USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 38
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THE ALGONQUIN CLUB
The Algonquin Club was a social organization with a membership of twenty, having club rooms at 42 Bank Street. Its officers, when it was organized in 1908 were : President, Edward Real ; secretary, Alfred Straub ; treasurer, Michael J. Lawlor. In 1916 its membership was small and it gave up its club rooms and its existence.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WATERBURY BAR ASSOCIATION
The Waterbury Bar Association is not a continuing organization with by-laws and regular elections, but is in existence for emergency purposes only. When- ever action by the Waterbury bar is necessary, the dean of the profession, who at this time is Judge Edward F. Cole, calls a meeting and at this a secretary is elected who holds that office for the next meeting. At present the acting secretary is .Lawrence L. Lewis.
WATERBURY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The Waterbury Medical Association was organized February 5, 1857, and although it did much during its earlier existence to preserve the ethics of the profession, it was not until March 20, 1908, that it was incorporated with this as its specific object, "to establish and maintain the practice of medicine and surgery in this city upon a respectable footing."
It has done much in the way of mutual improvement and in the establish- ment of harmonious relations between members.
Its membership on December 1, 1917, is sixty-three.
Its present officers are: President, Dr. P. T. O'Connor : vice president, Dr. Edward L. Smith; secretary, Dr. Edward A. Herr; treasurer, Dr. Charles S. Rodman.
THE WATERBURY DENTAL ASSOCIATION
The Waterbury Dental Association was organized as a purely professional body on May 16, 1905, and has now twenty-eight active members on its list. At present its officers are: President, Dr. William C. Spain; vice president, Dr.
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William D. Greenberg. Both the secretary, Dr. Frederick C. Daniels, and the treasurer, Dr. Maurice D. Berman, have volunteered for professional work in the army.
THE CELTIC MEDICAL SOCIETY
In 1906 twenty physicians of Waterbury formed the Celtic Medical Society. It had but one purpose, the establishment of a second hospital in the city. The society began at once to gather data and to present facts to prominent citizens, interesting especially Monsignor Slocum, who then became the mainstay of the projected St. Mary's Hospital. Its officers were: President, Dr. E. W. Mc- Donald; vice president, Dr. B. A. O'Hara; secretary, Dr. John D. Freney ; treasurer, Dr. J. F. Hayes.
In 1909, when St. Mary's Hospital was dedicated, the Celtic Medical Society ceased to exist.
WOMEN'S CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS THE WATERBURY WOMEN'S CLUB
The Waterbury Women's Club was organized in April, 1898, through the efforts and the inspiration of Mrs. George S. Abbott.
The first officers of the club were: Corinne R. Morrow, president; Elizabeth O. R. Abbott, corresponding secretary; Harriet E. Meers, recording secretary ; Harriet Elton Stevens, treasurer ; and Jennie A. Upson, auditor. The first regular meeting of the club was held in the parlors of the first Congregational Church. At the close of the fourth year the club membership had increased from 45 to 135, and in 1891 it was united with the General Federation of Women's clubs, uniting with the State Federation in 1897. It was incorporated in 1915.
The present membership is 350, with a waiting list. Meetings are held twice monthly, from the first Tuesday in October, until the last Tuesday in April. The object of the club is to promote the intellectual and social culture of its members and its line of work includes the study of ethics, art and literature, education and science. Each year an excellent course of lectures is given.
Many interesting papers were read at the meetings by members of the club. Among the purely social events of the club are the opening reception, which is called the club tea, the first Tuesday in October; the midwinter tea in January, and the annual reception in April.
The present officers of the club are: President, Mrs. Adrian L. Mulloy; recording secretary, Mrs. John L. Geist; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Clarendon Nickerson; treasurer, Mrs. Benjamin Chatfield.
The following have been the presidents of the Waterbury Women's Club since its organization : 1889-1890, Mrs. J. Henry Morrow; 1890-1892, Mrs. Daniel F. Webster ; 1892-1894, Mrs. Edward L. Frisbie; 1894-1896, Mrs. Gilman C. Hill; 1896-1898, Mrs. Sumner A. Kingman ; 1898-1899, Mrs. Isaac N. Russell ; 1899-1901, Mrs. Jay H. Hart; 1901-1903, Mrs. David B. Hamilton ; 1903-1905, Mrs. Otis S. Northrop; 1905-1907. Mrs. Wm. H. Phipps ; 1907-1909, Mrs. Wm. F. Chatfield ; 1909-1910, Mrs. Ellis Phelan ; 1910-1912, Mrs. Frederick D. Buckley ; 1912-1914, Mrs. Frederick M. Peasley; 1914-1916, Mrs. Augustin A. Crane ; 1916-1918, Mrs. Adrian L. Mulloy.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Melicent Porter Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution was founded January 27, 1893, by Mrs. S. W. Kellogg and now numbers forty members. In
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Bronson Library is a bronze tablet erected by this chapter, in memory of the men from this town who fought in the Revolutionary war. The chapter also put a tablet in the old Porter Home in Union City. It aided in the erection of the Scott monument at Watertown, and in the placing of the historic boulder on Andrews Hill in Naugatuck. On its roster are the names of many of Water- bury's most distinguished residents.
On November 8, 1912, the nineteenth general meeting of the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution met with the Melicent Porter Chapter at the First Congregational Church. The address of the day was by the Rev. Samuel Hart, president of the State Historical Society.
The past chapter regents of Melicent Porter Chapter are: Mrs. Stephen W. Kellogg, 1893-1898; Mrs. Henry C. Griggs, 1898-1900 ; Miss Susie Hill, 1900-1901 ; Mrs. Otis S. Northrop, 1901-1903; Mrs. John S. Castle, 1903-1905; Mrs. D. F. Webster, 1905-1906; Mrs. Edward W. Shannon, 1906-1908; Mrs. B. H. Bristol, 1908-1910; Mrs. Edward Shannon, 1910-1915 ; Mrs. R. Wm. Hampson, 1915-1917.
Its present officers are : Honorary regent, Mrs. Emily A. Shannon; regent, Mrs. R. William Hampson; registrar, Katherine D. Hamilton; treasurer, Almira C. Twining ; recording secretary, Mrs. E. Sidney Bronson; corresponding sec- retary, Mrs. J. B. Jones ; historian, Mrs. C. B. Everitt ; curator, Mrs. Cornelius Tracy.
CATHOLIC WOMEN'S BENEVOLENT LEGION
The Catholic Women's Benevolent Legion, Rev. Lawrence Walsh branch, was organized in 1907 by Mrs. Rafferty of Worcester, Mass. The object of the legion is principally benevolence.
The present officers are: President, K. E. Conway ; secretary, E. G. Guilfoile ; collector, Mrs. J. H. Turley ; treasurer, Jennie Bergin.
THE MOTHERS' CLUB
The Waterville Mothers' Club was organized April 1, 1904, meeting on the first Thursday of each month at Sprague School. Its first officers were: Presi- dent, Mrs. Alfred L. Emmons; secretary, Mrs. J. S. Holroyd. It has developed into an exceedingly valuable organization giving teachers an opportunity to discuss many essential school needs direct with the mothers of the pupils. In 1916 the title was changed to the Waterville Child Welfare Association. Its officers are : President, Mrs. Geo. Monroe; secretary, Mrs. Fred Wolf ; treasurer, Mrs. W. Harper.
ATHLETIC AND SPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THE RECREATION ROD AND GUN CLUB
The Recreation Rod and Gun Club was organized in 1912, and leased the large ten-room house belonging to the T. H. Hayes estate and located on the Pearl Lake Road near Piedmont. Its first officers were: President, B. A. Wilmot ; secretary, W. G. Donovan ; treasurer, G. F. O'Neill. It now has a membership of ninety-two. Its present officers are: President, George H. Wheeler ; secretary, William G. Donovan; financial secretary, William H. Muus; treasurer, George F. O'Neill.
The members enjoy both the hunting and fishing which is plentiful during seasons. Its club evenings are held on the second Friday of each month.
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THE BROOKLYN ATHLETIC CLUB
The Brooklyn Athletic Club, founded in 1889, was in 1894 a flourishing organ- ization with many of its athletic activities in full swing. Its officers in that year were: President, John M. Barrett ; vice president. James W. Dawson ; recording secretary, Thomas F. Mitchell; financial secretary, James Powers; treasurer, Patrick Keough.
At that period the club was meeting at 796 Bank Street. In 1902 it moved to its present quarters at 776 Bank Street. Its membership is today 125. Of these forty-one are now in the army, a service record of which the club is justly proud. It has in its parlors today twenty-one silver trophies won by its athletic teams since 1901. In that year they took second prize in the City Amateur Baseball League, winning first place in 1902, 1903, 1904. 1906 and 1909. In 1913 it won the mile relay at the municipal meet in Hamilton Park on Labor Day with this team: John Hickey, manager, J. Brickley, H. Auray, Z. Jamelle, T. Caldwell. It also won the point trophy at this meet.
In 1914 with W. Pollard, manager, and G. Kingston, J. Brickley, Z. Jamelle, and W. Roberge, it again won in the team relay.
The point trophy was again won in 1915 at the city meet.
In 1916 it finished first in the city basket-ball tournament, having finished second in both 1914 and 1915.
These are but a few of its athletic victories.
Of the first thirty-eight members examined for the army there was but one rejected.
Among its honor members in the United States service are Captain William J. Shanahan and Sergeant Edward Groody.
Its officers now are: Thomas Conway, president; John Danisevicze, vice president ; John Gloven, recording secretary ; Frank Regan, financial secretary ; Anthony Carroll, treasurer.
THE MATTATUCK ROD AND GUN CLUB
The Mattatuck Rod and Gun Club was incorporated in 1902 although it had then been in existence for some years with a small membership of ardent hunters and trap shooters. After its incorporation it leased ground on the Watertown Road near the site of the present Waterbury Rolling Mills and built an 18 by 24 cottage. In 1905 it put in two "western" traps and has held annual turnaments until the beginning of the war period. In 1906 it organized its women's corps of which Mrs. C. H. Beere is now captain. Some fine scores have been made by the women at the traps.
It has now about one hundred members and its officers are: Dr. C. H. Beere. president and secretary; David R. Walker, vice president; Peter Fitzhenry, treasurer ; William Woods, financial secretary; John Draher, field captain. The club is now looking about for new grounds and will probably build a model club house in 1918.
THE WATERBURY PISTOL AND RIFLE CLUB
The Waterbury Pistol and Rifle Club was organized in August, 1917, by officers of the Home Guard with a view to perfecting its members in pistol and rifle shoot- ing. Among its prominent organizers are Colonel James Geddes, Lieut. Col. A. F. Wolff, Maj. Wm. H. Sandland, Captains Thomas F. Jackson, and R. L.
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Keaveney, Joseph O'Neill, Henry Littlejohn, C. A. Templeton, and Fred W. Chesson. It now numbers about one hundred members. Its range is at Reynolds Bridge, Thomaston.
WADHAM POST, G. A. R.
The Grand Army of the Republic, once the largest military society in the United States, is rapidly dwindling away. Waterbury is proud of Wadham Post No. 49, G. A. R., which was organized with forty members on August 14, 1879, by Department Commander Charles E. Fowler. It took its name from that of three Waterbury brothers killed in action in the Civil war within the space of sixteen days. The post did much toward the erection of the Soldiers' Monument, and has never failed to respond to every call for patriotic work. The same may be said of the Wadham Relief Corps.
Its highest membership was 360. Today there are sixty-two left on the roll, eleven having died in 1916. Here is the roll of Wadham Post No. 49, G. A. R., on December 1, 1917 :
Charles E. Beeman, 2nd Conn. H. A., Co. H.
Hopkins J. Benham, 2nd Conn. H. A., Co. P.
James W. Benham, 14th Conn. Infty., Co. I. Edward Bergen, Seaman, Ship Utah, Navy. Zenas C. Bowen, Ioth Vermont Infty., Co. H. Eli Bronson, 23rd Conn. Infty., Co. A. Henry Menold, 9th Conn. Infty., Co. F. Alex Buchanan, 20th N. Y. Ind. Battery.
John Byrnes, 2nd Conn. H. A., Co. G. Oliver G. Camp, 15th Conn. Infty., Co. H. Wesley F. Cashman, 14th N. Y. H. A., Co. E. Wm. P. Chatfield, Master Mate, Gunboat Kittatinny.
Frederick Coon, 8th Conn. Infty., Co. E. Thomas M. Dodds, Ship Richmond. George M. Evans, Ist Conn. Cav., Co. B.
Niles J. Engelke, 47th N. Y. Infty., Co. D. Moses Hallas, 22nd Conn. Infty., Co. F. George W. Jackson, Ist Vermont Cav., Co. I. John S. Hayes, 3rd Conn. Battery, L. A. John W. Hill, 6th Conn. Infty., Co. E.
Walter F. Hinckley, 45th Infty., Co. H.
William A. Hollman, Landsman, Ship Richmond.
Charles Hutchins, 23rd Mass. Vols., Co. G. George Hartley, 23rd Conn. Infty., Co. H. Andrew J. Kenneally, 14th U. S. Infty., Co. F.
Frederick Korngiebel, 21st Conn. Infty., Co. A. James Loucks, 15th N. Y. Infty., Co. E. Volney Matthews, 2nd N. J. Infty., Co. B. Dennis A. McGraw, 23rd Conn. Infty., Co. H. John McLarney, U. S. Navy. Henry W. Brown, 14th Conn. Infty., Co. C. Harris W. Minor, 6th Conn. Infty., Co. E. Abraham C. Naylor, 39th Mass. Infty., Co. F. Homer F. Northrop, 24th N. Y. Cav., Co. C. Aaron Peck, 17th Conn. Infty., Co. G.
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Eugene A. Pendleton, 9th Ohio Ind. Battery, L. A.
George L. Platt, 8th Conn. Infty., Co. E.
Hanford L. Plumb, 112th N. Y. Infty., Co. B. Wales Porter, 8th Conn. Infty., Co. I.
William B. Quigley, 22nd Conn. Infty., Co. E. Daniel J. Rafferty, Ist Conn. H. A., Co. C.
George O. Robbins, 16th Conn. Infty., Co. K.
Charles M. Rowley, 2nd Conn. H. A., Co. I. John L. Saxe, 4th N. Y. Cav., Co. F. Chauncey Seeley, 2nd Conn. H. A., Co. I. George E. Sellew, 7th Conn. Infty., Co. C. Sylvester Shea, 13th Mass. Battery, L. A. Samuel C. Snagg, Ist Conn. H. A., Co. C. Dwight L. Somers, 14th Conn. Infty., Co. C. John S. Stephen, 76th N. Y. Infty., Co. H. Stephen A. Talmage, 6th Conn. Infty., Co. E. Levi W. Tillotson, Ist Kansas Infty., Co. E. Ruby M. True, 2nd N. H. Infty., Co. B. William Tysoe, 124th N. Y. Infty., Co. G. LeRoy Upson, Ist Conn. Battery, L. A. Charles D. Weaver, Ioth Conn. Infty., Co. F. Curtis P. Wedge, 2nd Conn. H. A., Co. A. David L. Wells, 120th N. Y. Infty., Co. C. Andrew Winters, 6th Conn. Infty., Co. C.
Seth Woodward, 27th Conn. Infty., Co. E. James R. Young, Ist Conn. H. A., Co. C.
Below is a list of the past post commanders with dates of service: William Tysoe, 1879; George Robbins, 1882; Oscar W. Cornish, 1888; Wesley F. Cash- man, 1889; George L. Platt, 1891; John S. Hayes, 1893; William E. Quigley, 1896; Eugene A. Pendleton, 1898; John S. Stephens, 1900; Chauncey Seeley, 1901 ; Frederick Korngiebel, 1905; John L. Saxe, 1910; Levi Tillotson, 1912; Alex Buchanan, 1914; Henry W. Brown, 1915; Andrew J. Kenneally, 1916; Curtis P. Wedge, 1917.
The following are the officers for 1917: Commander, Curtis P. Wedge; S. V. commander, Aaron Peck; J. V. commander, Wales Porter ; Adjt., Chauncey Seeley ; Q. M., William Tysoe; surgeon, Hanford L. Plumb; chaplain, Levi W. Tillotson.
Wadham Relief Corps No. I has the following officers: President, Mrs. Mattie Ward; secretary, Mrs. Fannie M. Warner ; treasurer, Mrs. Lura E. Dutton.
SONS OF VETERANS
Sons of Veterans Wadham Camp No. 49, has the following officers: Com- mander, Venton D. Cashman; S. V. C., William Loomis; J. V. C., Robert S. Cooper; secretary, John S. Gallagher; treasurer, Louis E. Granger; chaplain, Benjamin R. Singleton; patriotic instructor, Herman M. Turrell.
OTHER PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES
The Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution, which is a state branch of the national organization of that name, has no distinctively local chapters. Waterbury has, however, been honored quite often by representation in its official family. In 1899 former Congressman Stephen W. Kellogg was on its board of
WEST MAIN STREET AND SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, WATERBURY
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managers. In 1901 and 1912 George E. Judd was similarly honored. In 1902 and 1903 Mark L. Sperry and in 1911 John P. Elton served in the same capacity. Gen. Merrit Heminway of Watertown was also for years on its board of managers.
In the State Society of Colonial Wars, Arthur R. Kimball of Waterbury was in 1909 chosen lieutenant governor, serving until 1913.
In the Military Order of the Foreign Wars of the United States, Connecticut Branch, Col. Lucien F. Burpee was vice commander for 1912 and 1913. Rev. Alexander Hamilton of Woodbury has been chaplain since 1908.
In 1903 the Connecticut officers of the Spanish-American war formed a state branch of the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish-American war. Of this Judge Lucien F. Burpee has been vice commander since its organization. It holds annual meetings in the State House at Hartford.
In 1903 the Department of Connecticut, United Spanish War Veterans, was formed with local branches in many towns of the state. Emerson H. Liscum Camp No. 12, of Waterbury, was organized in 1907 with Aubrey S. Edwards as captain. Its captains since that date have been Joseph Monaghan, Joseph C. Heolion, Adolph P. King, M. A. Carter, Wm. H. Atkins, John H. Hitchcock, Frederick P. Houston.
Gustave Asheim and A. P. King of Waterbury have both served as marshal and inspector of the State Department.
Waterbury is strongly represented in the Connecticut Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. Rev. John G. Davenport has been its state chaplain since 1913, and Aldis A. Lovell has served it for the same period as state's attorney. In 1916 Benj. L. Coe was chosen councilor for three years. Its genealogist is Charles Westburn Church.
Waterbury's women descendants of Colonial Dames have taken a deep interest in the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America. In 1905 and 1906 Martha R. Driggs was its recording secretary, serving in 1909, 1910 and 1911, and again in 1916 as vice president. In 1908 Edith D. Kingsbury was vice presi- dent and in 1912 served a term as corresponding secretary. Its meetings are held annually.
THE PATRICK SARSFIELD CLUB
The Patrick Sarsfield Club is a purely educational organization which in 1895 was already active in its work of keeping alive the Gaelic language and in commemorating all those celebrated deeds and events which have made history in Ireland. Its important meeting is held annually, on some great Irish anniversary, and is in the shape of a banquet at the Elton, but this has been discontinued during the war period. Among its notable officials have been Henry Southwick, John Claffey, Joseph McGrail, Morgan T. Burke, John Kierney, Michael J. Lynch, Francis P. Guilfoile, Dennis J. Slavin, John J. Howard.
Its officers in 1917 are: President, Timothy F. Luddy ; recording secretary, Wm. J. Hughes ; financial secretary, Michael Carroll; treasurer, John J. Claffey.
CHAPTER XXIV
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA
WATERBURY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA-CHURCHI CHOIRS REKINDLE INTEREST IN MUSIC -- THE BUCKINGHAM MUSIC HALL-ORATORIO SOCIETY AND ITS CELE- BRATED MAY FESTIVAL-WATERBURY CHORAL CLUB -- GERMAN SINGING SOCIETIES -THEATRICAL HISTORY OF A QUARTER CENTURY -- THE ADVENT OF POLI'S -- THE MOVIE PERIOD-THE WORK OF EUGENE JACQUES -- AMATEUR THEATRICALS.
Waterbury, like all American cities, has had constant changes in its musical life, but since 1893 it has at least been rich in a great host of music lovers, who have given their time and their money to educate the city from a musical stand- point.
Beginning in 1866 and still continuing, now the oldest musical organization in the city, is the Concordia, a German male chorus, Hans Saro, director, and its concerts are of the highest order. Director Saro has for over two decades been active in this fine work of advancing musical interest in Waterbury.
In 1902 the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Charles E. Farn- ham was a decided artistic advance. This, too, has been a continuous organization. For years it was known as the Farnham Symphony Orchestra. During the past three years it has been known as the Waterbury Philharmonic Orchestra. Its latest concert, given in 1916, was up to its usual high standard. The president of the organization is John L. Bonn, with George E. Boyd and Howard Bristol also active in its management.
But the churches did most to keep alive the practice of music and the taste for it. Dwellers in great cities, where concert and opera are frequent, often over- look the relative importance of church music in smaller communities. In cities of 100,000 or less, the singing of a standard choral work by an ambitious choir, or even the special music prepared for Christmas, Easter, or other church festivals becomes a matter of popular note and significance. The history of music in America begins, all commentators agree, with the psalm and hymns of early New England worshipers.
So it was a church choir that rekindled in 1903 the general interest of Water- bury in music. Its latest predecessor had been the Harmonic Society, born in 1889, died in 1894, which in 1890 gave "Elijah" for the first time in Waterbury and brought to the city the famous Germania orchestra of Boston. Its director was Alex S. Gibson.
Meanwhile the choir of Trinity Church had been developing into a reliable and flexible musical instrument. Its organist and director, George E. Boyd, at- tracted considerable notice for the choir by performing Stainer's Crucifixion, Sullivan's Prodigal Son, Dudley Buck's setting of the Forty-sixth Psalm, Gaul's Passion Service, and long excerpts from Mendelssohn's St. Paul.
Pressure of other business compelled Mr. Boyd to resign his church post in 1898. But in October, 1903, desiring to give The Messiah, Mr. Boyd organized the Trinity Choral Society, with the choir as a nucleus. The singers were good
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readers, for after only nine rehearsals, the eighty-four voices got through creditably. The orchestra of forty gave Mr. Boyd his first experience as a conductor of instrumental music. In 1904-5 the Trinity Choral Society repeated The Messiah and also sang Elijah, having grown to 135 voices. There was similar activity the following year.
When the Waterbury Hospital was planned, John H. Whittemore modestly offered to give a plot in the heart of the town and to erect thereon a fine business building,-a donation to the hospital, valued at over two hundred thousand dollars. This was the moment seized upon by Mr. Boyd, Miss Mary R. Hillard, Isaac B. Clark, Albert J. Blakesley, John L. Bonn, Charles E. Farnham, R. A. Laslett Smith, and other far-seeing musical enthusiasts to urge Waterbury's need of a first-class concert hall. They laid the facts before Mr. Whittemorc. They showed how inadequate the city hall and the churches had proven, for important musical gatherings. They pointed out the growing taste for music, the existence of a measurable and increasing public demanding the best and willing, under proper conditions, to pay for it. They suggested that a large concert room in the proposed Buckingham Building would provide revenue for the hospital by encouraging the visits of the great orchestras and musical artists.
After due consideration, Mr. Whittemore acquiesced. The new hall, as part of the large office building, was designed by McKim, Mead & White, and was dedicated October 2, 1906, with two concerts. Victor Herbert and his orchestra played ; the soloists were Mme. Louise Homer and Campanari ; the Choral Society sang the Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah, with other fitting music. It became a Naugatuck Valley occasion and the people thronged the new house and evinced the liveliest satisfaction. Mr. Herbert declared the hall superior in acoustics to any in New York, and the musicians and auditors joined him in praise of its comfort, convenience and beauty.
This music hall holds an audience of fifteen hundred, and there is room for nearly five hundred persons on the stage. It was planned and executed with all the skill and taste that the architects, backed by the liberal giver, could command.
The choral body later became the Waterbury Oratorio Society, conducted by Richard T. Percy of New York.
At the published suggestion of Miss Mary R. Hillard, the Music League was formed to raise and manage what was intended to be a permanent guarantee fund. In 1901 half a dozen men of Waterbury, taking their ideas from a Hartford organization, formed themselves into the Camelot Club. Raising among its six members several hundred dollars, the Camelot Club kept this as a fund, enabling it to risk engaging distinguished musicians for concerts in Waterbury. Under the club's auspices, the Kneisel Quartet, the Mannes Quartet and several recital givers made excellent music to such good audiences that the fund was scarcely touched. The newly formed Music League then absorbed the Camelot Club, borrowed its plan and began to apply it on a larger scale.
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