Cottage's elegant new structure, and sense of the prestige that it imparted, set off the competitive juices of the other clubs. In 1906, after a lightning strike burned a hole in its roof, Colonial decided to put the insurance money toward a new clubhouse. The former structure --the old, much-renovated Ivy building, first club on Prospect -- was moved off campus and the current clubhouse erected.

With its enormous Southern-style portico and columns, Colonial consciously strives to surpass the grandeur of Cottage across the street. But as built, the Colonial falls somewhat short of its promise. The entrance portico, in particular, looks out of proportion with the rest of the building.