USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 31
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The Whittenton Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society is reported upon as follows by Mr. John H. Martin :
The Whittenton Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society was organized in 1882. Its primary objects were and are to promote by kind methods the principle of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors; to render material aid to members sick or in distress, and to cement the bonds of friendship and good fellowship between those who subscribe to its tenets. The first president was Father Sheridan, late pastor of Saint Mary's Church. The organization secured quarters in what was then known as Lovering's Hall. This is the building now known as the "Tem- perance Hall." It is located on. Whittenton street, just off Bay. In 1899 the building and extra land to the north and east and the west were pur- chased from Mr. Charles Lovering. Various improvements were made and the "Temperance Hall" soon became the place for all social gatherings. in the North End. In 1902 the Society transferred its quarters to the ground floor of the building and made many renovations of a nature tend- ing for the comfort and pleasure of its members. In 1912 the business block directly on the corner of Bay and Whittenton streets was built. This addition has greatly increased the value of the material holdings of the Society. While the business of the organization is transacted at regular meetings in which the membership participates, the managing of the prop- erty is left to a board of seven trustees elected annually by the members. During its forty-one years of existence, hundreds of men have taken and signed the pledge of total abstinence. For the most part they have been true to its precept. Those who have fallen away from its standard have always been welcomed back. The social, financial or racial status of a can- didate are not considered. The only requisites for membership are practical Catholicity, good morals, and the practice of total abstinence. The ben- evolent achievements are of a character which precludes publishing them in detail. Suffice to say that in sickness and in death the constitution provides for substantial financial assistance and medical care. Other cases of distress are relieved by methods in keeping with the circumstances. No worthy appeal has ever been denied. In this respect the activities of the Society have not been confined to its membership. In conclusion, it surely will not be amiss to simply record with justifiable pride that out of a total membership averaging a hundred during the World War, twenty- six were enrolled in the Army or Navy. Of these, two-Thomas L. Rus- sell and Maurice Flynn-made the supreme sacrifice.
The Taunton Catholic Total Abstinence and Aid Society is one of the oldest and still active of the Catholic Temperance societies in this part of the State, and for many years has continued to hold its meetings at its own hall in Trescott street. Years ago the annual ball and banquet of the association were prominent social events in Taunton, but owing to the fact that the number of members had somewhat lessened in recent years, the annual affairs have become quiet events. The society is free from debt, it owns its Trescott street meeting place, and has a satisfactory sum of money in the bank. Throughout its career the society has per- formed its special work in behalf of temperance, and the community has received lasting good from its presence and work.
It was on Fast Day in 1871 that Rev. Mortimer Blake preached a ser- mon in the Winslow Congregational Church that first gave impetus for the founding of a society in Taunton whose object should be that of giving
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help to dumb animals in need. Friends throughout the city took up the suggestion and pushed it along in a practical manner. Soon afterwards, a meeting with that purpose was held at the Cedar street chapel, with many leading citizens present, and an organization was started known as the Taunton Humane Society. Among others from out of town who were present, was Lovering Moody, of Boston, who gave the principal address. The officers elected at that time were the following-named: President, Daniel L. Mitchell, who was mayor in 1870-71-72; vice-presidents: Ed- mund Baylies, Joseph Wilbar, Allen Presbrey, Edmund H. Bennett, Samuel L. Crocker, William Lovering, Theodore Dean, Harrison Tweed, Sylvanus M. Staples and William Mason. The first secretary of the society was Edmund H. Porter; the treasurer, Nathan H. Skinner; the directors-at- large : William H. Fox and Stephen H. Rhodes. Directors for each ward were elected, as follows: 1. John E. Sanford; 2. William R. Davenport; 3. Joseph Murphy; 4. Joseph Dean; 5. Nathan S. Williams; 6. Henry J. Fuller ; 7. Peter C. Thayer; 8. Charles L. Lovering. The presidents in suc- cession following Mr. Mitchell, were: Samuel L. Crocker, Rev. Mortimer Blake, Joseph Dean, Wilbur F. Allen, Rev. A. B. Hervey, Rev. George H. Read, Rev. T. Clayton Welles, Rev. Thomas E. Patterson, Rev. Charles Talmage. The secretaries have been: William W. Waterman, for many years superintendent of the Taunton Public Schools; Rev. George M. Hamlen, Rev. S. Hopkins Emery; and, in 1886, Mrs. G. L. Morse, who for the following nine years was tireless in her work for the society. Her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Taylor, was elected at the death of. Mrs. Morse, and held the position ever since. The last meeting of the society was held July 1, 1903, when it was decided to make an indefinite adjournment, owing to lack of funds. Mrs. Taylor, however, continued to keep the work and claims of the society before the public. 'In its best days, the society was taking care of and alleviating about one hundred cases of distress that annually came to its notice.
Within recent years, the Animal Welfare League has continued the essentials of the work of this organization. Mrs. J. R. Beck is at the head of the local movement.
The Taunton Branch of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was formed December 7, 1915, with Rev. Alfred V. Bliss as president, and Marcus A. Rhodes as secretary and treasurer. The work of the society, which has twenty-nine branches throughout the State, is to extend a helping hand to children and youths who are morally and physically neglected. This help often requires court action, and is given by no other philanthropic organization. Hon. Grafton Cushing was State president in 1923, and Theodore A. Lothrop general secretary, and the society is supported entirely by voluntary contributions. The Taunton branch employs a paid agent, who gives one day a week to Taunton and vicinity. During the five years that he was president of the branch, Rev. Mr. Bliss performed valuable personal work. There are twenty directors who meet each month with the agent, who always has more than thirty cases on hand. The 1923 officers were: President, A. Cleveland Bent; vice-president, Arthur R. Crandell, M. D .; secretary, Miss Florence W. Davol; treasurer, Marcus A. Rhodes; agent, John H. Hallahan.
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The Taunton Corps of the Salvation Army began work under the most adverse conditions, and had it not been for the remarkable faith and perse- verance of their leaders, they might never have built and dedicated their building as they did in 1923. Captain Emma Brown and Lieutenant Patty Watkins, the latter known as "the Welsh Nightingale," arrived here March 29, 1884, and hired the skating rink known as Wilbur's Hall, on Trescott street. Their first meeting was on Sunday morning, when Fall River com- rades were present to assist. When they had been here about a month, they tried open air services, with the beating of their new drum. Then trouble began. The leaders were arrested; the city was in an uproar. At the trial, the captain of the corps was fined, but making her appeal, she was discharged. The corps has never failed to be on duty since that time, and in all calls for service it has done its share in and out of the church. During the World War, Adjutant Gullage recommended the pur- chase of the lot where the new building was constructed in 1923, and Colonel McIntyre, commanding the New England forces, borrowed money and bought it. A campaign was launched in April, 1922, during the com- mand of Adjutant and Mrs. J. G. Scott and Captain Martha E. Buck, who raised $88,000 under adverse circumstances. The campaign was carried on under the chairmanship of H. H. Shumway, and the building was dedi- cated April 22, 1923. The officers who have been stationed here include : Captain Brown and Lieutenant Watkins, Adjutant and Mrs. Jones, Captain and Mrs. Symonds, Captain McAbee and Lieutenant Rule, Colonel and Mrs. Bringle, Captain Mitchell, Captain and Mrs. Foote, Captain Cartmill, Cap- tain Kingsland and Lieutenant Lorelle Damon, Captain and Mrs. Prince, Captain and Mrs. Helms, Captain and Mrs. Faulkner, Captain Carrigan and Mrs. Stephens, Captain Carlson and Lieutenant Richards, Captain Kimball and Lieutenant Bilquist, Captain May Harris, Adjutant Alice Derrick and Lieutenant Paynter, Ensign Gage and Captain White, Ensign Lesure and Cadet Beeman, Captain and Mrs. Wilbur, Captain Mills and Lieutenant Dow, Captain Bose, Captain and Mrs. Cole, Captain and Mrs. Esty, Ensign McHenry and Captain Brooks, Captain Parkins and Lieutenant Gesner, Captain and Mrs. Robinson, Captain and Mrs. Hendershot, Captain and Mrs. Brown, Adjutant and Mrs. Gullage, Adjutant and Mrs. J. G. Scott, and Captain Martha E. Buck.
CHAPTER XVIII. CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
For reasons of civic and social betterment, moral progress, patriotic instruction, musical development, humanitarian endeavor, legitimate sports - groups and combinations have existed in Taunton since the opening of the eighteenth century, each finding place and opportunity for the expression of activities and gifts of individuals, and all on great occasions sharing those activities and gifts for the common good. These are the most prominent of such organizations here :
Taunton Woman's Club .- The Taunton Woman's Club at the age of thirteen years has a membership of five hundred, its membership limit, and a waiting list of about thirty. This club is perhaps the best example
PADDOCK DEAN HOUSE, TAUNTON. BUILT ABOUT 1800
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in the city of a truly democratic organization, wrote Miss Flora L. Mason in 1923, for its membership includes women of all social, political, racial and religious affiliations; a majority vote of the executive board elects to membership, and the officers and working committees are chosen with the one consideration of fitness for the accomplishing of the work in hand. The club, as such, takes no part in politics, and its by-laws rule out action with reference to legislative measures, except by unanimous consent; but the members individually take a lively interest in public matters, and the meetings may be open for information or discussion concerning legislative questions.
Although not primarily a charitable organization, the club has con- tributed liberally to many local charities and to some of those of wider scope. Through its public health committee the club has secured the ap- pointment of a school nurse and paid her salary for the first year or two, until the value of her services was made so clear that a nurse was made a part of the regular school staff. The same committee later provided, and continues to support, a school dietitian. It was through the initiative of the club, and under its direction at first, that school lunches were estab- lished at the high school. School gardens were also helped on by the club, with equipment and prizes. The Near East Relief campaigns have been made under the auspices of the Woman's Club, and its committees served in practically all the important "drives" of the past decade.
During the war, the clubhouse, which had just been acquired, was given over almost wholly to the use of the Red Cross and other war work committees. Through the Woman's Club the people of Taunton have had the opportunity of hearing many persons of distinction on the lecture or concert platform. Among the most notable have been William Howard Taft, Judge Ben B. Lindsey, Dr. Charles R. Brown, Margaret Deland, Robert Lincoln O'Brien, Helen Keller, John Kendrick Bangs, Mary Boyle O'Reilly, Edgar Guest, Madame Ponafidine, the Kneisel Quartette. So much a part of the community life has the club become, that one can hardly realize how short a time it has been in existence. It was on the afternoon of January 22, 1910, that a group of twenty-four women, who became the charter members of the club, responded to the invitation of Mrs. Harold W. Goward to meet at her house to consider the formation of a Woman's Club. Upon that occasion the question whether the city needed such a club or not was seriously debated. At length the ayes had it, and the following board of officers was elected: President, Miss Flora L. Mason; vice-presidents : Mrs. Lincoln B. Goodrich and Mrs. Harold W. Goward; recording secretary, Mrs. Frederick E. Goff; corresponding secre- tary, Miss Jane Burbank; treasurer, Mrs. Percival C. Lincoln; directors : Mrs. Charles H. Blaine, Miss Mary Hamer, Mrs. Charles T. Hubbard, Mrs. William R. Mitchell, Mrs. Franklin D. Williams. At the spring meeting of the Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs, in the same year, the new club was received into membership, and the following October its fully organized club life began. The members who have since served as president are the following: Miss Flora L. Mason, 1911-12; Mrs. Harold W. Goward, 1913; Mrs. Joseph B. Sayles, 1914; Miss Flora L. Mason, 1915-16; Mrs. Henry A. Dickerman, 1917-18; Mrs. William C. Baker, 1919- 20; Miss Flora L. Mason, 1921-22; Mrs. Ion E. Dwyer, 1923 --.
Bristol-15
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Almost from the beginning, the club had a building fund committee, working to accumulate a fund for the purchase of a home for the organiza- tion. This committee, although nominally appointed each year, has been under no rule of rotation, since continuity of interest and experience has seemed of greatest importance, and the enthusiastic leadership of Mrs. Alfred B. Williams, who has served as chairman from the first appoint- ment, has been a large factor in the success which has crowned the work of the committee. In 1917 a fine piece of property, admirably suited to present and future needs, came upon the market, and after becoming in- corporated under the laws of Massachusetts, the club purchased the house and land at 27 Summer street, and set up its own home. The house, which is a fine example of so-called colonial architecture, was built near the end of the eighteenth century. It is located where the business section and a particularly attractive residence section meet. It is therefore most con- veniently situated for committee activities or for social uses, and its hospi- tality is extended freely for the meetings of managing committees of such public welfare organizations as have no headquarters of their own. A large lot of land at the rear of the house provides room for an auditorium, which is to be built to connect with the house, so that the club may have all its meetings under its own roof and may have accommodations suited to its varied needs, and available for wide use in community service.
Y. M. C. A .- Raymond H. Pierce, general secretary of the Y. M. C. A., thus told the story of the institution in 1923:
The Taunton Young Men's Christian Association had its beginning May 10, 1893, when a group of young men met at the Baptist church and signed what they termed "The Compact of the Young Men's Association for Hoiding Religious Services in Taunton." Previous to this organization meeting, there had been several conferences with the Young Men's Guild, an active society, but without definite religious features. Following the execution of the "Compact," the following named were elected officers: President, William D. Richardson; vice-president, Charles A. Lawrence; treasurer, Everett K. Dean; clerk, Walter M. Dunbar. Sunday meetings for men were held in various halls in the city, with occasional business meet- ings in private homes and stores of the members.
On February 21, 1894, at a regular meeting of the Young Men's Asso- ciation held in Manheim's Hall, it was unanimously voted to become a Young Men's Christian Association and to affiliate with the movement gaining such large favor with young men throughout the country. The officers of the "preparatory organization," as they called it, were elected to serve temporarily until the first meeting of the new board of directors. This was held on February 27, 1894, and resulted as follows: President, William D. Richardson; vice-president, Frank L. Fish; treasurer, Walter M. Dunbar; clerk, Charles A. Lawrence. As Mr. Manheim objected to the use of his hall as a gymnasium, the second floor of Skinner's Block was leased and the first paid secretaries were secured-George E. Lombard, general secretary ; E. H. McCurdy, of Clinton, assistant secretary; and W. B. Merrill, of Providence, physical director. Early in 1896 a branch was established at Weir Village, the Young Men's Christian Association taking over the work of the Weir Reading Room Committee.
The Winslow church property, situated on Cohannet street, on the
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site of the present building, was acquired in 1898 and dedicated December 11, 1899, and the association was thus enabled to extend their work mate- rially. This building burned on the morning of November 21, 1900. In 1901, under the leadership of William R. Park, Jr., who was then president, an appeal was made to the citizens of Taunton for a Young Men's Chris- tian Association building, and the response was generous and enthusiastic, for the association had made itself a vital factor in the community life. A modern Young Men's Christian Association building and equipment were provided, including reading rooms, game rooms, gymnasium, shower baths, bowling alleys, locker rooms, ten rooms as a dormitory for young men without homes, a kitchen, and a large assembly hall. This building was erected by Lewis M. Witherell, and the building committee of the Young Men's Christian Association was made up as follows: Plans and construc- tion : Charles L. Lovering, Seth L. Cushman and J. S. Tidd; furnishing: C. H. Lincoln, W. D. Richardson, W. N. Parker and J. E. Sanford; dedica- tion and cornerstone : F. L. Fish, Orville A. Barker, Cyrus H. Lothrop and William R. Park, Jr .; finance: C. M. Morse, Frank L. Tinkham and E. E. Richards. The new building gave new impetus to the entire program projected by the association, and under the leadership of Arthur C. Cotton as general secretary its influence among the young men and boys of the city widened.
Ten years later, in 1911, extensive alterations and additions were made, including the installation of a modern and spacious swimming tank, 20 feet by 40 feet, with a filtration plant through which water constantly passes for purification. Ten dormitory rooms were also added, so that the ca- pacity for caring for young men in this way was doubled. During these years there was a constantly increasing use of the building until it reached a peak in the early days of the World War, when thousands of soldiers and sailors were helped by varied forms of service through use of the building equipment and friendliness of the secretaries.
At the date of this publication, the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion has widened its field of activities and service until it is reaching hun- dreds of boys and young men in addition to its program at the building. During the year 1922, 1040 young men and boys were served through mem- bership privileges; 190 men used the dormitory rooms; 315 boys, not mem- bers, were enrolled in learn-to-swim campaigns; 5338 was the total at- tendance at gymnasium classes alone, while more than 12,000 used other physical department privileges. Twelve athletic meets were held; sixteen game leagues were promoted, with 278 matched games played. The attend- ance at educational clubs and religious meetings, Bible classes, was 1998, and 3147 enjoyed social events of varied character. The broadened scope of the association work in recent years, and its recognition of responsi- bility to the youth outside of its membership, have brought splendid sup- port from Taunton citizens who recognize that the association is serving the city in a virile, constructive manner, under trained and consecrated leadership.
The officers in 1923: President, William H. Davison; vice-president, Edgar W. Sturgis; clerk, Winthrop L. Tidd; treasurer, Henry A. Dicker- man; general secretary, Raymond H. Pierce; assistant secretary, Charles F. Gortner, Jr .; physical director, Leon F. Crane; boys' work secretary, Charles A. Leach.
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Taunton Boys' Club .- This club was started in Taunton in the year 1902, writes Homer W. Noyes, supervisor, and was incorporated under the statutes of the State of Massachusetts, February 9, 1906, by seven citizens- William E. Walker, William H. Reed, William S. Woods, George W. Bar- rows, John J. Barker, William E. Dunbar and Edwin A. Tetlow-the pur- pose of the corporation being the matter of improving the moral, physical, intellectual and social nature of the boys by establishing and maintaining a place for meetings. This organization carried on its work for a number of years in the rooms over stables on Court street, and then, in 1913, pur- chased a site at 31 Court street and erected a permanent clubhouse, and carried on an extensive work with boys since that time. The type of boys who avail themselves of this club are the street boys and boys of the under- privileged kind, more than the boys of the higher class.
Since 1921 the work has been carried on on a very extensive scale, when the vocational program was introduced and the boys trained along these lines. The club is composed of boys of some seventeen nationalities, and the program is so arranged that the different natures of about five hun- dred and sixty boys are coped with in a most constructive way. Employ- ment is found for such boys as are obliged to help in the support of the family, but boys generally are advised to remain in school as long as pos- sible. Vocational classes have been established in carpentry, printing, chair-caning, cobbling and cardboard construction. The boy has a choice of these classes that he may try out and find, if possible, where he may fit in the great program of life, and he is encouraged along any line where he is found to be interested. Thrift is taught the boys through the method of large, illustrated placards. A penny savings bank has been placed at their disposal, where they may save their pennies and small change at any time when they happen to have it. If the bank is open at periods, the pennies have usually been spent. The plan of the work is on the group plan of individual clubs, where gangs may meet in their own room under the proper environment and with good leadership. This appeals to the boys, as their gangs are not broken, and there is a greater tendency for them to stick together. The clubs organized are: The Junior Board of Trade, which is an occupational group; the Agricultural Club, who are learning something about the farm, gardening, poultry, fruit, etc .; the Campfire Club is interested in camp life and the great outdoors, with nature study led by a very efficient leader.
Boys go to the Boys' Club primarily for recreation. It is a place where they have an opportunity to work off their surplus energies. They get something more than that-they learn to work, and are constructively interested in things for their future. These are thrown in their way in such a way that they grasp them, and while it gets away from the school- room study, it accomplishes the same thing and is of great interest to the boy. A fine library has been organized with a librarian in charge, and about five hundred volumes are to be found there on as many subjects- good, wholesome reading for the boys. The 1923 directors of the club : William G. Boyd, J. Frederick Barden, Col. Peter H. Corr, William E. Dunbar, Charles F. Foster, Thomas B. Gaffney, William E. Kelly, Frank L. Locklin, Frank B. Mason, Bion C. Pierce, John W. Robertson, Herbert H. Shumway, A. Loring Swasey, Edwin A. Tetlow, James P. Whitters,
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William S. Woods, Arthur Poole, Edward Lane, Lincoln Baylies, George H. Robinson; Homer W. Noyes, supervisor.
Taunton Girls' Club .- The habit of forming clubs, declares Miss Rachel Morse, one of the board of directors of the Taunton Girls' Club, is very American. The value of combination is nowhere more apparent than when working girls get together in a self-governing club, resulting in that in- tangible thing called "club spirit," and more concrete things, like busy classes in dressmaking, cooking and millinery, as well as parties and formal business meetings. Money cannot buy club spirit, but material things are paid for by the club dues. This is the type of self-governing girls' club which is in Taunton.
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