The Portland Club is a social activities club that is welcoming to anyone who feels an abiding fondness for the city of Portland, values good times and good company, and shares our membership’s dedication to the preservation of the historic property that is the home of the club: the Alexander Parris-designed 1805 Hunnewell-Shepley mansion, located at 156 State Street.
Monthly Dinner and Speaker Series:
Our traditional dinner and speaker events date back to the club’s founding in 1886, when the hosting of such an event was written into the original by-laws. President Grover Cleveland and General Joshua Chamberlain spoke at the club, and the speaker’s remarks often headlined in the next day’s newspaper.
While we haven’t made headlines in a while, we continue to host interesting and engaging speakers.
These days, dinners are held each month from September through May. Cocktail hour is from 6:00 to 7:00, followed by dinner from 7:00 to 8:00. After dinner, the featured speaker addresses the group briefly followed by an open Q&A. Dinner events are a casual networking opportunity for members.
Monthly Sunday Brunch: Sunday Brunch takes place on the each month from October through May, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and features a sumptuous array of selections to be enjoyed over pleasant conversation in the setting of the meticulously preserved mansion that is home to The Club.
The food at all meals is always delicious!
Pool and Billiards
Pool and billiards room
The Portland Club billiards room is the largest privately owned pool and billiards room in the state. Steeped in an aura of antiquity, the room features twelve classic playing tables, six for pool and six for billiards. In addition to the pool and billiards tables are two wide-screen, surround-sound- and cable-equipped flatscreen TVs: amenities the founders of the club could not have conceived of, and might or might not have approved of, but which are especially popular today at Super Bowl and World Series time.
Seasonal Extravaganzas
Grand ballroom
Spring Fling: A dance held in our ballroom just to kick up our heels and welcome in the warm weather. Open to members and guests.
Summer Outing: A gathering by the water, where eating and having fun is the order of the day.
Fall Soiree: A classic evening of live entertainment, delicious drinks, and good people. Open to members and guests.
Annual Christmas Party: A great meal, gift giving, and unrestrained caroling.
History
Founded on October 27, 1886, the Portland Club has been in existence for more than one-hundred and twenty-five continuous years. The club has made its home in the the Hunnewell-Shepley mansion since 1921, the year the club acquired the mansion and added a grand ballroom and magnificent pool and billiards room, both of which were designed by noted architect John Calvin Stevens, who at the time was serving as president of the Portland Club. You can read more about the histories of the Portland Club and the Hunnewell-Shepley mansion by clicking on the History icon at the top of the page. Much of the historical information contained there has been gleaned from the perusal of the beautifully transcribed handwritten minutes of the fifteen hundred(!) monthly Portland Club board meetings that have been held over the past one-hundred and twenty-five years.
Grand staircase