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In the late 1960s. A group of guys put together dinners for local motorcyclists and leathermen These dinners took place at a bar on 9th Street in NW called Louis'. Oddly enough, it was located right across the street from FBI headquarters, and these were the days of J. Edgar Hoover. The bar was renamed Louis' Spartan Lounge, after the Spartans MC was formed on April 3, 1968. On September 4, 1968, Don Bruce became, what we now refer to as, our first "Baby Spartan." These dates and events are important to this story, because they would give birth to the legendary DC Eagle.

Eventually, Don Bruce, became one of the early Spartans Presidents. He then decided that our crowd should have a home of our own. Don and his brother Eddie pooled their money to open the first of three buildings on 9th Street. The night before the Eagle was to open, Don invited the Spartans to take part in a ceremony. They placed nails into a sculpture of an eagle. This sculpture hung on the wall of that bar until the building was claimed by eminent domain to make way for what was then the "new" DC Convention Center at 900 9th St. NW.

The bar closed at the regular hour on moving night and reopened the next day at noon in a brand new location. Many of the club members were drafted into the moving party to make sure everything would be ready.

The Eagle gave flight to a number of other businesses, including the Leather Rack and the Eagle in Exile.

There are many traditions that evolved from the brotherhood of the Spartans and the Eagle in the early years.

The Hanging of the Club Colors. The Spartan Colors were the first club colors to ever hang on the walls of the Eagle and subsequently other bars adopted this tradition.
Club Mugs. The Spartans were the first club to have mugs in the Eagle. Don wanted the club members to feel at home and special. Don insisted that any club member who came to the bar received special treatment.

Helmet Drinks. As a thank you to the bikers that patronized the Eagle, the first drink is always on the house.

Blackout Nights. One night while the bar was open, there was a power outage and rather than close, candles were placed around the bar. Thus began the tradition of a "Blackout Night."

Thanksgiving Dinner. Don was very aware of the numbers of men that had nowhere to go on Thanksgiving Day. He began a tradition of preparing a complete holiday feast with all the trimmings that was available to all.

Christmas Carols. Every Christmas Day, those that were in town would gather at the Eagle and sing carols with friends, instead of being alone.

Mr. DC Eagle Contest. The idea of selecting a man who best represented the traditions and mystique of the bar was a novel one. The Mr. DC Eagle Contest is the longest running leather title contest in the entire country.

The Eagle was open 365 days a year without fail. God help the manager who did not have that door open at noon sharp.

The Eagle was not just the child of Don and Eddie. Dick McHugh, Don's partner in life, was there every step of the way. Dick was the Mr. Fix-It of the DC Eagle. He was the one that kept antiquated coolers, ice machines, air conditioning and heaters operating. Dick was the quiet force behind the scenes during the early days. But if you knew Dick, you could see his influence throughout the place.

The time came again when the DC Eagle would be forced from it's nest, to make way for a new technology center on 7th Street. (The TechWorld Complex) Don and Eddie retired to Florida soon after the move. Dick stayed in town and opened Dick's Place, on New York Avenue, in the old Manhattan Transfer Company building. Dick's Place, became the DC Eagle that we know today. The rest, as they say, is history.

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Dick McHugh

McHugh was born May 27 , 1938 , in Newton , Mass. , into a family of 16 children - 10 boys and six girls. He was raised in the Boston area and served in the Air Force from 1960 to 1966.He studied electronics at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and later was a civilian employee working in communications at a military surveillance site in Greenland.He worked as an electrical technician for Graybar Electric in Delaware before moving to Washington in 1974.In 1987 , McHugh took over ownership of the Eagle , succeeding previous owner Don Bruce , McHugh's partner of 15 years , who died in 1992.

McHugh retired in September 2000.

McHugh helped many Gay organizations get off the ground , including the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association.He also supported organizations in the local leather/Levi community and helped many organizations under the umbrella of Brother, Help Thyself. He was a member and past president of the Bucks Motorcycle Club in Pittsburgh , Pa. , and a member of the Straight Eights Region of the Lambda Car Club.

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