USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 71
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 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
You courted by a tallow dip, A feeble glimmer shedding : Sometimes, perhaps, there was a slip, But oftener a wedding.
Hosted by
648 GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
You've seen the lamp with kerosene That once your parlors lighted, Give way to gas, whose radiant sheen Made every heart delighted.
Then "press the button" came this way, And women now are looking To that not-far-off happy day, When it will do their cooking.
The Fenton stages, h -- on wheels When Boss was in his vigor, Fond memory to you appeals, You've felt their ancient rigor.
Where now broad, busy streets you see, You have been drawn by cattle : But on our year of jubilee, You heard the street car rattle.
New ways of thought are also here, There's less of brimstone Sunday ;
If in our hearts there's less of fear, There's more of love on Monday.
Some feathers dropped from faith's white wing Prove not that faith is bolting; With sweeter note God's love she'll sing When she has finished moulting.
You heard the guns in days of yore, When treason stalked defiant; You saw the time when peace once more With freedom stood reliant.
Now looking forth from jubilee, From banners, music, speeches, How strange the contrast that you see, As, backward, memory reaches.
Hats off to you who gave our town Her glorious beginning, And started her towards that renown, More of which she's winning.
Old-timers, Time has thinned your ranks; But few are left to tell your story ; You smile when speaking of your pranks Before your heads were hoary.
But some, thank God, are living yet ; Old times they all remember : Those days they never will forget Till fades life's dying ember.
Hosted by
CHAPTER XXIII.
CLUBS OF TODAY.
"Culture," says one of our modern American writers, "is not an accident of birth, although our surroundings advance or retard it; it is always a matter of individual education." The club is a natural growth wherever people live together in organized society. It springs up because of the spontaneous desire of individuals to profit by contact with other minds. The nature of the club depends somewhat upon the common interests. In any society there are likely to be as many clubs as there are related interests appealing to different groups. The club may be purely social, or it may be based on a mutual interest in his- tory, art, literature or travel; or the object may lie in some particular form of activity, or may be to encourage patriotism in some form, or to commem- orate an event.
It is natural to expect that in Genesee county, as in all counties, the great- est number and variety of interests should be found in the largest center of population ; so it is that Flint has the most noteworthy of these organizations.
HISTORY CLASS OF '76
The American History Class is probably the oldest club in the city. On February 6, 1876, seven ladies met with Mrs. Gregory Dibble to discuss the practicability of organizing a club for the study of American history. As a result, a class was formed, with president and secretary, the membership being limited to twenty. With the exception of a few months, the class has met every week since. During the progress of years, its study has been extended to include English and French history and the history of the Dutch Republic and many other countries. In 1894 the word "American" was dropped from the name of the club, which has been since known as the History Class of '76. Undoubtedly, it is the oldest club in the county. Meetings are held at the houses of the members-a month at a place-the hostess acting as president.
THE ART CLASS.
The Art Class, organized in 1881, probably enjoys the distinction of being, next to the club just mentioned, the oldest in the city. It was started inform-
Hosted by Google
050
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ally by a few ladies who met on Monday afternoons to discuss art topics. It was really the outgrowth of two other small reading groups composed of the following ladies: Mrs. William Lyon, Mrs. Russell Bishop, Mrs. William Clark, Mrs. Charles S. Brown, Mrs. William A. Atwood, Mrs. Henry Young, Mrs. John H. Hicok and Miss Elizabeth Hicok.
Mrs. William Lyon was the founder of the club. One afternoon she invited the ladies of the two small history classes mentioned above to meet at her home and the matter of organizing a club for the study of art topics was broached. The ladies agreed among themselves that there should be no ballot- ing on names, but that each lady should be privileged to bring to the club the next Monday afternoon one friend whom she might wish to have associated with her in the proposed study. Those invited in this informal manner con- stituted, with the charter members, the first Art Class. For thirty-five years the club has held regular meetings, and many names associated with the early history of Genesee county may be found on its membership list.
For the first eight years of its existence no records were kept and the club had .no constitution or by-laws. In 1889, however, this was changed, rules and regulations were adopted and officers were appointed, Mrs. W. A. Atwood being elected president and Mrs. E. T. Smith, secretary. A program committee, selected alphabetically, arranges each year a course of study, the scope of which has gradually been broadened until it now includes topics in history, music, poetry, political economy, astronomy and many other subjects. The club meets at the homes of members, and membership is limited to twenty- eight.
The Art Class has always been very quiet and retiring in its tastes and has never belonged either to the city or state federation. Its present officers are Mrs. Frank E. Willett, president ; Mrs. I. M. Eldridge, secretary ; Mrs. C. B. Crampton, treasurer, and the program committee consists of Mrs. F. D. Clarke, Mrs. W. C. Cumings and Mrs. A. M. Davison.
The following is the present list of members: Mrs. W. L. Bates, Mrs. Guy Blackington, Mrs. H. D: Borley, Mrs. J. N. Buckham, Mrs. C. B. Burr, Mrs. J. J. Carton, Miss Annie Carroll, Mrs. F. D. Clarke, Mrs. W. C. Cum- ings, Mrs. C. B. Crampton, Mrs. A. M. Davison, Mrs. I. M. Eldridge, Mrs. H. H. Fitzgerald, Mrs. D. S. Fox, Mrs. G. W. Hubbard, Mrs. G. C. Kellar, Mrs. W. C. Lewis, Mrs. J. B. Pengelly, Mrs. F. H. Pierce, Mrs. E. T. Smith, Mrs. D. T. Stone, Mrs. F. W. Swan, Mrs. Alice Travis, Mrs. F. E. Willett, Mrs. L. L. Wright and Mrs. H. L. Young.
The following ladies, most of whom live now in other cities, and nearly all of whom have been active members at some period, constitute the list of
Hosted by Google
651
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
honorary members: Mrs. T. D. Bacon, Mrs. W. H. Brodhead, Mrs. D. Church, Mrs. G. Dibble, Mrs. R. C. Durant, Mrs. Jerome Eddy, Mrs. M. T. Gass, Mrs. A. B. C. Hardy Mrs. J. H. Hicok, Miss Elizabeth Hicok, Mrs. John Irwin, Mrs. C. A. Lippincott, Mrs. W. H. Lyon, Mrs. D. Mackenzie, Mrs. R. E. Macduff, Mrs. F. A. Platt, Mrs. Crapo Smith, Mrs. H. C. Van Deusen, Mrs. J. H. Whiting, Mrs. R. J. Whaley, Mrs. C. H. Wood.
The following is a list of deceased members: Mrs. J. C. Willson, Mrs. I. H. Wilder, Mrs. M. A. Vaughan, Mrs. A. A. Thompson, Mrs. W. L. Smith, Mrs. G. R. Gold, Mrs. C. S. Brown, Mrs. W. A. Atwood, Mrs. H. M. Curtis, Miss Marion Chandler, Mrs. M. A. C. Orrell, Mrs. Sarah Ferris, Mrs. William Clark, Mrs. J. B. Atwood, Mrs. Henry Neill, Mrs. A. W. Seabrease, Mrs. W. B. McCreery, Mrs. S. Androus, Mrs. Nellie B. Dort, Mrs. May Foote.
MRS. FOBES' READING CLASS.
One of the earliest literary clubs in Flint or Genesee county was a read- ing club which met each Tuesday afternoon for many years in the eighties and early nineties, at the home of Mrs. R. J. Fobes, at the northwest corner of East and First streets. This club was said to be most enjoyable. It was organized first as a neighborhood affair, but several members from other parts of the city were afterward invited to join. It remained always most informal and never had constitution or by-laws, records or officers. The club never had probably at one time a larger number of members than twelve or fourteen, and eight or nine was an average attendance at the meetings. No papers were ever attempted, the aim of the class being recreation rather than dull study. From one of the later members of Mrs. Fobes' Reading Class, the following incomplete list of members has been obtained: Mrs. Fobes, Mrs. Belcher, Mrs. W. C. Lewis, Mrs. R. J. Whaley, Mrs. H. C. VanDeusen, Mrs. C. S. Brown, Mrs. Briscoe, Mrs. A. G. Bishop, Mrs. G. W. Bucking- ham, Mrs. C. H. Wood, Mrs. J. N. Buckham, Mrs. Oren Stone.
THE SHAKESPEARE CLUB.
Flint has two Shakespeare clubs, the older one of which is believed to be the oldest Shakespeare club in the state, as it has been in existence since January 21, 1889, when a number of members of the Ladies Art Class invited their husbands to meet with them at the home of Mrs. Ira H. Wilder, on the site where the Y. M. C. A. building now stands, to organize an evening club of men and women for the reading and study of the works of Shake-
Hosted by Google
652
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
speare and Shakespearean literature. The club was for some time designated, in good-natured raillery, by the name "The Art Class Annex." The follow- ing were the charter members: Helen C. Atwood, H. L. Brown, Charles S. Brown, Jennie Church, Evelyn T. Curtis, Henry M. Curtis Mary M. Gold, George R. Gold, Grace L. Gass, M. T. Gass, B. M. Hicok, John H. Hicok, H. L. Lewis, William C. Lewis, Elizabeth N. F. Macduff, Ralph E. Mac- duff, Anna C. Platt, Fred A. Platt, Elizabeth H. Smith, Harriet P. Thomp- son, Almon A. Thompson, Kelene Van Deusen, H. C. VanDeusen, Elizabeth J. Wilder, Ira H. Wilder, Rhoda C. Willson, James C. Willson, Clara C. Wood, Charles H. Wood, Sarah M. Bridgman, Charles T. Bridgman, Flora O. Willett, Frank E. Willett, Esther M. Orrell, David Mackenzie.
The following names have been added to the list of the membership since the club's organization: Elizabeth S. Hicok, E. M. Eddy, Lena M. Hutchins, Merritt C. Hutchins, Elizabeth C. Buckham, James N. Buckham, William A. Atwood, Nellie B. Dort, J. Dallas Dort, Frances A. Hunting, George F. Hunting, D. D., Mary E. Pierce, Franklin H. Pierce, Anna M. Smith, William L. Smith, Maude A. Vaughan, Katherine J. Brodhead, Will- iam H. Brodhead, Annette W. Burr, C. B. Burr, E. T. Neill, Henry Neill, M. Frances Bishop, Fenton R. McCreery, Eusebia F. Hardy, Alexander B. C. Hardy, Gertrude A. Bates, William R. Bates, Hally Holmes, Edward H. Holmes, Harriet B. Bacon, Theodore D. Bacon, Addie C. Carton, John J. Carton, Sarah H. Irwin, Lucy H. Hammond, Elmer E. Hammond, Anna I. Lippincott, Charles A. Lippincott, D. D., Carrie S. Bishop, Arthur G. Bishop, J. G. Inglis, Mrs. Inglis, Zylpha I. Fitzgerald, Howard H. Fitzgerald, Celia Ransom Clarke, Frances D. Clarke, Marcia W. Dort, Bertha G. Atwood, Edwin W. Atwood, Frances S. Willson, George C. Willson, Della W. Bon- bright, Charles H. Bonbright, Walter O. Smith, Lottie Clarke, Thomas P. Clarke, Mary Gold, Lillian Gold, Edith Pengelly, J. B. Pengelly, Gertrude Borley, Howard D. Borley, Helen Wright, Luther L. Wright.
This club has been from its inception until the present time a prominent feature of the social and literary life of Flint. The club study has always been exclusively devoted to "the works of Shakespeare and Shakespearean literature," as the first of the simple laws and regulations adopted at organ- ization set forth should be the rule.
Three plays are read by the club each season, the casts for which are arranged by a specially appointed committee. A carefully prepared paper on the play selected for study is read at the first meeting, by the member dele- gated for that duty. Selections from the authorities and commentators are quoted; the critic on rendering, comments on the reading at the end of each
Hosted by Google
653
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
act, the critic on pronunciation reports; then the views of each member on the rendition and on the text are requested. The club has always worked seriously. However, at the end of the reading of plays, "off nights" have been given, to which guests have been invited. Many clever papers, original skits and burlesques, reminiscent of "Portia," "Hamlet," "Desdemona" and the rest, have made the Shakespeare Club's open evenings occasions to be recalled with joy. The membership is limited to forty, club meetings being held at the homes of members.
THE BANGS SHAKESPEARE CLUB.
The Bangs Shakespeare Club, which came into being by the initiative of Egbert L. Bangs, of whom mention has been made in "Res Literaria," is a younger club than the one first mentioned, but has always contained among its membership names equally well known and prominent in literary circles of the city. Although started as a Shakespeare club, the scope of study has been wide and varied, including mythology, sociology, nature, music, phil- osophy and general literature. The present year's program is mainly devoted to Russian literature. Shakespeare, however, is not entirely neglected, receiving attention from time to time. The management and making of a program each year is left to a committee of three, and the chairman of the committee is for the year the presiding officer of the club meetings. At pres- ent Miss Florence Fuller is ex officio president of the club.
COLUMBIAN CLUB.
Regarding the Columbian Club, Miss Emily West has been kind enough to prepare for this book the following :
"The publicity and promotion department of the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893 was exceptionally well organized and its work executed with remarkable efficiency. In connection with it, each state had its world's fair committee, with branches in each county. Among the activities of the county committees was included the organization into clubs of those who expected to visit the exposition during its continuance, for the purpose of making such study of the history, geography and resources of the countries expecting to send exhibits as would render them intelligent and appreciative visitors when the exposition should finally open. The Genesee county com- mittee consisted of three members, two of whom were Mrs. Flint P. Smith and Mrs. Mary Rice Fairbank, of Flint. To these ladies was due the organ-
Hosted by
-
654
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ization of the Columbian Club under the able leadership of Miss Helena V. Walker. The foregoing also suggests the reason for its name.
"The Columbian Club held its first meeting in the reading room of the armory of the Flint Union Blues, on the second floor of the present Armory building, and on a Tuesday, which is its present day of meeting. The first year's program consisted of topics connected with the discovery of America, which the exposition was designed to celebrate, and the parts taken by vari- ous nations in the exposition and colonization of the new land, together with the study of the progress of the preparations for the exposition itself, its location, its transportation facilities, its expected exhibits, etc., and the thou- sand and one useful details furnished by the "publicity department" of magazines and newspapers. This year's work was of immense value to the club members who visited the exposition in 1893 and of hardly less value to those who were denied the privilege of going. The water color painting, formerly in the Michigan building and now in the public library, was pur- chased for one hundred dollars. The Columbian Club, in its inception, was not designed as a permanent organization, but as its members have found their years of anticipatory study so beneficial, and as no one who had visited the exposition had seen the whole of the vast enterprise, the first anniversary of its organization found its members gathered to continue the study of the great fair-retrospectively. It was agreed among them that of all the exhib- its inspected, the one least understood was that in the United States building, and that accordingly it behooved them as American citizens to make for sev- eral years a study of their own country. The club programs deal with the progress of the American nation.
"Following the programs of United States history, a general survey of European history formed the ground work of a year's study, and later, different countries were studied in some detail, much attention being given to their progress in art, science and literature. In all these programs, current events and current literature have received attention, and discussion has fol- lowed all papers read. The Columbian Club was federated in 1896, soon after the Michigan State Federation was formed, and has continued its membership to the present time, deriving much benefit therefrom.
"From the foregoing it will appear that the aim of the Columbian Club in the beginning was a selfish one-that is, the personal benefit to be gained in preparing for a single event; later, a no less selfish one, the pleasure of association and satisfaction derived from the broadening of knowledge and gain in expression and intellectual culture. In this regard, the history of the Columbian Club is that of nearly all similar organizations and, like those
Hosted by Google -
655
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
which have attained to its years of experience, it is extending its efforts and influence to the betterment of the community instead of the individual mem- ber, as is evidenced by the attention given to civics and by its philanthropies during the past few years. Last spring it took the initiative in organizing a county federation of women's clubs, which promises much for the future.
"During its early history, the Columbian Club was purely a study club, but for some years past social features have been added. It has entertained clubs from other parts of the county and has been entertained by them. It was once hostess to the State Federation of Women's Clubs. Thanksgiving Day is regularly celebrated with a dinner, and an annual picnic is held in June. Its membership is unlimited. It welcomes all women who are inter- ested in its work. Its doors are always open to visitors.
"In its twenty-four years of existence it has had but eight different presidents. The combined terms of three of them is fifteen years. At no time has its membership been larger than at present, except perhaps in its first year. The prospect at present is that the year of 1916-1917, which begins on the first Tuesday in October, will be its happiest and most pros- perous one.
The officers for 1916 are: President, Mrs. C. A. Seeley; first vice- president, Mrs. James McFarlan; second vice-president, Mrs. Jonathan Edwards; secretary, Mrs. Marvin J. Lamb; corresponding secretary, Miss Emily West; treasurer, Mrs. F. L. Tupper; auditor, Mrs. Charles B. Leland.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB.
In the year 1897 a group of twenty-five young women met and organ- ized the Twentieth Century Club and adopted a constitution and by-laws. The object of this club was to study literature and current events. But as the nineteen years have passed, each year has brought forth some new line of study, which has included history, travel, science, literature, art and nature. The work of the club has always been most thorough and conscientious, and as many of its members have traveled extensively, they have been able to add materially to the pleasure and profit of each year's program.
The club year is from October to May, and the social side of the club life is greatly enhanced by the hospitality of its members, who open their homes for the weekly meetings. The open days throughout the year's pro- grams have been among the most delightful events in the history of the vari- ous clubs of our city.
The following are the officers for 1916: President, Mrs. W. T. Walker;
Hosted by Google
656
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
secretary and treasurer, Miss Jessie Baker; program committee; Miss Bush- nell, Mrs. Clift and Mrs. DeWaters.
In Memoriam: Mrs. Nellie Davison Bridgman, Miss Anna Bucking- ham, Miss Ernestine Burr and Mrs. Mary Knickerbocker Cummings.
THE GARLAND STREET LITERARY CLUB.
The Garland Street Literary Club was organized in 1888 as a neighbor- hood study club and has grown from small proportions to a club which occupies a prominent place in the club life of the city. The following ladies arrange the programs for each year: Mrs. John Hotchkiss, Mrs. P. B. Peltier, Mrs. G. H. McQuigg, Mrs. A. F. Kaufmann, Mrs. G. H. Durand and Miss Alice Townsend. The officers are: President, Mrs. George H. Durand, and secretary, Mrs. Edward Fuller. The program for the coming year embraces studies in civic betterment, juvenile courts of the county, housing problem and local sociological questions.
THE RESEARCH CLUB.
The Research Club was organized in 1903, through the efforts of Mrs. Mary Van Winkle, and is devoted to the study of literary subjects. Its membership is limited to thirty-five and the meetings for the season of 1916-17 are presided over by Mrs. R. W. Eaton, president. This club is also inter- ested in the study of foreign languages.
ST. CECELIA SOCIETY.
One afternoon, twenty-six years ago, two friends with musical ambi- tions were discussing the latest number of The Etude, a well-known musical magazine. They were much interested in the articles on "The Women's Musical Clubs," which had been organized throughout the Eastern states. The idea of such a society in Flint occurred to them and a committee of one, appointed by themselves, visited the musically inclined women of the city, made known the plan and called a meeting for all who were interested in such a society. The meeting was successfully attended and at that time the St. Cecelia Club was organized, the name being later changed to "St. Cecelia Society."
On October 21, 1899, the organization was perfected with the follow- ing twelve ladies as charter members: Mrs. Nellie Bates Dort, Mrs. Carrie B. Stone, Mrs. Emma M. Pierce, Mrs. Minnie Vincent, Miss Anna Mc-
Hosted by Google
657
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Master, Miss Anna Ford, Miss Lilla Grace Smart, Miss Alice Smith, Miss Alma Bates, Miss Hallie Freeman, Miss Blanche Eldridge and Miss Edith Barton. The officers elected were: President, Mrs. Dort; critic, Mrs. Stone, and secretary, Miss Smart.
The first program was given at the home of Mrs. Dort. The club next adopted a constitution and by-laws, which provided for the additional offices of two vice-presidents and an executive committee. The club met at the homes of members once in two weeks during the first two years. The society re-organized in 1892, with twenty members enrolled and with Mrs. Dort as president, and honorary members were first admitted at the fall election in 1892. Miss Hallie Freeman was the second president of the society. In 1893 the Maccabee hall was engaged for the recitals and weekly meetings and that year Mrs. Flint P. Smith was elected president. In Janu- ary, 1895, the society was incorporated under the state laws. In this year also the society purchased their first grand piano, and a revision of the con- stitution and by-laws was made, which provided for an annual election in January.
Later, the meetings were held in the hall in Stone's theater and still later in St. Cecelia hall, which was arranged for the use of the society in the Armory building. For many years since the organization of the St. Cecelia Society the music-loving public has been afforded the opportunity of hearing famous artists under its auspices. The Michigan Music Teachers Associa- tion held its annual convention in Flint some years ago, through the efforts of the society, and for many seasons the concerts arranged by the executive committees have ranked among the attractions of the year. During the season of 1915-16 the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra was one of the offerings of note.
The society annually sends delegates to the National Music Teachers Association, and is an ably conducted organization which contributes much to the musical and social life of the city.
Miss Lilla Grace Smart, one of the charter members, is now Mrs. Boris Ganapol, the wife of one of the leading musicians of Detroit and herself a talented performer. One of the foremost musical conservatories of Detroit is under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Ganapol. The officers of the St. Cecelia Society are: President, Mrs. Harry Winegarden; vice-president, Mrs. J. C. King; secretary, Miss Mildred Davie; treasurer, Mrs. L. G. Kurtz.
(42)
Hosted by
658
GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
THE CHORAL UNION.
The Choral Union is a large society devoted to the interests of com- munity music. Its promoter and founder was J. D. Dort. The officers for 1916 are: President, C. H. Bonbright; vice-president, Mrs. Harry Wine- garden; secretary, Mrs. Howard A. Field. The Choral Union has a mem- bership of over two hundred and under its direction several pretentious ora- torios have been produced.
THE FLINT DRAMATIC CLUB.
The Flint Dramatic Club, a society for the study of dramatic art, was organized in 1912, under the direction of Mrs. Patrick R. Doherty. The first play, "The Scrap of Paper," was presented at Stone's theater in March of that year. The second year's work resulted in the presentation of "The Banker's Daughter," on February 4, 1913, under the direction of the Rev. Fr. Michael J. Comerford. In 1914 Luther L. Wright, formerly of the state board of education, now superintendent of the Michigan school for the deaf, directed a pretentious and most successful production of "The College Widow." The club has come to be regarded as a permanent association and has taken a conspicuous place in the club life of the city. A large per cent of the proceeds from the plays are given each year to a charitable organiza- tion, under whose auspices the performance is given.
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.