Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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54 | OCTOBER 2015 nshoremag.com LIVE cast the dramatic plaster ceiling over the main dining room, all of which is carefully preserved by today's members. Portraits of Wood and his son are like sentinels in the lounge, perhaps inspiring Merrimac River Valley's elite in their own endeavors. When Wood's mansion became the Lanam Club in the 1950s, a social club was needed, says general manager Timothy Hart, noting that networking venues were limited to a burger joint and a donut shop. Although the area is now peppered with haute estab- lishments for dining, socializing, and networking, there remains something special about a club. "The thing that separates a club like this from a restaurant is: we know your name, we always have a table for you, and we know your preferences," says Hart. To maintain that clubby atmos- phere, membership is limited to a select group of 250 people. In order to join, applicants must be nomi- nated, and then approved by the board. Privileges extend beyond din- ing and socializing at the Andover club; members are able to visit more than 100 reciprocal clubs across the country, on both coasts of Canada, and abroad in locations that include China, England, France, and Korea. "If a member is traveling, they sometimes ask if we can add a club in that area, and we try to oblige," Hart says. While old-world service and social niceties are the norm, one change that was most welcomed was Myers's offer to renovate the third floor, which went unchanged for decades. The neglected space, featuring a threadbare pool table and a defunct dressing room, was not particularly functional or ap- pealing. "When I joined the board, I wanted to give something back," My- ers says of the project, which trans- formed the space into a relaxing bar and lounge known as the Saratoga Room—hung with mementos from Myers's personal collection of horse racing memorabilia. There is also a bridal room outfitted with an antique dressing table, mirrors, and freshly reupholstered furniture. While Myers spearheaded (and funded) the project, she is quick to point out that a lot of people pitched in, from tradesmen who offered their services at a discounted rate to fellow club member and friend Helene Gerson, owner of Leading Lanam Club 260 N. Main St. Andover 978-475-5210 lanam-club.com CO N TAC T Edge Electronics. "Gerson was a huge help with the renovation project, and many of the antiques [belonged to] her mother," Myers says. Changes like the third-floor renovation, as well as the creation of a less formal café with a separate entrance, appeal to younger people, who have started to appreciate the club's merits. Older members have their sights on passing the torch, My- ers says. "We are handing the baton to another generation and saying, 'It's your turn to care for this.'" The Lanam Club features rich interiors in which to socialize and network.