Images of America

Title: Indianapolis Social Clubs book launched Author: Staff Writer Publisher: Eastside Voice Date: 4/23/09 Indianapolis Social Clubs, by Jim Hillman and John Murphy, is now available at local stores, including Bookmamas (9 S. Johnson) and the Walgreens in Irvington. The book showcases the heyday of social clubs in Indianapolis, where banquet halls, golf courses, and swimming pools, social clubs were a haven for businessmen, politicians, and community leaders, offering respite from public scrutiny. Defining Indianapolis, the clubs were stoic agents of power and segregation, providing clear historical snapshots of Hoosier pomp and circumstance. The clubs did more than produce Olympic swimmers, world-class golfers, and tennis professionals; they were Indianapolis s multigenerational playgrounds. There were the politics and business dealings at the Columbia Club and the Indianapolis Athletic Club, the golfing, tennis, and formality of Woodstock, Meridian Hills, and other country clubs, and the family fun in the sun at Riviera, Devon, and Olympia. These organizations offered more than magical summers with family and friends; they were the places to be seen. Authors John Murphy, son of the Miramar Club s original general manager and former club employee, and Jim Hillman, childhood Riviera competitive swimmer, historical author, and instructor of sociology, explore the Propylaeum, Highland Golf and Country Club, Dolphin Club, Heather Hills, and several other facilities. Indianapolis Social Clubs provides nearly 200 rare vintage photographic memories that capture the heart, soul, and history of the clubs. Pick up a copy and enjoy a trip down memory lane."