Officer’s Club

On a crisp Detroit day in 1890, the Officer’s Club first opened its doors. Well, not quite this exact building. The original Officer’s Club, then known as the Detroit Club, began its life quite humbly in a rented house on Lafayette Street. The Detroit Club was the brainchild of Samuel Douglas, a lawyer, and James T. Campbell, a banker. They envisioned a sanctuary where Detroit’s business elite could gather, socialize, and discuss the economic heart of the growing city. The Detroit Club quickly outgrew its humble beginnings. Its membership swelled to over one hundred, attracting prominent figures like Hugh McMillan, founder of the Michigan Telephone Company, and former Michigan Governor Russell A. Alger. By 1891, the club demanded a grander stage. The members commissioned architect Wilson Eyre to design a new clubhouse, a Romanesque Revival masterpiece at the corner of Cass and Fort Avenues. This magnificent structure, with its intricate details and imposing presence, became a symbol of Detroit’s burgeoning power and prosperity. While the original purpose was business-centric, the Detroit Club quickly evolved into a hub of social and cultural life. Over the years, it hosted countless dignitaries, luminaries, and even presidents, each leaving their mark on the club’s rich tapestry of stories. The club weathered economic storms, societal shifts, and even a temporary closure in 2013. Yet, like the city it calls home, the Detroit Club persevered. It reopened in 2017, revitalized and ready to serve a new generation of Detroiters. This building, once a sanctuary for businessmen, now welcomes all who appreciate its history and grandeur. The Officer’s Club, as we know it today, stands as a testament to Detroit’s resilience and its enduring spirit.