsters could enjoy tennis and lawn bowling.

From the very beginning, the focus was on families. The business and social benefits were there, too, but first and foremost – during an era where children weren’t allowed in restaurants – parents, and grandparents, aunts and uncles could share one another’s company. The history of The Outing Club is rich in romantic texture. Dues were only $10.00 a year, and chicken dinners with mashed potatoes and gravy, Parker House rolls and homemade cakes and pies became an after-church tradition. Celery rings and chicken salad survive as favorite luncheons.

The Outing Club was revered by people from far and wide. Social news often featured prominent members. Generations of families introduced their daughters to society at the debutante balls and garden parties, witnessed the marriage of their children, and celebrated in the ballroom with dining and dancing. It was a life of party gowns, tuxedos, and learned social behavior in a festive atmosphere that left the problems of the world on the outside. In a sense, The Outing Club was and still is a Camelot in the heart of Davenport.