Tuesday, March 29, 2005

On Main Street, the Culbertson West and the Culbertson Club

Last evening's constitutional brought us to Main Street, where we noticed the Culbertson West sign in front of the building most of us have known only as the Redmen Club.

Third Century Services strikes again ... it would appear that Sister Hicks is completely surrounded. The Third Century roster grows ever larger, with the Parthenon and adjacent Design Building, two bed and breakfasts, and now Culbertson West.

Very impressive, indeed, and it's worth noting that on April 26, the Floyd County Historical Society's guest speakers are Third Century's Steven W. Goodman and Carl Holliday, who will present "A History of the Culbertson Widow's Home on Main Street."

With the venerable Redmen neon gone, the new sign out front mentions the "Culbertson Club," but the Culbertson West web site is silent. In fact, the only Culbertson Club to be found on the web is a strip bar in Montana.

Actually, Third Century is organizing a "private club" at the new location, and a source told me today that the fee to join is $600 -- although it isn't clear what this figure entails.

I'll try to verify this, and learn whether any good beer comes with it.

Beautiful as the restored building certainly will be, it seems a shame to have a private club in a place like Culbertson West, when the community movers and shakers in other cities usually like to exercise their exclusivity from higher elevations.

For example, both the Jefferson Club in Louisville and the Petroleum Club in Evansville are located atop tall buildings near the Ohio River.

New Albany has one prime location above and beyond all others, and perhaps the former Weekly Wad office suite high atop the glittering Elsby Building might be had for the right price.

Private clubs are a ridiculously easy target, but in truth, pulling off such a venture won't be as easy as it looks. Will it work in New Albany, poster city for the lowest common denominator?

I wish them the best, and hope to attend the April 26 historical presentation.

4 comments:

The New Albanian said...

I should clarify that the private club would appear to be one component of the overall banquet/meeting/conference facility.

It's also a nice marketing tool for them to have two B & B's within stumbling distance of the facility.

The New Albanian said...

To clarify, Sister Hicks LIVES on the soiuth side of Main Street, roughly opposite the Knights of Columbus hall. Her church is in Jeffersonville on Hwy 62.

Third Century now has properties on both sides of her house.

$600 DOES sound steep, but as Brandon helpfully pointed out, perhaps not much (not $2 a day) for a businessman to take clients to a pleasant/exclusive venue for lunch or drinks.

edward parish said...

istanbul, let me know via my yahoo account if you are going to the April 26 Floyd County Historical Society meeting, I'll tag along with you. Very informative article, I wish Third Century continued success.

Ann said...

Business First article on the Culbertson Club:
http://louisville.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2005/03/07/story5.html?page=1