TheOld Colony Club is one of the oldestgentlemen's clubs in the United States, founded in 1769 inPlymouth, Massachusetts.[1]
The club was founded in January 1769, byIsaac Lothrop,Pelham Winslow,Thomas Lothrop, Thomas Mayhew,Elkanah Cushman, John Thomas,Edward Winslow, Jr. and John Watson.[2] Their intent in creating a private club was to avoid "the many disadvantages and inconveniences that arise from intermixing with the company at the taverns in ... Plymouth." It went moribund during theAmerican Revolution due to a split betweenTory andPatriot members, but was revived in 1875. Its clubhouse on Court Street was purchased in 1893.
The club meets on Fridays at a much-renovated oldcolonial house on Court Street in downtown Plymouth. The club is best known for its annual celebration ofForefathers' Day, one of the oldest holidays in America, dating from colonial times.[3]
Hoyle's Official Book of Games notwithstanding, the "extinct" game ofBestia is still played every Friday night at this institution.
The Old Colony Club boasts among its early members Revolutionary War hero GeneralAlexander Scammell.[4]
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