Club 15

This painting by Morris Collins hangs in the basement of the Johnson County Historical Society.

Beside it is the history of Club 15:

"It was the only black club in town, one that inspired the Nace Brothers to write a song about it and name an album after it.

The club was named for its 15 original members," said Spencer Taylor of Warrensburg.  Starting in about 1970, Taylor was one of those 15.  "Most of the members are gone now," he said.  "The owner Verlon Ewing, is gone." Taylor said Ewing had peppermint sticks and bubblegum for about 2 cents, 25-cent hot dogs, soda pop, barbeque and 3.2 percent beer.

Club 15 was located on the corner of Marshal and Warren streets in Warrensburg.  The building is gone, but David Nace remembers the times he used to walk past the old barbecue and social club on his way to Reece Elementary School when he was eight or nine years old.

"In the day, when all the kids walked past, he was always kind to the kids," David said. "He had candy and he would let us have a charge accout up to 25 cents."

When the members got together, Club 15 changed from a candy and barbecue store into a nonprofit organization. "We paid dues and we had a charter. We held parties and had dances."

In the spring, they boarded a bus and went to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play baseball.  They went Omaha, Nebraska to watch the horse races and they went to Springfield to visit Silver Dollar City. 

"We just went everywhere," Taylor said.

They also went to various churches around town to donate some of the proceeds they made from dances.  The club was too small for the dances, so they would rent the armory on Gay Street or other places in town.

Then the membership bagan to dwindle and the club ended up closing in about 1985.

Herb Nelson joined Club 15 in the 1980s after his father, Mack Nelson.

"It was a pretty good club," Nelson said.

He remembers helping churches, giving scholarships to students, and especially the bus trips.  The club put on chili suppers and hosted New Year's Eve parties, Nelson said.

"We had a jukebox and some guy would come in and put in new music all the time." he said.

i woke up this morning from across the track
one arm out the window and a pain in my back
and that old train whistle
was a lonely sound
and when I opened my eyes, my head started to pound.
Now everybody wants to see
what's the big mystery.
You know what I mean. I'm talking about the Club 15

It's just a broken down shack
on the poor side of town.
Nobody knows what they are putting down.
i used to see 'em on the back porch
having a time
playing low down blues and drinking moonshine.
Now everybody wants to see
what's the big mystery.
You know what I mean now. That's the Club 15

mama said,
"Don't go around that place any more
to high a price- to pay."
That's what the old man will say
He said every day,
"Hey, hey, hey, hey."

I was feeling cray and brave
late last night.
I went up to the back door
take a look in side
when an old black man said, "Boy, drink from my cup."
i Imade it back out to my car
and that's when I woke up.
Now everybody wants to see
what's the big mystery.
You know what I mean, inside the Club 15

http://www.songlyrics.com/the-nace-brothers-band/club-15-lyrics/#sRLqcyFSYsk5i91z.99