Old Colony Club

The club was founded in January 1769, by Isaac Lothrop, Pelham Winslow, Thomas Lothrop, Thomas Mayhew, Elkanah Cushman, John Thomas, Edward Winslow, Jr. and John Watson.{{cite book|title=Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society|date=1888|publisher=Massachusetts Historical Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNS5mu34-JwC&q=autograph+of+edward+winslow+}} Their intent in creating a private club was to avoid "the many disadvantages and inconveniences that arise from intermixing with the company at the taverns in ... Plymouth." It went moribund during the American Revolution due to a split between Tory and Patriot members, but was revived in 1875. Its clubhouse on Court Street was purchased in 1893.

The club meets on Fridays at a much-renovated old colonial house on Court Street in downtown Plymouth.

The club is best known for its annual celebration of Forefathers' Day, one of the oldest holidays in America, dating from colonial times.{{cite book |last=Baker |first=James W. |date=2009 |title=Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday |location=Durham, NH |publisher=University of New Hampshire Press |page=63 }}

Hoyle's Official Book of Games notwithstanding, the "extinct" game of Bestia is still played every Friday night at this institution.

The Old Colony Club boasts among its early members Revolutionary War hero General Alexander Scammell.{{cite news |last=Scheible |first=Susan |date=3 January 2009 |title=Abington's Jaanus Roht takes reins of historic Old Colony Club |url=http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20090103/News/301039860 |newspaper=Quincy Patriot-Ledger |location=Quincy, MA |access-date=19 October 2014 }}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.oldcolonyclub.org/ Old Colony Club website]

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Category:Plymouth, Massachusetts

Category:1769 establishments in the Province of Massachusetts Bay