For 40 years, Whittemore House has been a hub of the Danforth Campus. The University’s faculty/staff conference center has hosted birthday parties, employment negotiations, academic power lunches, wedding celebrations and retirement luncheons.
In honor of Whittemore House’s 40th anniversary as a premier gathering space, the Whittemore House board of directors has voted to alter membership requirements to make the facility more accessible to University faculty and staff members. In addition, several new programs are being implemented to generate more interest in membership.
“Over the past 40 years, Whittemore House has provided the backdrop for numerous memorable events,” said Steven P. Hoffner, associate vice chancellor for operations. “It has been a comfortable gathering spot for our faculty and staff, and we hope that these changes will ensure that tradition continues.”
Among the changes are:
• Elimination of the $120 initiation fee for faculty, staff and Eliot Society members
• Reduction in monthly dues from $21 to $5 per month for benefits-eligible employees
• Free membership for the first six months for new employees
• Acceptance of credit cards to make it easier for members to bring guests
• New special programs for members and their families.
“Whittemore House offers members a place to have a high-quality lunch on campus in a quiet, reserved atmosphere for both individuals and groups,” said Ida Early, secretary to the Board of Trustees and president of the Whittemore House Board of Directors.
“It’s also the most reasonable opportunity to belong to a private club in St. Louis, and it’s a club that is open only to the Washington University community,” Early said.
Members have the opportunity to participate in special events throughout the year and book Whittemore House for private events such as weddings and parties.
The new programs at Whittemore House include:
• The Polar Express Experience, 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. A storyteller will read “The Polar Express,” a book about a child’s magical train ride to the North Pole. Santa will visit, and those attending can play games and eat holiday treats. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s 100 Neediest Cases.
• Around the World Wine Dinners. On the first Friday of each month beginning in February, members can attend a five-course dinner that features wines from across the globe.
• Wednesdays at Whittemore. On Wednesdays starting in February, Whittemore will offer a family-style, home-cooked “comfort food” dinner at a reasonable price from 5-7 p.m.
There also is a lunch buffet available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Whittemore House in addition to the regular lunch menu.
Whittemore House and Harbison House, the Chancellor’s residence next door to Whittemore, both were built in 1912 by St. Louis businessman Henry Haarstick for his daughters. Each cost $47,049 to construct.
Emma Whittemore donated Whittemore House to Washington University in 1966. It was remodeled in 1967 and opened as a faculty conference center in Dec. 5, 1969.
For more information about Whittemore House or membership, visit whittemorehouse.org or call 935-5210.