LET’S GO TO THE COLONIAL CLUB OF NEW YORK, DATE: March 14, 1900

Penny For Your Thoughts By:Nancy Whitaker

Let’s take a trip back to New York City to the 1900s where the city is alive with people. Industry and construction are booming and immigrants are arriving thru Ellis Island. The Subway is almost complete which will be a big asset to the city.

William McKinley was President of the United States at the time and wealthy men began to build mansions and moving their families into the West side of New York. However a need was seen for a club to host business meetings and to eat and relax. 

Therefore, a huge fancy club was built and completed by the early 1900s The club boasted a roof garden, bowling alley, observatory, billiards, smoking rooms and fine food. This was a place for men with money. Only men could belong to this club, but it was eventually decided that women were allowed to be members.

The club was located at Broadway and 72 street. So put on your best attire and let’s go back to the early 1900s and the Colonial Club to see what’s cooking.

After being seated we are given menus. Hmm Wonder what’s good to eat. 

I would like to try a full course dinner and see what it tastes like and what all I get. The first course is soup, and I see there are choices of Turtle Soup, bouillon, green turtle soup and clam soup. A full cup of soup is .35 and a half is .20 cents. I don’t want turtle or clam soup so my choice is bouillon. I will take a half cup which is .20 cents.

Next is hors d’oeuvres. What do you want to order? Some of the offerings are radishes, celery, French olives, stuffed olives, sardines, almonds and pickled beets. There are also stuffed mangoes and caviar. They are priced at full orders for .35 cents  and half orders are .20 cents. Wonder how many you get? What about a half order of French olives? So far I have spent .40 cents. 

Oh here comes the next course which is fish which includes sheep head, shad roe and some I can’t pronounce. A whole piece of this tasty fish ranges from .75 cents to .30 for a half. Let me see. I may as well try a half piece of sheep head and add .30 more cents to my bill. I don’t see on the menu that tartar sauce is available, so I decide to try some mayo for an extra .20 cents.

The next item to try is filet mignon casserole, English mutton chop, sausage, bacon and roast beef hash with browned peppers.

You can order a whole boiled chicken for 1.25 or a half for .60 cents. Want some stuffed turkey with cranberry sauce which will cost you 1.25 or maybe a Mallard duck, a Ruddy duck or Teal duck?Maybe a nice fattened squab?

The filet mignon casserole sounds good so I will order a half portion for .60 cents. 

Do you want a beverage? Now it’s time for some hardy rum punch for .20 cents. 

Vegetables anybody? Choose from fried egg plant, boiled onions, stewed tomatoes, artichokes, asparagus, and sweet pimentos. A whole order is of veggies is .40 cents and a half order is .20 cents.

I want to try a baked potato for a dime.

For salads things like lettuce, tomatoes, celery and cucumbers items are priced separately. Lettuce runs .35 and .20 cents, tomatoes .35 cents and a half one is .20 cents.

For dessert it all sounds delicious, but I want to taste that lemon ice, lady fingers or Colonial soufflé. Dessert ranges from .25 cents to .15 cents.

There is still fruit and cheese to taste but I am getting full and it’s  almost my bedtime. I wonder if I have a Penny left after I pay for that big dinner?

Let’s see, I had soup for .20; Hors d’oeuvres… .20; fish… .30; mayo… .20; Filet Mignon casserole… .60; Rum punch… .20; Baked potato… .10; Colonial soufflé… .20. Total… $2.00

Well I have $2.01 in my pocket so tell me what you would order back in 1900  and I’ll give you that Penny For Your Thoughts.