After 125 years in operation, the Pottsville Club will close Oct. 31, according to a notice its board of managers recently sent to club members.
"The Pottsville Club has been running at an operating loss on both a monthly and annual basis for many years. The club has lost over 500 resident members since 1998, including a loss of over 100 members in the last year since the imposition of increased assessments at the club's annual meeting in 2012," according to the notice.
Joseph F. McCloskey, Pottsville, a retired Schuylkill County president judge, said Tuesday that he's not surprised the club's days are numbered.
"It's kind of a sad thing. I was aware they were getting into financial difficulties. Did it come as a shock? No. But do I feel bad? Yes, I think what happened is that our county grew smaller in population. And besides that, if you check the per capita income in Schuylkill County over the years, it has dropped dramatically and the clubs where you had to pay a membership are having a difficult time," McCloskey said.
The club's mortgagee, Miners Bank, Minersville, filed a lawsuit in Schuylkill County Court on Monday stating that the Pottsville Club is delinquent in both its mortgage payments and real estate taxes.
The bank alleged the club has not made a mortgage payment since April or paid its real estate taxes for 2012 or 2013.
Miners Bank asked the court to require the club to pay the entire amount due under the loan secured by the mortgage - $414,400.51 - plus interest at the rate of $55.04 per day and costs.
The Pottsville Club officers are Richard Jochems, president; Ramon Grapsy, vice president; James E. Humphrey, secretary; and Maria Rowlands, treasurer. None could be reached for comment Tuesday night.
The Pottsville Club opened at 100 S. Centre St. in 1888. In 1910, it moved to 314 Mahantongo St., according to the "Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County," published in 1936.
On June 4, 1975, the Pottsville Club bought its current location, a former ski lodge at 201 S. 26th St., according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.
"The club currently has 210 resident members. Utilization of the club by its members has also significantly declined, as have special events. The board of managers has implemented significant cost-cutting and revenue-enhancing measures which have failed to adequately address the financial issues. As of the date of this notice, the Pottsville Club owes Miners Bank the sum of $466,000 and otherwise has accounts payable of $120,000," according to the notice.
The board of managers is planning to meet at 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at the club and vote to turn over the property to the bank. A two-thirds vote is required for such action, according to Article XI of the bylaws of the Pottsville Club, the notice stated.
Meanwhile, the club will be open for dinner on Thursday and Friday evenings and lunch Tuesday through Friday. All catering events scheduled through Oct. 31 will be honored, according to the notice.