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The Original Sinfonia Club Room
At the time of the Sinfonia's founding, the New England Conservatory was located in the old St. James Hotel at Franklin Square in Boston, Mass. The conservatory's founder, Dr. Eben Tourjée, envisioned the "Home" - as the former hotel was dubbed - not only as housing accommodations but also as a bustling musical center and a school of music, literature and art.
After the Sinfonia Club was formed, one of the first orders of business was to procure a room in which weekly meetings and "midday salutations" could be held. Initially meeting in borrowed rooms, the club soon applied to the conservatory management for a room of its own. Soon afterward, in June 1899, the art studios in the conservatory basement were turned into one large room for the exclusive use of the Sinfonia Club.
Renovations began at once. The result of the club's efforts was "the most expensive and luxurious room in the entire building." "The club room with its green-tinted walls, oriental cosy corner, pictures, statuary, library table, chairs, desk, and book-case of Flemish Oak, the gifts of generous friends, excited universal admiration. A unique clock given by the YWCA. hung over the desk, a handsome lamp adorned the table, beneath which was a rug rich in red tones; and in one corner stood a parlor grand piano placed there by the kindness of Henry F. Miller & Son, the sole condition of its indefinite stay being that it should be kept in order-an easy condition to meet in the Conservatory."
Throughout the renovations, whispers were heard through the corridors of the "fascinating changes" that were taking place. Finally, the room was unveiled in a "house warming" on April 3, 1900. Guests were first treated to an evening's entertainment, after which they were led down a stairway decorated in red and black. The men even erected a temporary partition to give separate passage to those ascending and descending and constructed a "pretty little ante-room" at the foot of the stairs, decorated in red and black bunting. The whole event was described as a "thoroughly delightful affair" that "exceeded the wildest expectations."
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