Press Blog

On March 20, 1909, the trek began at 8:30. Charlie Cottrill stationed himself at the entrance and announced to all passers-by that Billikin and his court would move to his new abode at 9:00 o'clock. A brass band had been promised; instead there came a Neapolitan string quartette. The two biggest policemen in Washington were to escort the procession. Charlie Cottrill, John Suter, Harry Scofield, and Fred Weimer were the Billikin Bearers, but when they arrived on the sidewalk a great argument arose as to who should dry Billikin's tears at leaving his old haunts. That honor finally fell to the lot of E. B. Johns. Norborne Robinson, Jim Preston, Henry Sweinhart, Jerry Egan, and Earl Godwin were the official torchbearers. Behind them came a hundred pencil shovers, with Maurice Splain, "Tommy" Atkins, Mike Flynn, Tom Pence and Henry Jones in the vanguard carrying beer steins, billiard cues, records and other paraphernalia. Bringing up the rear was Otto Carmichael's automobile with Bill Crawford as the expressman laden with piano stool, sheet music, and the like.
 
When they arrived at the new home, 603 Fifteenth Street, they found that Arthur Dodge, Bill Crounse, and Elmer Paine had made a big hit in decorating the place. The newspapers carried a story which said:
 
"The club rooms now admittedly take rank with any press club in the United States." It was a great advance over what we had before, but when one remembers the enlargement that followed, next the quarters atop the Riggs Building, and then thinks of our present delightful home, one sees how good the years have been to the Club!