The Winter Night Club is a club that meets for dinner, an outstanding speakers’ program and camaraderie five nights per year; typically in October, November, January, February and March at the Broadmoor Hotel.
Winter Night Club began in the late 1800s as two dinner clubs, the Mahogany Club and the Red Mahogany Club. Meetings were held in member’s homes with each of the members being assigned to lead a discussion following the meal. The organizations dissolved after a few years.
Former Red Mahogany members met with other members of the community on November 5, 1902, and created a larger group. Six days after the final organizational meeting, invitations were mailed to 100 prominent men. The first regular meeting was on December 10, 1902. The group met no less than five times during the winter for a dinner which was followed by select speakers.
Originally, members provided the programs. Edward P. Morgan of Denver was the first outside speaker. His topic was Colorado’s early history. The club was closely tied to Colorado College in the early days. Members included General William Palmer, the city founder, and his associates, William S. Jackson, Spencer Penrose, C.L. Tutt, E.W. Gidding, Jimmie Burns, and Eugene Shove. Other members were gentlemen known as the Cripple Creekers.