Steeped in a rich history of tradition and community involvement, the East Side Club has long been the gathering place for the community.
With its stunning panoramic views of the Madison skyline and the Capitol’s dome along the shores of Lake Monona, the East Side Club offers a wide range of choices for any banquet, corporate meeting, wedding, anniversary, fundraiser, business or social event.
The purpose of The East Side Club association is to unite and direct the various business and professional men and women, working and retired, of the Greater Madison Area in the development and stimulation of the civic, industrial and commercial life of the entire community. Members have been instrumental in building everything from ball diamonds to purchasing and donating land to the parks department – all with the common objective of enhancing the quality of life on the east side of Madison.
With the finest view of the Madison skyline, the East Side Club extends a warm invitation to become a member. Please join us as we look to the future and an evermore prosperous Greater East Side of Madison.
Club History
The Club was originally organized in 1912 as the East Side Advancement Association, with formal Articles of Organization filed in 1923 under the name of the East Side Business Men’s Association (ESBMA).
Over the years, members have been instrumental in contributing to the development and building everything from ball diamonds to local theatres and Olbrich Gardens.
- 1925: Participated in the acquisition of additional land for a lakeside East Side Park, an effort led by Michael Olbrich. Today the park is Olbrich park.
- 1928: Formed the Eastwood Theater Company in October 1928 to raise capital for an east side theatre project, the Eastwood Theater. In 1992 the theater was bought by the nonprofit Schenk Atwood Revitalization Association, a group formed in 1979 as an offshoot of the East Side Businessmen’s Association. In 1987, this theatre became the Barrymore Theatre.
- 1929: the Club assisted in the reclamation of Burr Jones Field, a former trash dumping ground on the Yahara. Club members assisted in clearing the field of stones for the playground.
- 1933: Members participated in the first flower and tree plantings in Olbrich Park
- 1945: the Club donated the building at 2425 Atwood Ave. to the United Community Chest (now Bunky’s), converting it into a children’s center for local families.
- 1974: Club members lobbied to keep an east side health clinic open at night and on weekends in a trial program to determine the emergency care needs of east side residents
- 1923-1993: the Club organized and sponsored the East Side Fall Festival to promote local businesses and encourage community involvement
For seventy years, the East Side Fall Festival showcased the east side of Madison by drawing crowds from all over the county and promoted east side businesses with individual business booths displaying their wares, as well as auto, farm, and flower shows. The festival also featured amusement park rides, opening ceremonies from the Madison mayor, and local bands, including the Oscar Mayer band. The price of admission was purposefully kept low to make the festival accessible to everyone and over the years, so the Club sponsored treats and rides for children from Wisconsin Treatment Center, Retardation Clinic, Washington Orthopedic School, and Madison area foster children.
The festival weathered a few controversies. In 1986, the Dane County Humane Society got about 40 complaints because live rabbits were among the prizes given away at a festival booth. The Wisconsin Justice Department closed down the car raffle in 1973 during a crackdown on illegal lotteries. The festival eventually ended due to increasing insurance costs.
In 2006, the name changed to the current East Side Club, to reflect the inclusion of women and broader community focus. Today, the Club continues to run the ESBMA Scholarship Program and hosts events and fundraisers for community and charitable organizations and conducts events and gatherings of all kinds throughout the year to nurture and foster goodwill among members.