Golmuri Club. Picture by Uma Shankar Dubey

Jamshedpur, Dec. 12: Tata Steel’s chief town planner F.C. Temple’s plan for a new township drawn up in 1919 earmarked space for a few companies to be set up on the eastern fringe of the town, that would also double as the city’s boundary.

One of the major companies set up in the area was the Tinplate Company of India Limited (TCIL). Messrs Perin and Marshan, a New York-based consultant, had drawn up plans for a plant on seven-and-a-half acres of land with a 40-acre township.

When operations began in 1921, nearly 100 people from Wales took charge of the plant. But there were no recreational facilities for the employees. They had to go to Northern Town area to attend the Church and avail of entertainment at the clubs. Some European officials held a meeting on October 7, 1927 and decided to form a club of their own. That was the beginning of Golmuri Club.

On December 10, 1927 the club was officially thrown open to members and has, since then, been functioning on its present premises. It was decided to limit the number of members to 90 and have 10 additional temporary members for the benefit of visiting personnel. For the first few years, the club and its operations were all an all-European affair. It was only in 1934 that the Golmuri Club members decided to allow Indian and Anglo-Indian employees to apply for membership.

From the beginning, the club has been very well-furnished. In 1927, a sum of Rs 1, 274 was spent on carpets for its lounge, reading room and the west verandah.

One of its members, Rowling, sold his “Orthophone” complete with 70 records at a nominal price of Rs 600. By then the club had also acquired a piano and hired a teacher for those interested in learning to play it. By 1936, the club had its own band complete with a trumpeteer and cello player. In 1935, the golf club came into existence and got affiliated to the Golmuri Club.

At the same time, a “swimming bath” was added to the club’s facilities along with plans to build a second tennis court. Golf players, in those days, had to pay just Rs 1.50 for a new golf ball at the club. The club began holding its anniversary dance in December and continues with the tradition even today. On December 19, 1931, the club officials organised a gala programme to mark its fourth anniversary.