History - 1904 - "The Men Who Came to Dinner" - Building the Dream - Historic Photos

First Meetings

The first organization meeting was held at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 12, 1904, at the Hollenden Hotel. In attendance were 50 prominent pre-selected Clevelanders whose congenial natures were favorably known. Their abilities and temperaments were parallel with the ideals and objectives sought for the proposed club. 

Meade called the meeting to order and asked C. W. Stage to act as temporary chairman for the unnamed organization. A committee consisting of Duncan, Cady and Janes was appointed to recommend a name to the members. They reported back with three possibilities which were voted on and resulted in: 22 for Hermit; 20 for Fellows; and four for Wayside. With that, The Hermit Club was adopted.

That same day, the Executive Committee met and outlined plans for incorporating the club. They appointed a committee consisting of Meade, Bicknell and Kelly. Charles W. Stage was elected President and M. W. Lawrence, Frank Meade, W. M. Duncan, George H. Kelly, A. D. Brooks and E. H. Cady were elected as the first Board of Directors. At the director’s meeting, Meade was elected Vice President and Scott Steward, Secretary. By April 19th, 1904, the incorporation of The Hermit Club had been completed.

FIRST ANNAUL MEETING

The club held its first annual meeting that December and elected Frank Meade as President, which he carried through to 1937, when the policy of direct election of the President by the membership was abolished.

By March 6th, 1904, the Hermit Club had 95 resident, and 4 non-resident charter members, who on that date had signed the Articles of Incorporation. By September 30th, 1904, the Board of Directors adopted house rules. One of these is observed, and still is maintained to this day, i.e., Section I of Article two:

“Members shall not be permitted to treat one another.”