ALMANAC BETWEEN ISSUES July 29, 1999


Swan Song: The Faculty Club Closes; Long Live the Faculty Club

As Penn's 41-year-old Faculty Club moves across the street to the new Inn at Penn--and its operation comes under the Inn's Doubletree Hotels management--the freestanding member-operated Club enters the last two weeks of lunchtime operation on Monday, August 2, with picnic style service on the first floor only. A silent auction will be held for members on August 9 and 10, with furnishings such as the red leather sofa (starting bid $150) and grandmother clock (starting at $65, needs repair) up for bids. Some memorabilia will be sold outright at nominal prices (menu covers $1). The Club's present building will close altogether after lunch Friday, August 13 (to begin renovation as the home of the Fine Arts Department) but it's business as usual Monday, August 16 at the new site: complimentary coffee and rolls starting at 8 a.m., and lunch at 11:30.

With Doubletree operating the food service, the Club will have a greatly reduced staff. Instead of a manager it will have a coordinator--Natalka Swevely--and John Dougherty's term as interim manager will end with the closing of the old space.

Four of the Club's longtime staff who are taking retirement at the end of the final week were feted by staff and "regulars" at a reception on July 29: Receptionist Shirley Easley; Chef Jessie Johnson; Bessie Gordon, who ruled the sandwich station; and Ellen Iannarella, who handled bookings for catered affairs.


Posted 7/29/99

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