This downtown club is a five-time Herald & Review Readers Choice winner for best place for a wedding reception. But don't be mistaken. With 13 meeting rooms available and a culinary staff to create a menu to tempt any palette, its staff is at your service when it comes to fulfilling all of your party, meeting and gathering needs.

This social and business club got its start in May 1883, with the goal of helping Decatur grow into a thriving city, with good jobs and an outstanding social life.

One of the first orders of business was deciding where the Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield Railway should pass through the city. This led to the creation of a Board of Trade to promote the assets of the community. This group was the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce. Keeping with the state goal of seeing the community grow, members of the club also were active in their support for the creation of a lake to meet its water needs.

The club was first housed on the third floor of a building erected by one of its members, L.L. Haworth, at the northeast corner of North Water and North Park streets. This building boasted the first elevator in town. These rooms were to be open to all 100 members, each of whom would hold a share worth $30, the total of the capital stock being worth $3,000.

The club remained at this location until 1909, when the building was razed to make room for the Citizens National Bank. The club moved into this building in 1910, which included a fine billiards room and a reading room that extended the full length of Water Street.

In the 1920s, discussion arose among group members of finding their own building. This issue, which was the source of some controversy over the years, came to a head in May 1929 when members voted 133-38 to move ahead with building plans. The club already held an option on the selected site at Prairie Avenue and Church Street.

The new quarters formally opened Jan. 2, 1931. The building cost $172,000 to construct and included the fireplace from the old clubrooms, which are still in use today.

While it started as a men's club, membership has grown to include women. PJ Patterson was the group's first female individual member, while Carla Brinkoetter was elected as its first female president.

Name that business.

Last month's answer: Krekel's