USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume III > Part 56
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Another Waterbury boy who has been successful on the stage is Fragene W. Ingraham, son of Joseph J. Ingraham. He was born in Wisconsin, November 9, 1864, but passed twenty-one years of his life in Waterbury. From 1879 until 1893 he was in the employ of the Waterbury American, for most of the time as an assistant press- man. In 1893 he became an actor, joining H. Price Webber's Boston Comedy company. He has appeared as " Campelo " in " The Honey- moon," as "Wan-na-tee " in "The Octoroon," as " the Secretary " in "Arrah-na-Pogue," and as "Cassidy " in "Jessie Brown." On May 5. 1886, he married Rose E. Lilley, daughter of Matthew Lilley of this city. Mrs. Ingraham appears in the same plays in which her hus- band takes part, having been "Dora " in " The Octoroon," "Volante" in " The Honeymoon " and "Lanty Jane" in " Arrah-na-Pogue." While a resident of Waterbury, Mr. Ingraham was a prominent member of the Sons of Veterans, having reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Another Waterbury young man who holds a good position on the stage is Thomas David, a son of David David. He appeared originally in "The County Fair," but has of late been connected with the Frohman company. William Leary of Waterbury. origin-
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THE DRAMA AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS.
ally a comedian with Joseph Murphy, has more recently been con- nected with "On the Frontier." Thomas J. Cooney, a son of John Cooney of this city, although he died at the age of twenty-one, was a member of a " Repertoire company " for some five years as a com- edian. His friends think that but for his untimely death he would have obtained no small measure of success on the stage. He is buried in Waterbury.
THE ARCADIAN CLUB.
We have seen that early in the history of the Waterbury drama there was some general interest, varying with different periods, in amateur theatricals. Perhaps the organization which was, on the whole, the most successful of any that has existed here was the Arcadian club. It was organized on November 15, 1875, and con- tinued in active operation for two years, and still has a fund in the Waterbury Savings bank. Its objects were "dramatic culture and practice, the bringing of organized effort to the study and recital of such pieces as may be attempted for the entertainment of our- selves and friends, also to bring together and encourage the devel- opment of the amateur talent of our city in the most social and agreeable manner." There were about fifty members, active and honorary, as follows:
Edward S. Hayden, William B. Merriman,
Edward L. White, Mark L. Sperry,
George G. Blakeslee,
Henry L. Wade,
William E. Fulton,
Arthur C. Northrop, George L. White,
Edward F. Merriman, Albert J. Blakesley, D. B. Hamilton, Huntley Russell,
William Robinson,
Frederick L. Adams,
Mrs. G. L. White,
Charles A. Hamilton,
Charles F. Pope, Frederick J. Brown,
F. W. Upson, B. D'Aubigné, George T. Benham,
Jesse Minor,
Chandler N. Wayland,
Minot S. Crosby,
Joseph Anderson,
Elizabeth H. Kellogg,
Francis T. Russell,
Harriet White,
Mary E. Lane,
Julia M. Bronson,
Minnie M. Donaldson,
Mary C. Warner,
Fannie F. Atwood,
Sarah S. Hall, Medora C. Platt,
Susie S. Crosby, Ida Lewis, Agnes Hitchcock
Elizabeth S. Crosby,
Emma L. Bronson,
Mrs. Charles A. Hamilton
William N. Weeden,
Roswell H. Buck,
Estelle Way, Gilman C. Hill,
Julia A. Porter.
F. A. Languebeck,
Lena M. Hayden,
Florence Hall,
The officers were: President, M. S. Crosby; vice-president, E. S. Iayden; secretary, George G. Blakeslee; treasurer, R. H. Buck; ramatic manager, W. N. Weeden; musical director, A. J. Blakesley. the largest share of the success of the club, dramatically, was due ) the ability and the untiring efforts of W. N. Weeden, who was bly seconded by E. S. Hayden. The plays rendered were: "School,"
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
"Ici on Parle Francais," " A Dead Shot," "Turn Him Out," .. A Rough Diamond," "The Loan of a Lover," "Married Life," "The Lady of Lyons," "How She Loved Him," "Our Domestics," "The Little Treasure," "Time Tries All," "Money " and " Love's Sacri- fices."
OTHER DRAMATIC ORGANIZATIONS.
THE ST. PATRICK'S DRAMATIC CLUB was organized November 15, 1890, with a membership of twenty-five. The first officers were: Manager and director, J. F. Galvin; secretary, William Hethering- ton; treasurer, Lizzie Fitzgerald; musical director, Miss B. Coogan. The first production of the club was in January, 1891, when the Irish patriotic drama " Robert Emmet " was successfully presented. Their next effort was in May, 1892, when they played "Innisfail." In April, 1893, " The Shaugraun" was presented. Their first minstrel performance was given in April, 1894, at the Jacques Opera house, together with a cantata by the children of the parish. The club has presented several other dramas, and has gained a reputation for excellent amateur dramatic work. Its object is to create a taste among the young people of the parish for amusements of an elevat- ing nature, and to aid financially in the work of St. Patrick's parish. The present officers are: Manager and director, J. F. Galvin; secre- tary and treasurer, J. M. Lynch; musical director, Miss B. Coogan. The present membership is about forty-five.
THE THESPIAN CLUB is an organization of Catholic young men and women in St. Patrick's parish for the study of the drama and the amateur presentation of plays. It was organized May 30, 1894. The officers are: Manager, J. W. Lynch; secretary, James Button; treas- urer, Mary Shannahan.
THE ST. JOSEPH'S DRAMATIC ASSOCIATION is composed of members of the St. Joseph's Total Abstinence society, and was organized in the winter of 1894, J. J. McDonald acting as manager.
Their first play was "Ten Nights in a Bar-room," given on the evening of St. Patrick's day, March 17, 1894. A crowded house wit- nessed the performance at the matinee and in the evening, and although this was the first appearance of many of those who took part, it passed off with remarkable smoothness. In November of the same year the society produced the play, " Bound by an Oath," and on March 18, 1895 "A Celebrated Case " was given, both with much success.
THE AMPHION CLUB, a musical organization which produced a number of comic operas here with great success, has been fully treated of elsewhere in these pages. The dates on which some of
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THE DRAMA AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS.
the principal operas were given are as follows: "Iolanthe," Decem- ber 2, 1885; " Fantine," May 30, 1888, and the two following nights; "The Pirates of Penzance," January 15, 1890.
It is of course impossible to give all the noteworthy amateur performances which have delighted the Waterbury public. But a selection of a few which were especially successful may not be out of place. They were not given by an organization, but by individuals who consented to appear "for this occasion only."
The comedy "A Scrap of Paper" was given at the Jacques Opera house in aid of the gymnasium fund of St. Margaret's school, inder the auspices of the alumna of that institution, on January 3I, 1889, and was repeated, by request, on February 9. The cast was as follows:
Prosper Couramont,
Baron de la Glaciere,
G. G. Blakeslee A. M. Dickinson
Brisemouche, landed proprietor and naturalist,
J. P. Kellogg
Anatole, his ward, G. E. Boyd
Baptiste, servant,
C. F. Mitchell
François, servant of Prosper,
N. R. Bronson
Mme. Louise de la Glaciere, Miss E. H. Kellogg
Mlle Suzanne de Ruseville, her cousin, Miss A. E. MacNeill
Mathilde De Merival, sister to Louise, Miss C. Benedict
Mlle. Zenobie, sister to Brisemouche, Miss N. L. Bronson Miss L. G. Hayward
Mme. Dupont, housekeeper,
Pauline, maid,
,
Miss M. E. Chase
"he Pizzicati club furnished music between the acts. The per- ormance was a great success, owing largely to the training of Professor Russell, and a handsome sum was earned for the gym- Lasium.
Robertson's four-act comedy, "School," was given at the Jacques Opera house on the evenings of February 11 and 12, 1860, by Henry incus and his pupils, with Professor J. E. Bartlett as musical di- ector. It was a brilliant performance, many novelties (among them carriage drawn by two horses, with groom, tiger, etc., complete), eing introduced in the stage settings and scenery. Mrs. R. N. lakeslee as the musical pupil, Addie Blake, Lucy Booth, little lettie Ahl, John McKeever, R. T. Brewer, William Lancaster and rank Brett participated in the play.
" Esmeralda " was given by local actors at the Jacques Opera ouse for the benefit of the Rosemary Free cot in the Waterbury ospital, on the evenings of May 13 and 14, 1892. The cast was as ›llows:
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Old Man Rogers, a North Carolina farmer, Henry Pincus
Lydia Ann Rogers, his wife, Mrs. G. L. White
Esmeralda, his daughter, Miss Emily Plume
Dave Hardy, a young North Carolinian, R. T. Brewer
Estabrook, a man of leisure,
G. G. Blakeslee
Jack Desmond, an American artist in Paris, G. E. Boyd Nora Desmond, Mrs. J. H. Bronson Kate Desmond, § his sisters, Mrs. C. W. Burpee Marquis De Montressor, a French adventurer,. G. L. White George Drew, an American speculator, C. W. Burpee
The stage settings were unusually good, and about $700 was realized.
Among recent amateur productions, perhaps the most notable was the opera "Priscilla," under the auspices of Messrs. G. E. Tracy and B. E. Hallett, assisted by Severn's Hartford orchestra. Luella Wagner as "Priscilla," Florence Klein of Bridgeport as "Resigna- tion," and Margaret Gretter as "Barbara," as well as E. B. Eaton of Hartford as "John Alden," G. E. Boyd as "Miles Standish " and Edward Beach as "Hatebad Higgins " were all successes in leading roles. It was given on November 4 and 5, 1895.
JEAN JACQUES.
Eugene Leslie Jacques, son of Dr. John J. Jacques (page 842), was born in Plymouth, April 30, 1855. He was educated at the Waterbury High school and at H. F. Bassett's private school. As a business man, in addition to his numerous theatrical ventures, he has had many interests, including real estate transactions and the manufacture of medicinal remedies and of ginger ale and other car- bonated waters. On June 5, 1889, he married Anna Louise Ames of Boston. They have had two children, a boy who died in infancy, and a daughter, Marie Mercedes.
BALL CLUBS AND ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONS.
THE MATTATUCK BALL CLUB was the organization in which cen- tred most of the spirit of amateur sport in Waterbury before the game of wicket was superseded by that of base-ball. The member- ship of this club included names of many men who have been and are still the most prominent in the city's mercantile and industrial life. Games were played annually with clubs from other towns in the state, and the day on which these meetings took place was fre- quently made a general holiday. The interest culminated in 1858, in which year, on August 12, the great contest between New Brit- ain and Winsted took place in Waterbury. The Mattatuck club
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THE DRAMA AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS.
entertained the other two clubs, the mills were shut down and two brass bands helped the Mattatucks to escort the visitors from the railroad station to the grounds. The New Britains won the game, and the victory was celebrated by a dinner at the Scovill house, at which 150 were entertained. Dr. G. H. Waters, the secretary of the Mattatucks, has in his possession a fine rosewood bat bearing this inscription: "Presented to the Mattatuck club of Waterbury by the Winsted Wicket club in recognition and acknowledgment of the many courtesies and hospitalities received on the memorable 12th of August, 1858." The last meeting of the Mattatuck club recorded in the secretary's book was held January 3, 1859. The meeting place of the club was over the store of Benedict & Merri- man, in the building now owned by E. T. Turner & Co. The games were played on the Cole street lot on which St. Mary's school is now situated. In this year, 1858, also occurred the game between the married and the single men of the Mattatuck club, which lasted ill day and was celebrated in rhyme in the American (see page )39). It was won by the single men, who thereupon separated from he older organization and formed the EXCELSIOR WICKET CLUB. Articles on these clubs, with the names of members of Mattatuck nd the rhymed account of the game referred to, were republished n the American of October 6, 13 and 18, 1890. THE AMERICAN WICKET LUB also flourished for a brief period about 1860, but declined with he others from that time .*
THE WATERBURY CRICKET CLUB was organized in 1858. Joseph isher, Abraham Wood, John Wood, Robert Breedon and Edward rown were the founders, and it had a membership of seventy-five Waterbury men. Many games of cricket were played in Naugatuck alley towns during 1858, and the club more than held its own in 1em all. Challenges were received from cricket clubs out of the augatuck valley and from some in other states, and in order to rengthen the Waterbury club it was reorganized in 1859 and amed the Naugatuck Valley Cricket club. The best players of the :her clubs in the Naugatuck valley were called upon when the club ayed out of the valley. The club had successful seasons in 1859 id 1860 until the outbreak of the Civil war. During the years of le war its members were scattered, and although it was never rmally voted out of existence, no attempt was made to revive it hen peace was restored. Base-ball had supplanted cricket.
* The following appeared in the Litchfield Republican in August, 1848: "Rough and Ready versus ntam Wicket Club .- The wicket playing at Wolcottville, last Saturday, of the allied forces of Wolcott- e, New Hartford and Waterbury, against Litchfield resulted in the defeat of the latter," etc. The terbury Rough and Ready club was a political organization, formed " to assist in putting 'Old Zack' into presidential chair."
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
THE WATERBURY BASE-BALL CLUB was organized in 1864, the MONITOR BASE-BALL CLUB in 1865. Into these two clubs during the succeeding dozen years, more or less, was gathered the best repre- sentative amateur athletic talent of a city which has been especially devoted to this American game. The clubs also reckoned among their members the leading business and professional men of the city. Many of them were not merely honorary members; the old score cards contain in their list of active players, of men who pitched and caught and batted the ball and ran the bases, the names of those who have been prominent in our official and industrial life. Dur- ing many of these years the two clubs maintained an intense local rivalry which stimulated the spirit and trained the players that served to maintain so capably the reputation of Waterbury in con- tests with other cities in Connecticut. Excursions were even made to New York and into Massachusets, and Connecticut ball players of that day, including those of Waterbury, measured bats with teams the names of which cause base-ball enthusiasts who can remember back thirty years to stir with animation even yet-names like those of the Atlantics of Brooklyn, the Eckfords, Empires and Gothams of New York, the Athletics of Philadelphia, the Unions of Morrisania, the Pioneers of Springfield, Hampdens of Chicopee, Eagles of Florence, Charter Oaks of Hartford and Pequots of New London. It was in 1867 that the base-ball enthusiasm of the early days of the game flamed highest in Connecticut. In that year the Charter Oaks of Hartford, who had held the championship for three successive years, were deprived of it by the Pequots of New Lon- don, who in turn yielded it up to the Monitors of Waterbury, who ended the season with it in their possession. The same year there were games between both Waterburys and Monitors with clubs in most of the cities of Connecticut and in many of the near-by towns. It was the true amateur game, every player was a resident, no one got any pay, there was no gate money to speak of, and the people went to see the games out of love of sport, interest in the players and pride in the city's athletic strength. The old score book still preserved in the Monitor Hose house contains the scores of many noble games in this and succeeding years. They grow less frequent after 1880, and the last score entered in this old book is for the year 1884, when professional ball had come in to take the spirit out of amateur sport .*
In 1883 there was a vigorous revival of the base-ball spirit and the Waterbury club was organized with a stronger playing team
* For the Rose Hill Social and Base-Ball club see page 1114; for the Acme club, page 1116. The Moni- tor Hose company (page 123) was an outgrowth of the Monitor Base-Ball club.
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THE DRAMA AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS.
than Waterbury had had in several years. They were all local men and in the games played in a state league their fortunes were followed with increasing interest, which was highest at the close of the season. The Waterbury Base-Ball company, composed of busi- ness men of the city, was organized, and went into preparation for the season of 1884 with substantial financial backing. The grounds near the junction of the two railroads were fitted up, and the team of local players was strengthened by the importation of a battery, Lovett and Dailey, to whose skill was largely due the fact that Waterbury won the championship of the state league after the most prosperous and interesting season of base-ball Waterbury had known since 1867. In 1885 the Eastern league was formed, into which Waterbury sent a nine strengthened by men hired from the Cleveland National league team. They were four in number and they formed an important part of the Waterbury club for three successive seasons-Battin, Walker, Campion and Wheeler. Water- bury did not win the championship in 1885 nor in 1886, during which it remained a member of the Eastern league, but it held a good place. In the next year the league was demoralized and the teams dropped out one by one, but Waterbury held on through the season. It was in this year, Fast day (April 9) 1887, that the West End grounds were opened near the then terminus of the street railway tracks, on the banks of the river a little below the West End bridge. In 1888 the season opened with only local players in the Waterbury club, which entered a state league. Interest was low and the Waterbury club gave up the enterprise in June. The play- ers reorganized on the cooperative plan, but finally disbanded on July 5, 1888. There was a brief revival of base-ball in 1891, when Waterbury was a member of a state league which did not last through a season.
Since that time base-ball in Waterbury has been played only by amateur clubs. Among the clubs which have played for longer und shorter periods, both before and after the era of professional base-ball, are the Excelsiors, Dictators, Clippers, Acmes, Rose Hills, Vaverleys, Pastimes, Jeffersons, Athletics, Stars, Echoes and Brass Citys.
THE JEFFERSON BASE-BALL CLUB was organized in 1892 with John Bergin manager and Dennis J. Lahey captain. The club played hrough the seasons of 1892, 1893 and part of 1894 with much suc- ess, making a strong junior base-ball club, and disbanded in 1894.
BASE-BALL CHAMPIONS.
ROGER CONNOR, the son of Mortimer and Catherine (Sullivan) onnor, was born in Waterbury July 1, 1857. He was educated in
70
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
the public schools of this city. His first experience on the base- ball field was at the age of eighteen, with the Monitor club in 1875, and he remained an active playing member of that organization until 1878. The season of 1878-79 found him with the American Association team in Holyoke, Mass. In 1880, '81, '82, he played with the National League team in Troy. In 1883 he joined the New York National League team and played with it until the end of the season of 1889. He was then a member for one year of the New York Brotherhood team. In 1891 he played in Philadelphia. In 1892, '93, and part of '94 he was back in New York again, and through the remainder of the season of 1894 and all through 1895 he was a member of the St. Louis club, by which organization he was reserved as a member for the season of 1896. Mr. Connor has an unexcelled record for clean, honest sportsmanship and skillful play. In 1885 he led the National League in batting, and during all his long career he has been near the top of the list both in bat- ting and fielding, for several successive years standing easily among the first in his profession. He married June 15, 1883, Anna Mayer, and they have had two daughters, one of whom is now living.
GEORGE LACHANCE, son of George and Salome (Shepard) La- Chance, was born in Putnam, February 14, 1870. He came to Waterbury in 1875 and was educated at the public schools of this city. He began playing professional base-ball in 1891 with the Waterbury team. His subsequent engagements were as follows: In 1892 with Portland, in 1893 with Wilkesbarre, Penn., in 1894 and- '95 with the Brooklyn National League team. He has been con- nected with the latter League organization up to the present time, and is engaged for 1896. His position has always been first base, and his averages for fielding and batting are both high. Ir February, 1895, he married Mary Dailey of Waterbury.
FREDERICK ARTHUR KLOBEDANZ, son of Siegmund and Charlotte (Klinzman) Klobedanz, was born in Waterbury, June 13, 1871, and was educated in the public schools of the city. He played ball is the local amateur clubs during his boyhood and in the Naugatuc semi-professional club in 1889, '90 and '91. His connections afte that time were as follows: In 1892 with Portland, of the New Eng land league; in 1893 with Portland and with Dover, N. H., of th same league; in 1894 and '95 with Fall River, also of the Ne England league. Fall River won the championship of its leagu three years in succession, 1893, '94 and '95; and Klobedanz was a important element in securing this result. He is a pitcher, and or of the few pitchers of the country who are valuable to their clul
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THE DRAMA AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS.
on account of their batting and fielding. His batting average was among the first half-dozen in the league and his record led that of all pitchers of the league. He won the first prize in his own club for being the best batsman and his fielding average was among the first. On June 24, 1895, he married Annie L. Durfee of Fall River.
FRANK LEO DONAHUE, son of Thomas and Margaret (Bradley) Donahue, was born in Waterbury, January 23, 1873. He was edu- cated in the public schools and in Mr. Kane's private school. He first began playing base-ball in 1886 in the old Brass City team. In 1889 and '90 he played with the Acmes, in the latter year as pitcher. For the next two or three years he played on a semi-professional team in New Milford. In 1893 he played for a time on the New York League team and on the Lowell club of the New England league. In 1894 he played in Allentown, in the Pennsylvania State League club of which "King " Kelly was manager. His playing in 1895 was with the Grand Rapids team of the Western league and with the Rochester team of the Eastern. He signed with the St. Louis club for the season of 1896. On February 25, 1894, Mr. Dona- hue married Nellie Margaret Donahue.
LAWN TENNIS AND POLO.
THE WATERBURY LAWN TENNIS CLUB was organized in 1882 with bout ten members and these officers: President, Samuel P. Wil- iams; secretary and treasurer, Frederick J. Brown. Its first grounds were in the yard of Henry W. Scovill and were occupied for one ear; for three years grounds on Leavenworth street near Kendrick lley were used; for the next three, grounds were found on Rose [ill, and then the club took grounds on Prospect street near the sidence of Henry W. Scovill. The club was in a flourishing con- ition, numbering about 125 members. It was an original member the National Lawn Tennis association, and was represented at ie Newport tournaments for three successive years by William B. erriman and Frederick J. Brown. For lack of suitable grounds le club gave up active existence after 1891.
POLO came in with "the rink," which was finished in the fall of 82. During that winter the games were between teams of local ayers, the leading rivals being designated as the Blues and the eds, from their distinctive colors. In the next winter, 1883-'84, a ate league was formed in which the chief rivalry was between anbury and Waterbury. The final game between them was played a neutral rink in Bridgeport, on the night of May 16, 1884, which corded high water mark in amateur polo in this city. The team
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
was accompanied to Bridgeport by a small army of sympathizers, in which were included men of business and of letters. Danbury won the game. Waterbury was a member of the state league in the winter of 1884-'85. There was no polo in the next two seasons, but in 1887-'88 Waterbury went into a state league again, the season opening on Thanksgiving night. On January 31, 1888, almost the entire Hartford team was hired by Waterbury for the rest of the season, and the contests between them and their successors in Hart- ford, who had been brought from Pawtucket, constituted the most brilliant series of polo games Connecticut has ever seen. This was practically the end of polo in Waterbury, except a temporary revi- val of amateur games in the spring of 1889.
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