Lloyd Aspinwall, First President of the Jekyll Island Club

Lloyd Aspinwall, chosen as first president of the Jekyll Island Club April 1, 1886, could smile and enjoy one more success in his 56 year lifetime. The decade had brought him good fortune at every turn.

Aspinwall, whose family had been associated with shipping for several generations, was an executive with the New York based Howland & Aspinwall shipping firm. When his father, William H. Aspinwall, married a Howland, they united the two most powerful shipping companies in New York City. Heavily involved with nautical transportation from the west coast of the Isthmus of Panama to California, the family also obtained the contractual right to construct a railroad across the isthmus and completed it in 1855. Following in the wake of the California golf rush, the business controlled the shortest route from the east coast of the United States to the west until the completion of the Panama Canal in 1904. Howland & Aspinwall additionally had far reaching shipping and business ties in the Mediterranean, England and the East and West Indies.

These were exciting times for Lloyd Aspinwall. Serving as a director of the Brooklyn Bridge Company, he participated in the progress of one of the most highly anticipated construction projects in the country, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Originally named the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, it spans 5,989 feet across the East River connecting the boroughs of Brooklyn on Long Island and Manhattan. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and the first steel-wire suspension bridge. Construction was completed, and the bridge was opened for use in May, 1883. It may be assumed that Lloyd Aspinwall attended the opening ceremonies along with President Chester Arthur, NY Mayor Franklin Edson, Brooklyn Mayor Seth Low, and thousands of others.

Meanwhile, in this decade of spectacular advancements in transportation, Lloyd Aspinwall was also serving on the board of directors of the Mexican National Railway. The Mexican Congress had decreed in 1880 that railroads and telegraph lines would be built first from Mexico City to the Pacific Ocean, then to the northern frontier, followed by other branches to important cities throughout the country. Advancement was surprisingly rapid in spite of challenges and restrictions. By January 1, 1883, the railroad was completed across the entire state of Guanajuato in the central plains ahead of scheduled time, and progress on the project continued to exceed expectations.

Lloyd Aspinwall's recognition by his influential friends in the Jekyll Island Club as the right man for the office of president comes as no surprise. His success in industry and impeccable social connections won for Aspinwall the respect of many of the club members. His congeniality and enthusiasm for the Jekyll Island Club also contributed to his election to office.

It is hard to say what the future would have held for Lloyd Aspinwall had he lived more than a mere five months after becoming president of the Jekyll Island Club. He died unexpectedly in Rhode Island September 4, 1886 at the age of 56. The club would officially open in January, 1888.

The Jekyll Island Club Hotel has recognized Lloyd Aspinwall by naming a public room in his honor. The Aspinwall Room overlooks the riverfront and croquet lawns and is the scene of small wedding receptions and other social events.