The Oglethorpe Club was organized as a social club on September 18, 1870.

The following gentlemen were present at the organization meeting: The Messrs, C.L Austin, J.M. Chisholm, A. McCrie Duncan, James T. Dent, Joseph Manigault, Frank Winter, H.H. Woodbridge, and W.B. Woodbridge. The first President of the Club was George Savage Owens who served in that capacity for twenty-six years.

The original quarters of the Club were located in The DeRenne building on the northeast corner of Bull and Broughton Streets. As the membership expanded, additional rooms adjoining the Club quarters were leased. Efforts were made over a period of many years to purchase a permanent home for the Club. These efforts culminated in 1912 when the Club purchased its present quarters on Bull and Gaston Streets from the estate of General Henry R. Jackson. The consideration was $50,000.

One of the finer homes of Savannah, the building acquired by the Club was originally the home of Edmund Molyneux, the British Consul at Savannah. It was completed during 1857. In 1865 the residence was appropriated by the Federal military authorities during Mr. Molyneux’s absence in England. It served during the union occupation of Savannah as the headquarters of O.O.Howard and of his successor, General William F. Barry. Contemporary records in the Georgia Historical Society show that the Consulate archives were ransacked during the military occupancy. Personal property of Mr. Molyneux, including part of his celebrated wine cellar and valuable European carpets and furnishings were destroyed or removed, the losses and damages estimated at between $10,000 and $11,000. In addition, 26 bales of Sea Island cotton were taken from the stable. In 1885, Henry R. Jackson, distinguished jurist, soldier, diplomat and poet, purchased the residence from the family of Molyneux. It was the home of General Jackson until his death in 1898.

After the acquisition of the property by the Club in 1912, a plan of remodeling was prepared by Mr. Thornton Marye, prominent architect of Atlanta. The total cost of the building, furnishings and improvements amounted to $102,996.82. The new Club house was opened to members on June 1, 1914. From time to time, improvements have been made in the Club quarters. In 1948, air conditioning was installed and in 1952-1953, an extensive program of improvements on the ground floor and in the restaurant were carried out.

In 1973-1974, a permanent room was built in the former patio area. This new “Garden Room” filled the long need for a room in which to have parties and to enlarge the dining facilities. New and enlarged kitchen facilities were added and the heating and air conditioning system in the entire Club was updated. The cost of these improvements was approximately $350,000.