The Jibboom Club's Washington's Birthday Bash

Carol W. Kimball

New London's Jibboom Club
Washington's Birthday Bash
Mardi Gras atmosphere in New London

Kim11-021

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

02/19/2007

Carol W. Kimball

Carol Kimball remembers the Washington's Birthday celebrations of the past when New London's Jibboom Club paraded, led by Father Neptune, and feasted in honor of the father of our country. The all-male Jibboom Club, with headquarters at Darrow & Comstock's Ship Chandlery at 88 Bank St., was organized Jan. 29, 1891. Members had to have spent three years or more at sea. By April 1892 they had adopted George Washington as their patron saint because, they reasoned, George would have made a fine sailor if he had not joined the army. As the years went by the membership rules relaxed until the club was open to all men of good reputation who enjoyed boating and sailing. The Club closed it doors on Dec. 31, 1959 having weathered the decades from the age of sail to the era of nuclear submarines. Artifacts from its clubrooms found a home at Mystic Seaport Museum.

Washington, George
Baker, Ed
Gates, Earnest
Wies, Carl (Dr.)
Gates, Alma
Peterson, Bill

New London's Jibboom Club
Father Neptune
parades
maritime club
Darrow & Comstock's Ship Chandlery
Bank Street
artifacts
Mystic Seaport Museum
New London Maritime Society