The
Club, at this time, hade 360 members, membership being open to “All members of
H. M. & the Hon’ble Company’s Civil , Military & Service, &
gentlemen of the mercantile or other professions, moving in the ordinary circle
of Indian society.”
Club Hall
The
Club, at this time, hade 360 members, membership being open to “All members of
H. M. & the Hon’ble Company’s Civil , Military & Service, &
gentlemen of the mercantile or other professions, moving in the ordinary circle
of Indian society.”
The
large Ballroom is adorned with well preserved hunting trophies – obviously
donated by members - & include tiger, leopard, bear skins, bison, sambur
deer heads. To the right of the Mixed Bar is a second bar dedicated to the
memory of Col. Jago who, as a Captain in the Army, introduced jackal hunting in
Ooty in 1872.
The
building functioned as a hotel from 1833 to 1834, when it was rented for a
short period by Lord William Bentick, Governor General of Fort William at this
time & later the first Governor General of India. It reverted to a hotel
till December 1835, when it was rented to the Governor Sir Frederick Adam till
September 1836. It reverted to a hotel till endnow a Lt. Col, & eight others
– originators of the Ootacamund club.
Today,
the Club has 632 members with a membership base form all the major cities in
India, 7 is fondly referred to as the “Snooty Ooty Club” as also “The Morgue” –
thanks to its many hunting trophies. Heritage & tradition are firmly
entrenched within its walls, & have been zealously guarded & upheld by
generations of members.