The Bohemian Grove

[ndrosen]

Many, many years ago, I first heard of the Bohemian Grove, a private club where a bunch of rich and powerful men (I think I remember the late William F. Buckley, Jr. being a member) socialized with each other, and did whatever else they did. I did not know of its origins, or that there was any historical connection to my favorite political economist, but an article by Kevin Taylor in The Sacremento News Review has taught me some things I never knew before.. The original Bohemian Club was founded in nineteenth century San Francisco by a bunch of writers and other creative people, originally excluding rich fudds who lacked sparkling wit or other skills for entertaining their fellow club members. Facing a shortage of funds, the Bohemian Club did start admitting wealthy businessmen, and one thing led to another. The Club acquired some forested land a distance from the actual city, and so became the Bohemian Grove.

The story is of interest as part of the tapestry of human affairs and culture, but also of interest to me, because who was one of San Francisco’s leading newspapermen, writers, public intellectuals, and original members of the Bohemian Club? That’s right, the political economist Henry George.