Remembering the college bar scene

The two towns of Pullman and Moscow may only be separated by a 10-mile highway. However, up until 1987, Moscow was the place to be on weekends for those 19 and older living across the state line in Pullman.  

Idaho was one of the last states in 1987 that raised their legal drinking age from 19 to 21. This was prompted by the enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 , which caused all 50 states to raise the age for the purchase or public consumption of alcohol to 21. If states didn’t comply, they would risk losing millions in federal highway funding due to the number of drunk-driving accidents occurring. 

The Moscow-Pullman area is historically unique because of the two large state universities that exist within a 10-mile stretch of road. Before the legal drinking age was changed in 1987, many college students attending Washington State University would come to Moscow to experience the nightlife scene. Many of the popular bars during the time were the Corner Club, John’s Alley and Mingles. These establishments still attract crowds of people today. These college bars offer more than just cold beer and a lively atmosphere, they serve as the headquarters for Vandal fans, alumni and college students.  

It’s rare to live in Moscow and not know about the infamous cinder block building that sits on the corner of A and Main street, the Corner Club. The Club is one of few college bars that has stayed in business since its original opening. The bar is one that many keep coming back to frequent, as it has been one of the most popular nightlife spots for several decades. Though the Club may resemble a shelter space more than a college sports bar, this unique spot has been a big part of campus life and the history of Moscow. 

Before the Club was flipped into a bar in 1948, the small brick building had a few different purposes. The space was once a brewery, a bakery, a restaurant and a chapel before Gene “Hermie” Goetz and Neal Lynd, turned the space into a bar. The Corner Club took on more of a sports bar theme one night in 1963, when Goetz had challenged Gus Johnson, one of the Vandal’s star basketball players at the time, to show off his impressive vertical. Johnson reached 11 feet, 6 inches, making a mark on one of the ceiling beams. Goetz marked the spot with a nail and announced that anyone who could match Johnson would drink for free. Many tried for the prize of a free beer but few actually were able to match Johnson. The beam has since been removed due to remodeling but the spirit of competition and Vandal athletics remain. 

In a previous edition of The Argonaut from September 19, 1972, Mark Fritzer writes about the nightlife scene in his article, “How to drink your way around Moscow.” Fritzer notes that in 1972, Moscow’s nightlife scene was home to 15 different bars that were both beer-only and liquor. Each of these bars expressed very different scenes of nightlife and varied in popularity amongst different crowds in Moscow. Compared to that of Moscow’s nightlife today, which is comprised mainly by the Corner Club, Mingles, John’s Alley, Champions and the Plantation, all having atmospheres that appeal to different crowds. Today, the atmosphere of the Club is one that appeals mostly to students. It’s not uncommon to see the Club packed with students late Friday night with a line waiting to get in. 

Fritzer notes in his article how in 1972, the Corner Club wasnt exactly a student bar yet, or necessarily a bar for women. The club was described as a bar with a “frontier-like atmosphere, which differs from the college sports bar atmosphere many would describe it as today. Fritzer also mentioned that Pinball machines once existed as an entertaining activity that could also make you rather poor. The Pinball machines that once existed have now been replaced with a giant shuffleboard that runs along the entire side wall of the building, surrounded by framed sports photos, jerseys and news clippings .  

The Vandal memorabilia that covers the brick walls of the Club from top to bottom are some of the most historical features of the bar. While sitting at one of the tables they have inside, you can read clippings of news articles highlighting some of the best moments and victories won for Vandal athletics. The memorabilia keeps growing throughout the years and is something that keeps the Corner Club lively and full of memories.  

The Club is not just a bar to the people of Moscow, it’s a place that takes the rich history of Moscow and the University of Idaho spirit by building community and a family, a family that many alumni come back to over the years.  

Anika Nicoll can be reached at [email protected]