National Register of Historic Places

South River Club

South River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Listed
May 14, 1969
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
69000067

About this property

The South River Club is a social club located just south of Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The name also refers to the group's clubhouse, which was built in 1742. The South River Club (also known as "The Old South River Club") is one of the country's oldest, continuously active organizations of its type. Early records were lost when the first clubhouse burned down, but there is evidence that the club existed in 1732 and perhaps as early as 1700. Club records show that it existed before February 11, 1742, when a resolution was passed to attempt to record all previous members' names. As early as 1746, the club was referred to as "The Ancient South River Club" in the Maryland Gazette. Early members included prominent landowners, merchants, and the local doctor and clergyman, all of whom lived within a 10-mile radius of the clubhouse. The members of the club meet at the clubhouse four times per year for feasts prepared in the detached kitchen. Women are only allowed in the clubhouse on "Pilgrimage Days." It is not clear where the first clubhouse stood. There is speculation that it was in Londontowne, Maryland. The present structure was built in 1742 on land purchased from Captain Thomas Gassaway, son of Colonel Nicholas Gassaway. It is a small frame, 1+1⁄2-story one-room clubhouse with a gable roof and a narrow exterior chimney on the east gable end. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. List of traditional gentlemen's clubs in the United States South River Club, Anne Arundel County, including photo from 1967, at Maryland Historical Trust Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. MD-843, "South River Club, Solomons Island Road (State Route 2) vicinity, South River vicinity, Anne Arundel County, MD" Pitts, Jonathan (September 22, 2012). "Old South River Club has met for more than 320 years". The Baltimore Sun.

Location

South River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland
38.90602, -76.56373

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

All Hallows' Church
Colonial
1 mi
Larkin's Hundred
Industrial
1.6 mi
Gresham
Industrial
1.9 mi
Larkin's Hill Farm
Industrial
2.1 mi
Obligation
Industrial
2.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of the Severn 1655
1655Colonial
5.3 mi
Battle of Severn (Maryland)
1655Colonial
6 mi

Questions about this property

When was South River Club listed on the National Register?

South River Club was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1969.

What type of historic resource is South River Club?

South River Club is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for South River Club?

The period of significance for South River Club is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near South River Club?

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