Sainte Claire Club
| Formation | October 16, 1888 |
|---|---|
| Type | Private Men's Social Club, 501(c)(7) |
| Purpose | Leisure, recreation |
| Headquarters | 65 East St. James Street, San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 37°20′24″N 121°53′30″W / 37.33992°N 121.891597°W |
| Website | www |
The Sainte Claire Club is a private gentlemen's club established in 1888 and located in the St. James Square Historic District in San Jose, California, United States.[1] It is one of the oldest clubs in the state of California.[2]
History
The Sainte Claire Club was founded on October 16, 1888, with twenty members with R. E. Pearce serving as president.[3] It is an all-male club, with an initiation fee.[4]
The building headquarters was designed by architect A. Page Brown in a Mission Revival style and completed in 1893; the club moved into the building in June 1894.[3] It was damaged in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and restored a year later.
From 2020 to 2024, the club battled the city in court over design plans for St. James Park, which included a new outdoor pavilion to host some 5,000 people, and they won their lawsuit.[2][5]
The Sainte Claire Historic Preservation Foundation (SCHPF) is a 501(c)3 organization raising funds to preserve the building.[5] The Sainte Claire Club has a historical marker, erected by the City of San Jose.[6]
References
- ^ "National Register Information System – St. James Square (#79000546)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
- ^ a b Pho, Brandon (March 16, 2024). "Historic downtown San Jose park revamp hit with major setback". San José Spotlight. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ a b "Sainte Claire Club of San Jose". Sunset (magazine). Passenger Department, Southern Pacific Company. 1901. p. 69 – via Google Books.
- ^ Malone, Michael S. (April 5, 1992). "The Executive Life; Silicon Egalitarians Scoff at a Private Club". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ a b Avalos, George (March 13, 2024). "Social club wins court ruling, halts revamp of downtown San Jose park". Silicon Valley. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- ^ "Sainte Claire Club Historical Marker". Historical Marker Database (HMDB). Retrieved 2025-11-07.
External links
- Sainte Claire Historic Preservation Foundation website
- Photo: Group Portrait of the Members of the Sainte Claire Club (1961) at the Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History
- Photo: Sainte Claire Club, ca. 1905 at the California Room, San José Public Library