#52 Postcard Trivia 5.14.19
1916 Postcard from J Garner Collection.
Lifestyles of the rich and famous! This 1916 postcard features the Dallas Country Club, one of the most exclusive private clubs in the U.S. It was built in 1896, at a time when the ultra-rich were expanding their ventures to the countryside to socialize and enjoy “society” sports like golf and tennis. The idea goes back to the wealthy British landowners who spent most of their time in the country and traveled to London for business, shopping, and the “season.” Wealthy elites in the United States wanted to create the same country experience - and the country club was born! Dallas Country Club was among a large group of country clubs established in the 1880s and 1890s all over the country. Built along Turtle Creek on 117.5 acres of land in Highland Park, the club continues to be owned and operated by its exclusive members (approximately 1500 members.) Membership is by invitation only and it can take as long as seven to ten years for an applicant to be approved. Initiation fees and membership dues are quite expensive as well - in the range of $100,000 with additional dues and expenses. The Dallas Country Club has been continually updated and remodeled in its 123 year history. For current photos, visit the DCC website: https://www.thedallascc.org
Trivia Question:
Which well-known, wealthy resident of Highland Park was denied membership into the Dallas Country Club?
A. Roger Staubach B. Alex Rodriguez C. J R Ewing
See answer below.
Source Links:
The Country Club, American Heritage
Dallas’ Most Exclusive Private Clubs, D Magazine
All-White Dallas Country Club Admits First Black Member, CBS News DFW. 2014
Answer to Trivia Question:
B. Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez lived in Highland Park while playing baseball for the Texas Rangers. Although he had one of the most lucrative contracts in the MLB, the members of DCC apparently did not believe he was a good fit for the club. Another notable membership decision happened in 2014, when Kneeland Youngblood, a noted physician, was admitted as the first African American member.