USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
The new board of directors was composed of the leading men of the city, and they chose for president Bertram H. Borden, the son of the donor of the club buildings. Nathan Durfee was chosen vice-president and Ed- ward B. Varney, treasurer. Under their administration the club activities were increased and the finances improved, so that the club regained its proper place in the city and the boys' club world. At the annual meeting in 1922 there was a membership of nearly four thousand men and boys.
452
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
The endowment fund had gradually increased to about $200,000, due to generous gifts by the American Printing Company. The Boys' Club has always received generous financial support from the citizens of Fall River. It has more than eleven hundred contributors; the spirit of the club has always been broad, and has won the commendation of all creeds and races. Many of its members are now in positions of trust and responsibility. There are lawyers and doctors, firemen and policemen, and merchants, who have risen from its ranks. The outstanding feature of the club has been its unselfishness and hospitality. It has endeavored to build up others and not itself.
The club has been fortunate in its presidents. Rev. E. A. Buck was president from the beginning until his death. He helped to start the club, and received the offer from Mr. Borden of $25,000 for a new building. He chose the building, and lived to see it dedicated and used to its limit. George A. Chace was the second president. He was a very generous man, and gave much personal attention to the club affairs. Under his leadership the beginning of the clubhouse for older boys was started and completed. He was always to be relied upon in time of need or emergencies, personal or in the club's work. R. J. Thompson, M. D., was the third president, and it was his task to carry the club through the depressing period of the war. He is still on the board of directors and helping to "carry on" the club's work. The present president, Bertram H. Borden, ably assisted by the vice-president, Nathan Durfee, are giving the club their personal atten- tion, and have larger plans for the future than anything which has been done in the past. The Boys' Club of Fall River will never trail after any other club under their leadership. No account of the Boys' Club would be complete that did not gratefully acknowledge the faithful labors of its secre- tary for many years, Miss Harriet H. Brayton. She was untiring in her efforts for the club. She inspired and directed many of the notable con- ferences the club has held. She was always to be depended upon, from the beginning until she resigned; she was a loyal and enthusiastic friend of the club and its superintendent. Of the superintendent it is enough to say that he is still here and is the only known superintendent who has been in one club from the beginning. The present officials are: Bertram H. Borden, president; Nathan Durfee, vice-president; Edward B. Varney, treasurer; DeForest Anthony, secretary; Thomas Chew, superintendent; B. A. Rey- nolds, assistant superintendent; James F. Sullivan, superintendent Junior Department; Harry Broadbent, physical instructor.
With a membership of more than six hundred, the Fall River Boy Scouts of America have made a lasting place for themselves in this city and surrounding villages, fulfilling the rules of their order in a very workman- like way in every emergency that has come to the city and community, as well as making themselves useful on scores of civic and social occasions. Their first organization was brought about at the Y. M. C. A. on April 24, 1913, when John Marshall was named as chief scout, and the following- named as council: W. C. Davol, James W. Bent, W. A. Hart, Thomas Chew, R. P. Borden, W. D. Wilmot, W. H. Dooley, Dr. J. J. Kerrigan, Dr. Stanley Towle, W. S. Solomon, H. E. Dodge, Dr. B. W. Jackson, Mayor James H. Kay, L. L. Grouse, Clinton G. Albert, Major F. W. Harrison, Marshall W. H. Medley, N. S. Easton, O. H. Towle.
453
CLUBS AND MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS
John Marshall was elected the first president of the council; W. C. Davol, first vice-president; Stanley Towle, secretary. The first scout com- missioner was Major F. W. Harrison, and Thomas R. Whipp was his suc- cessor; and the latter was elected scoutmaster of Troop 4, that was or- ganized in 1913. In 1915 Dr. Towle was chosen president, Dr. R, W. Jackson, vice-president; Clinton G. Albert, secretary, and these served to 1923. The first meetings were held both at the Y. M. C. A. and at the Chamber of Commerce. Troop 3 was organized in 1913, Rev. Arthur Bald- win scoutmaster. A Boy Scouts' camp was started at Stafford Pond in 1915, and in 1921 the council purchased more than one hundred acres on Pine Hill road, in Westport, where Camp Noquochoke was established.
A troop was instituted in Pottersville in 1916, and Assonet and Swansea soon organized their own troops. Troop 7, with William B. Squire as scoutmaster, was started at the Union M. E. Church, Rev. Raymond Hib- bard succeeding Mr. Squire. Most of the troops were organized in 1917, and the following years, thus: Troop 5, comprised of Jewish boys, Isodor Shogan scoutmaster, May 2, 1917; Troop 8, of the Boys' Club, James E. Sullivan, May 10; Troop 9, George T. Almy scoutmaster, May 9, 1917; Troop 10, at the same time, by Mark F. Lomond; Troop 11, in September, by Charles E. Montgomery; Troop 12, October 15, by John F. Johnson; Troop 14, June 18, by John Andrews; Troop 15, in June, at the United Presbyterian Church, George F. Nickerson leader, this troop now meeting in the Highland district. In 1918, Troop 13 was organized by Daniel J. Leary; Troop 18, by Harry Eyre; Troop 19, under the auspices of the King Philip Settlement House, Paul E. Dow scoutmaster; Troop 20, in the Staf- ford road district, in charge of William Abbott. In 1918 Troop 1 was or- ganized, and reorganization took place in 1919. Troop 2, of boys of the Ascension Church parish, was led by A. E. Borden. Troop 16 was or- ganized in December, 1919, at St. Mark's Church parish, Harrison F. Top- liff scoutmaster; Troop 17 at first met at Steep Brook, now at the Unitarian Church, under the leadership of M. C. Fuller. Troop 6 was organized in February, 1923, consisting of junior high boys, in charge of Henry Lord; Troop 25 at the same time, Franklin J. Garney scoutmaster. The Boy Scouts performed a wonderful work during the World War, in the drives, and in the war savings stamps campaigns.
The membership of the Fall River council in 1923 was as follows: Dr. Stanley Towle, Dr. Ralph W. Jackson, Clinton G. Albert, Jefferson Borden, Jr., Harry P. Brown, Richard P. Borden, William L. S. Brayton, Herbert E. Dodge, Walter E. Dow, Norman S. Easton, Major F. W. Harrison, James H. Kay, Dr. W. W. Marvel, Joseph E. Nute, Dr. W. P. Pritchard, John D. Ramsbottom, J. T. Fyans, Martin Feeney, Hector Belisle, E. P. Charlton, Nathan Durfee, George R. Lawton, Adam W. Gifford, William T. Brightman, Rev. F. J. Dark, James Fell, Albert Wolsten- holme, David Silverstein, Charles T. Hentershee, William Randall, Wil- liam J. Gardner, Rev. William B. Sharpe, John Andrew, Philip Lanyon, Elmer B. Durfee, John S. Brayton, Jr., Dr. E. L. Merritt, Wilfred This- tlethwaite, Alonzo T. Wonson, Dr. John Gilbert, Dr. Milton J. Gilbert, Dr. Howard P. Sawyer, Dr. Clarence C. McCreery, Thomas D. Hargraves, Francis S. Root, Rufus Davis, Thomas R. Whipp, Robert Ayre, Edward Adaskin, A. A. Harrison, Charles J. McCreery, J. Westall Borden, Tom
454
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
Brierley, Edmond P. Talbot, Dr. J. P. Hadfield, Dr. George Borden, Jere- miah Sullivan, Edward B. Varney, Nathan Sternsher, Howard A. Stanley, Elmer Hughes, Herbert F. Sherwood, James Buffinton, Jr., Guy A. Bryant, Oliver M. Cherry.
Women's and Girls' Clubs .- On January 7, 1909, 135 women, called together by Mrs. James M. Swift, Miss Alice Brayton, and Mrs. Jonathan Thayer Lincoln, met at Music Hall to organize a Woman's Club. A constitution was submitted to them by Mrs. Lincoln, who was made temporary chairman, was accepted, and the meeting was adjourned to Jan- uary 18, when the name "The Woman's Club of Fall River" was adopted and the following officers were elected for the first year: President, Mrs. Jonathan Thayer Lincoln; first vice-president, Mrs. Alanson J. Abbe; sec- ond vice-president, Mrs. Spencer Borden, Sr .; recording secretary, Mrs. Charles M. Shove; corresponding secretary, Mrs. James M. Swift; treasurer, Miss Bertha Borden; auditor, Miss Margaret Brayton. Board of Directors: Mrs. Arthur Anthony, Mrs. J. A. Barry, Mrs. Chauncey H. Blodgett, Mrs. O. Elton Borden, Mrs. H. A. Brayton, Mrs. John S. Brayton, Mrs. Robert C. Davis, Mrs. Henry H. Eddy, Mrs. Samuel W. Gibbs, Mrs. B. S. C. Gif- ford, Mrs. George.H. Hills, Mrs. James Marshall, Mrs. Harriet Mackenzie, Mrs. Frank Stevens, Miss Ellen Shove. The membership in the club was limited to three hundred, but later the number was increased to five hun- dred, and in 1923 there was a waiting list of one hundred and forty-four.
The object of the club, as stated in the constitution, is "To unite the women of Fall River in fostering an interest in music, art, literature, domes- tic science, and all things which make fuller and broader life for women." The policy of the club has been inclusive always; it was founded with the desire to have a club broad enough in interest and purpose to appeal to women in all parts of the city, and to be, in reality, a Fall River Woman's Club. Meetings are held regularly on the third Monday of each month from October to May inclusive, and the several departments of the club provide many extra meetings, all of which are opened to club members. There are five departments: Literature, music, art, civics, and home eco- nomics; and a dramatic committee, which has presented to the club the more interesting of the new dramas, read by club members in costumes, with proper stage settings. The first entertainment given by the club was on the evening of February 22, 1909, when about six hundred members and guests met in Music Hall to greet the officers of the new club, and to listen to a concert by the Hess Schroeder Quartet, of Boston. Professor Bliss Perry was the first lecturer to come to the club. Through its concert committee the organization has arranged a series of four concerts a season, through which it brings the really great artists to Fall River.
A partial list of the authors, lecturers and artists who have appeared before the club follows: Arthur Whiting, George Copeland, Harold Bauer, Rachmaninoff, Heifetz, Zimbalist, Anna Case, Sophie Braslau, Werrenrath, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Guy Maier, Lee Paterson, Mr. and Mrs. David Mannes, Amy Lowell, Dallas Lore Sharpe, W. L. George, Granville Barker, Alfred Noyes, Joseph Pennell, Ralph Adams Cram, Joseph Lindon Smith, Beatrice Hereford, Kitty Cheatham, Joseph C. Lincoln, Margaret Deland, Sarah Louise Arnold, Helen Louise Johnson, John Spargo, Charles Zueblin, Katherine Bement Davis, Stephen Wise, Thornton Burgess, Cor-
455
CLUBS AND MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS
nelia James Cannon, Josephine Preston Peabody, Professor Charles Cope- land, and George C. Baker. The club serves the community directly through its Civic Department. This department takes an active part in nearly every civic activity, and is responsible for, or an important factor in, the following work: Child welfare, work for the blind, playgrounds, school luncheons, school nutrition classes, better health week, Americanization, preservation of natural resources and wild flowers, legislation, more espe- cially that affecting women and children. In 1913, during Mrs. Arthur Anthony's term as president, and largely through her interest and perse- verance, the club was incorporated and the clubhouse on Walnut street was purchased. During the war the clubhouse was used for Red Cross work, and at present it furnishes quarters for a troup of girl scouts. The club joined the State Federation in June, 1910, and the General Federation in 1916. The following is a list of the presidents: Mrs. Jonathan Thayer Lin- coln, 1909-11; Mrs. Spencer Borden, Jr., 1911-13; Mrs. Arthur Anthony, 1913-15; Mrs. Charles H. Warner, 1915-17; Miss Grace Lincoln, 1917-19; Mrs. Edgar Durfee, 1919-21; Miss Bertha Borden, 1921-22; Mrs. M. Richard Brown, 1922 -.
The Fall River Girls' Club was organized in 1891, by two members of the board of directors of the Woman's Union, and although it has been a self-governing body from the first, and largely self-supporting, it has always had the free use of rooms given by the Woman's Union, and the club like- wise has had the benefit of the assistance of the Union's social worker. There are a number of clubs now under the management of the Woman's Union, the Girls' Club (formerly called the Working Girls' Club) differing only in that it is a member of the National and the Massachusetts League of Girls' Clubs. This club, like the others, is organized on the basis of self- government, self-reliance and self-support, and all are non-sectarian in man- agement. There were in 1923 about one hundred and twenty-five members, and they pay monthly dues. The object of the organization, as stated in its constitution, has been to provide for the happiness and development of the membership, and to create a centre where enjoyment, friendship and opportunities of improvement may be had, and this object has been main- tained with more or less success from the first. The organizers were Miss Harriet B. Hawes, now Mrs. F. T. Mathewson, and Miss Mary E. Shove. The latter was president twenty-four years, and Miss Hawes was the secre- tary. The officers in 1923: President, Miss Anna Rowley; first vice-presi- dent, Miss Margaret Arkinson; second vice-president, Miss Mary Grace; recording secretary, Miss Rose Rogan; corresponding secretary, Miss Irene Murphy; treasurer, Miss Jennie Rollinson; assistant treasurer, Miss Nora Fitzpatrick.
The Catholic Woman's Club of Fall River was founded in February, 1911, and in the twelve years of its existence has developed into one of the largest, most influential, and most variously active of such organizations in New England. Early in the year 1911 several representative Catholic women of the city, under the leadership of Miss Helen Leary, were granted an audience by the Right Rev. Daniel F. Feehan, Bishop of the Fall River diocese. They proposed the formation of a Catholic Woman's Club similar in purpose and activities to the Providence Catholic Woman's Club, which was that year celebrating the tenth anniversary of its founding. The Right
456
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
Reverend Bishop gave his unqualified approval to the proposal, suggested that the tentative organization be placed under the especial patronage of Saint Catherine of Sienna, and immediately appointed Rev. William H. Curley as moderator. The constitution and by-laws were drafted by a com- mittee composed of Mrs. Michael Kelly, Mrs. Charles P. Ryan, and Miss Annie G. Sullivan, and the first formal meeting of the club occurred on February 9, 1911, in Saints Peter and Paul's parish hall, with Rev. Father Curley presiding. The club began that night with a membership of one hundred and sixty-five, and proceeded to elect its first board of officers, headed by Mrs. William H. Butler, since deceased, as president. Mrs. But- ler possessed distinct executive ability, born of the firmness and directness of her character, and an alert and ardent intellect, unparochial of horizon. Hers were the difficult tasks of the pioneer, and she acquitted herself of them adequately and competently. It will always be remembered that Mrs. Butler established the club with high standards, and, moreover, with stand- ards that were durable as well as high.
The honors of the successful inauguration and development of the club were divided between Mrs. Butler, as first president, and Rev. William H. Curley, as first moderator. Father Curley's mellow wisdom and his knowl- edge of human nature adapted him admirably to the arduous post of direc- tor and guide to a nascent organization. For four years, indeed, until his death in 1915, he devoted his energies untiringly to the club's progress and welfare. His successor in office, as appointed by the Right Rev. Bishop, was Rev. Francis J. Bradley, D. D., who put his extraordinary erudition and fine cultural attainments at the club's service, to the universal appre- ciation of its members, until in 1919 continued ill-health compelled his resignation. To succeed him, the Right Rev. Bishop chose with a peculiar felicity Rev. Edward J. Carr, the present moderator, who, like a benevolent proconsul, directs the club's destinies wisely and well. Bringing to his task the exactly requisite qualities of mind and temperament, the ideal equip- ments, and giving of them with constant generosity, Father Carr has thoroughly identified himself with the club's interests. In 1923 the club had a membership of approximately seven hundred women. Its official yearly program includes eight regular monthly meetings, each meeting con- sisting of a brief business session, followed by a lecture, a reading, a con- cert, a recital, or some similar entertainment. This program is supple- mented by numerous social and philanthropic activities, and by the various departmental undertakings. The Music Department assumes charge of all incidental musical numbers on the club program; plans occasional concerts in addition to that program; and produces musical talent among the mem- bers themselves. The Dramatic Department works similarly along dra- matic lines, and has staged some modern one-act plays very cleverly. The Recreation Department, in which the younger members of the club are espe- cially interested, arranges dances and assemblies and other social events, and is always prepared to serve as a sort of junior hospitality committee at all club affairs. The Community Service Department represents the club in all civic activities. It cooperates with other clubs and other civic in- terests in all welfare work; and enlists the aid of all Catholic women of the city, even outside of the club membership, for all charitable purposes and undertakings approved by the Church.
457
CLUBS AND MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS
No outline of the history of the Catholic Woman's Club would be ade- quate without some mention of the activities of its members in patriotic organizations during the two years of war. It is always proudly remem- bered that the Fall River Catholic Woman's Club, in buying its five hun- dred dollar Liberty Bond in the early months of the war, had the honor of being the first woman's club in Southern Massachusetts to subscribe. In the summer of 1917 a committee headed by Miss Mary Mugan did remark- able work in support of the Hoover food-saving campaign by demonstrat- ing in all parts of the city the processes of conserving fruits and vegetables; recipes were printed and lectures given in five languages-English, French, Polish, Italian, and Portuguese, and over thirty-two hundred women were given instructions. In December, 1917, the club aided energetically in the big Red Cross campaign, and in addition to individual donations, the presi- dent, Mrs. M. F. Sullivan, was able to hand in an extremely generous check as the club's official contribution. In January, 1918, a committee of club members gave a series of demonstrations of war breads, meat substitutes, etc., in a well-equipped kitchen in a local department store, and stimulated interest in the subject by offering prizes to the grammar school pupils for the best essays on Hooverizing and food-conserving.
In February. 1918, another committee took part in the labors of the devastated France campaigners. During all the months of wartime, more- over, the club was affiliated with the Catholic Women's War Service Coun- cil of Massachusetts, an organization formed to coordinate all the Catholic women's war relief work of the State. In concluding, it will not be inap- propriate to observe that the members of the Catholic Woman's Club of Fall River feel that much of the success of their club in the past, its happy security in the present, and its hopes for the future, including its plans for the dignity and satisfaction of a clubhouse, is due to the approval and as- sistance of the Right Reverend Bishop. The women who have served the club since its organization in the capacity of president are as follows: Mrs. William H. Butler, 1911-12; Mrs. James B. Kelley, 1912-13; Mrs. James E. O'Connor, 1913-15; Miss Elizabeth T. Higney. 1915-16; Mrs. Thomas E. Lahey, 1916-17; Mrs. Michael F. Sullivan, 1917-18; Mrs. Edward W. Cant- well, 1918-19; Miss Helen M. Leary, 1919-21; Mrs. William F. O'Reilly, 1921-22; Miss Minnie F. Cunneen, 1922-24.
The first Girl Scout Troop in Fall River, writes Commissioner Florence M. Root, was started in June, 1916, at the King Philip Settlement House, under the leadership of Miss Margaret Perry. There were fourteen girls in this troop, which was originally a sewing class. The second troop, which was formed soon afterwards, had its meeting place in the Pleasant street school, and was under the leadership of Miss Hester Gunning. Troop 1 soon grew so large that it had to be divided, and Troop 3 was formed, with Miss Edith Fyans as captain. During that first summer, Troop 1 held the first camping trip of two days in Assonet Village, twelve girls going on the trip. The following summer, 1917, Troops 1 and 3 had a week of camping in Tiverton. Through the efforts of Miss M. Guidetta Daly, the social worker for the King Philip Settlement House, the Girl Scout Council was formed in December, 1917, with the following officers: Commissioner, Mrs. Charles Durfee; secretary, Dr. Ester M. Sundeloff; treasurer, Mrs. Francis S. Root. With the establishment of a council, the work went
459
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
steadily forward, new troops were formed, officers found, publicity and edu- cational work carried on, and funds raised for the maintenance of the move- ment. Although the progress was slow at first, owing to our participa- tion in the World War, it is now fairly well on its feet, and in 1923 we had an active, interested council of about thirty members, eight active troops, with twelve officers and about two hundred and fifty scouts. The scout membership is limited by our inability to get sufficient leaders, as we have constant requests to form troops in parts of the city which we have not yet been able to touch.
The first Girl Scout rally was held at the North Park on June 29, 1918, with seven troops participating, and in the fall of the same year the Scouts made their first public appearance in the Red Cross parade. During the summer of 1918, Mrs. Edith Boyd was engaged as a part time secretary, with desk room in the Red Cross rooms. She resigned in April, 1919, and in July of the same year Miss Grace Snow was secured as director, and headquarters were opened in the Woman's Union. The first camp under the supervision of the council was held in Tiverton, on the estate of Henry Durfee, during the summer of 1918, in cooperation with the Campfire Girls. This camp was run for three weeks, with an average attendance of twenty scouts each week. In the spring of 1919, Miss Grace Lincoln was elected commissioner to succeed Mrs. Charles Durfee, resigned. In the summer of the same year a Girl Scout camp was established on the land of David Evans, in Assonet, and has been continued during the seasons of 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923, for a period of four weeks each year, with an increas- ing attendance until 1923, and our accommodations taxed to the limit, with the prospect of having to enlarge or run for a longer period in the future.
In the fall of 1919, Miss Snow resigned the directorship and was suc- ceeded by Miss Mary Deane. In April, 1921, Miss Grace Lincoln resigned as commissioner, and the council was without a head until December of the same year, when Mrs. Francis S. Root accepted the position, her place as treasurer being filled by Mrs. Randall Durfee. In October, 1921, Miss Sarah Allen was engaged as director to take the place of Miss Mary Deane, resigned. On June 10, 1922, an inter-city meet was held in the North Park, Fall River, with four cities participating-Newport, New Bedford, Provi- dence and Fall River. The cup, presented by Mrs. Randall Durfee, was won by the Newport Scouts. The meet is to be an annual affair, the cup finally belonging to the city winning it twice in succession. In 1923 it was . won by the Fall River Scouts. In the summer of 1922, the council, for the sake of economy, took over the work of the directorship, with the assist- ance of a part-time worker in the office, but expect to get a permanent director in the near future. This year has been one of great progress. The use of a room in the Public Library has been secured for the Scouts, a troop has been put into the new Junior High School as part of the regular curriculum, training courses for officers have been held, an officers' associa- tion formed, a fine drum and bugle corps has been started, and a public court of awards established. The council has also met the new require- ments for Girl Scout camps established by the State Camp Committee, and has been licensed as a standard Girl Scout camp, and now feels justified in claiming that the early days of struggling are over and the future of the Girl Scout movement in Fall River is assured. The 1923 officers of the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.