USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 43
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The sum of three thousand dollars was subscribed for the mainten- ance of the rooms and quarters covering fifty feet over Nos. 414-16 Main street were rented and used until the present elegant building was eon- structed. These old Y. M. C. A. rooms, although small, were the scenes of many splendid gatherings, hoth religious and social.
On January 1, 1892. the Ladies Auxiliary of the Young Men's Christian Association tendered a reception to the young men of the city, and this was the beginning of a series of social events which drew the Christian young people closer together in a social way. These New Year receptions were annual events in JJoplin during the remainder of the decade and were always popular. At the reception of January 1, 1897. more than three hundred young people were present.
J. E. Colter, who came to Joplin in 1894 as secretary, was a most popular and hard working officer, and by his personal efforts built the Y. M. C. A. up to a formidable men's organization. During the Spanish- American war Secretary Colter accompanied the troops to the front and kept at the great camp at Chickamauga a Y. M. C. A. tent which, as much as any other thing, helped to keep the boys in good spirits. The Y. M. C. A. tent was "just like home." Here were all of the county papers, magazines, letter paper. etc., and when, during the hot weather so many of the boys were sick, Mr. Colter ministered to their wants, and visited them in camp and hospital, always bringing comfort and cheer. Every man in the Second Regiment had a tender spot in his heart for the Y. M. C. A. tent, and the local association has always been a power in the city for good.
ENTERTAIN THE STATE Y. M. C. A. CONVENTION
The State Young Men's Christian Association met in .Joplin Febru- ary 11-13. 1897, and brought here a large number of Christian young
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men and church workers. The sessions of the convention were held at the First Methodist church and a number of splendid addresses were heard.
. Walter G. Tyzzer, of St. Louis, led the big chorus which opened the conference, and it was an inspiration to hear the seven hundred men who were in attendance sing the Gospel hymns. It seemed to the author, who was present, as if the very rafters in the roof echoed and reechoed the songs that were sung. Andrew Baird, of Kansas City, W. P. Andrews, of Atlanta, Georgia, and G. T. Coxhead and Dr. Doggett, of Springfield, Massachusetts, were among the noted Y. M. C. A. workers present, who delivered helpful addresses to the young men. In the selection of officers Hon. Jno. H. Taylor, of Joplin, was elected president of the state association for 1897.
One of the notable features of the convention was the entertainment which Joplin accorded the visitors. The local Y. M. C. A. had appointed a reception committee of fifty, which was in every sense of the word a reception committee, for they at onee made every out-of-town visitor feel at home and left nothing undone that would add to the comfort and enjoyment. Every delegate was supplied with a badge on which was printed "My name is I am from
let's get acquainted. Shake!"
This informal introduction not only served as a means of at once getting the delegates acquainted with each other, but with the citizens as well, and the acquaintances that one made, and the friendships formed were long and lasting. The delegates were also entertained in the homes of the people, no one was permitted to pay out a eent for hotel aecom- modations and on the last day of the gathering the citizens turned ont en masse with their carriages and took the entire delegation over the mining district, visiting all points of interest.
THE JOPLIN CHARITABLE UNION
A history of Joplin would not be complete without a special mention of the Charitable Union, an organization which during the 'nineties came into great prominence and which did a grand and noble work for sweet charity's sake.
The panie of 1893 brought to an end the building boom which was then at full height and, with the general business depression which fol- lowed and the temporary elosing down of many of the mines on account of the shuimp in the price of jaek, there was naturally much suffering among the poor.
This condition called for immediate relief and the good people of the city organized the Joplin Charitable Union to care for the needy. In all ages women have been good ministering angels and the history of the world is full of their noble acts and kind and loving deeds. It was therefore but natural that the women of the city should take the initia- tive in this good work and they, with the assistance of a few men who
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could take a little time now and then from the business cares, brought comfort into many homes and relieved the distress of the hour.
The first officers of the Charitable Union were: President, Mrs. E. D. Porter ; vice president, Mrs. L. A. Fillmore ; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Dr. A. R. Snyder. In order that the work might be more effectively carried on the five wards of the city were organized into separate dis- tricts, with a relief committee in each precinct, and in this way when a case of suffering was reported it was at once investigated by the com- mittee and if worthy, assisted.
The men of means contributed large sums of money and a series of entertainments, dances, etc .. were given to raise funds. The city council came to the front and did its part by providing employment on the streets and at a public wood yard for a limited number of men. In order that as many men as possible, might be given work. and thus keep the family in groceries and necessaries, no one was permitted to spend more than three days in each week on this public work.
POTATO DAY
On the day before Thanksgiving the pupils of the schools were asked to contribute provisions, and they were asked to bring at least one po- tato. The response was generous and whole-hearted. Wednesday after- noon the boys and girls came to school bringing potatoes by the pocket- ful, by the sackful and by the peck, and the school rooms of the city resembled miniature groceries. So generous were the pupils and patrons that over one hundred bushels of potatoes were gathered up and distrib- uted by the union on Thanksgiving day, besides a considerable assort- inent of other groceries and provisions.
The Charitable Union continued its organization until the Provident Association came into the field to relieve it.
As mentioned before, the men of the city did their part and lent valuable assistance to the ladies in carrying out their noble work.
A NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT
Among the entertainments given under the auspices of the union for charity's sake was one at the Germania Hall, January 10, 1894.
The admission was free and, as an attraction to get the people there, a number of gymnastic events were had including a silent drill and hay- onet exercise from Company G; Indian club swinging from the Pansy Club : twenty-four young misses from the Franklin school, and vaulting. etc., by the gymnasium class from the Y. M. C. A. After the exercises lunch baskets were sold. After selecting a basket the purchaser hunted up his partner-the lady who packed the lunch-and paid for it at the rate of one quarter cent a pound of the lady's weight ; and it was strange how much more the young ladies weighed on the charity scales than on the standard scales elsewhere. This entertainment netted a good round sum.
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The Charitable Union continued as an organization until 1900 and did a noble work. During the later years of the decade, however, the work was largely done by the ministers, each of the denominations being represented on the official board. Rev. W. T. Wright, of the Methodist church, was the last president. The union was sneeeeded in its charity work by the Provident Association.
The following little incident came to the attention of the author one day in 1899 and he relates it here as one of many stories that might be told of the philanthropieally inclined men of Joplin.
One eold and blustering day-and, by the way, just following a bliz- zard-the master of one of the Masonic lodges received a telegram from the lodge at Oklahoma City stating that one of their brethren, a former Joplinite. had died, and that his body was being brought to his home city for interment. The Joplin lodge was asked to perform the last sad rites at the grave for the Oklahoma lodge. The master of the lodge started out to summons a committee to meet the train and escort the remains to the home of his relatives. The first member of the lodge who was met was C. W. Lyon, later mayor of Joplin, and then one of the hard-working members of the Charitable Union. The master hailed Mr. Lyon, who was hurrying along the street, and told him the contents of the telegram.
Mr. Lyon said that he would be at the train at the appointed time. but said that he must hurry along as he had some important work to do. It so happened that the presiding officer of the Masonic lodge was going in the same direction that Mr. Lyon was hurrying and, as the wind was cutting, he hurried too, kept up with the kindly disposed man and found that he was out distributing coal to the homes which Jaek Frost had caught short of fuel. ITe afterward learned that Mr. Lyon had been out since early sunrise and had been to fifty or more box houses and tents in the Kansas City bottom, leaving at each plaee a little pile of coal and wood.
THE JOPLIN CHILDREN'S HOME
In June, 1899, a movement was started by the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Joplin, to provide for the homeless children of the city-and, after a few months of preliminary work, a children's home was established in a small four-room cottage at No. 708 Pearl street, with Mrs. C. E. Barr as matron. In this small house what is now Joplin's most widely supported charity had its beginning.
"Charity should begin at home"-but not if there are destitute children somewhere else. "Suffer little children to come unto Me" were indeed a sareastic adjuration if those children had to come hungry and cold and forlorn. Men whose lives are thrown into that hunt of gaunt, gray Want that romancers so glibly name the "underworld" soon learn to look calmly upon scenes of misery that a Dumas eonld not deseribe. But when they look into the pinched face of a starved, world- weary child the most hardened of them feels an unwonted tightening of the throat.
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Charity begins with the children in Joplin ; or, to be more accurate of diction, Joplin's most pretentious charitable institution is devoted to the care of children who would otherwise be thrown upon the tender mercies of a busy-with-its-own-affairs world. Not once, in the years since it was established. has this institution failed to receive adequate sup- port from the citizens of Joplin. Not once, in that time, has it failed in its fulfillment of the public obligation to unfortunate childhood.
Further mention of the Home will be made later.
NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1891
Previous to 1891 there had been no general observance of New Years in a social way, and only now and then an occasional lady would keep open-house. January 1, 1891, however, the day was generally observed and at a seore or more of homes, open-house was kept, the lady of the house being assisted by a number of her lady friends.
The following were among the places where New Year's Receptions were held : Mrs. W. A. MeMillen, assisted by Madames James A. Bolen, T. D. Waninfred, W. K. Proudfoot, and Misses Ella Johnson, and Opal MeMillen. Mrs. L. Riseling, assisted by Miss Corine Allington and Lizzie Riseling; Mrs. A. II. Waite, assisted by Madames Il. II. Gregg. Lillian Robinson, and Miss Mary Carson ; Mrs. Will Moore, assisted by Madames H. H. Crittenden, Will Holman, H. P. Campbell, and Miss Mattie Camp- bell; Mrs. Dr. A. R. Snyder, assisted by Mrs. Jno. Craigin, E. D. Porter, Miss Lillie Campbell, and Miss Clara Mason; Miss Dora Landauer, as- sisted by Misses Stella Thurman, and Belle Prince; Miss May Hunt, as- sisted by Misses Mande Hunt and Helen Purcell : Mrs. M. C. Allen, as- sisted by Misses Ida Babst, and Kate Allen; Mrs. J. E. Pearson, assisted by Madames Dr. M. T. Batsley, and L. M. Bates; Mrs. W. C. Witman, assisted by Mrs. W. S. Panl; Mrs. A. V. Allen, assisted by Mrs C. V. Petrause.
At each of the above places a large number of gentlemen called and the day was most delightfully spent, old friendships were renewed and new acquaintances formed. This pleasant enstom of keeping open- honse on New Year's day has been observed on numerous times, but never more pleasantly than in 1891.
CHAPTER XXXVI
MUNICIPAL AND MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS
JOPLIN CLUB ASSUMES CITY PROBLEMS-CLUB HOUSE AND THEATER DED- ICATED-OTHER JOPLIN CLUB TOPICS-COMPANY G, SECOND REGI- MENT, N. G. M .- RELIEF ASSOCIATION-THE "HERALD'S" COMPANY ( BOX-GRAND ARMY ENCAMPMENT OF 1893-THIE PARADE-THE CAMP FIRE-ELECTION SOUTH WEST MISSOURI PROTECTIVE ASSOCIA- TION PICNIC-THE JOPLIN CYCLE CLUB.
Early in 1890 the Joplin Club inaugurated a policy which greatly increased its activity and usefulness-to-wit, the plan of setting aside one night in the week for the discussion of important matters pertain- ing to the city's welfare.
JOPLIN CLUB ASSUMES CITY'S PROBLEMS
At the first business meeting in January of that year the late W. B. MeAntire, in a vigorous speech set forth the good that would come of a Full and free discussion of the questions relative to civic improve- ment and business policies that would arise from time to time and sug- gested that, by those discussions, many plans for a greater Joplin would be brought out and that by a concerted action of the people of the city, the plans agreed to would be carried to a successful termination.
Acting on his suggestions, the club set apart Wednesday evening of each week for the discussion of the questions of the day, and from that time to this the weekly meetings have been of great importance and have perhaps more than any other one factor moulded publie opinion in Joplin and shaped the destinies of the city. During the 'nineties the Joplin Club was instrumental in securing the erection of a number of public buildings, among them the Club Theater and the Keystone Hotel. By a series of public meetings they educated the people to the need of a public sewer system. They secured from the several publicity depart- ments of the state proper recognition of the mining industry and eansed the mining ontput to be correctly reported. To illustrate: In the report of the labor commissioner for 1889 the output of the Jasper county mines was published as $2,144,000, less than the actual amount pro- duced; this matter was brought to the attention of the club by Col. H. II. Gregg. and, in a subsequently printed report the error was cor- reeted by the state.
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It would be impossible, in a brief history such as this, to enumerate in detail all of the activities of the club. We will, however, mention here a few of its acts, in order that the reader may understand the importance the organization sustained to JJoplin's business life
CLUB HOUSE AND THEATER DEDICATED
Among the matters brought up for discussion by the Joplin Club was the need of a suitable club house and also a theater building in keep- ing with the growing city. A company was organized composed almost wholly of local capital and members of the Joplin Club to ereet a club house and theater combined : the structure was very appropriately called the Club Theater building. The theater has a seating capacity of 1.400, occupying the west part of the structure, and the club rooms inelude the second floor of the Joplin street side.
The Club Theater was formally opened January 26, 1891, by Fred- erick Ward in "King Henry VIII." On the curtain of the Club Theater was painted a beautiful picture of Grand Falls, as it appeared before the war. The picture was made by the United States Geological Survey.
The club rooms were dedicated, with appropriate ceremonies on March 4th, and we copy here the report of the exercises, speeches, etc., from the Joplin Daily Herald of March 5th :
ORATORICAL SHOTS FIRED OFF LAST NIGHT IN THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW JOPLIN CLUB ROOMS-MANY VISITORS PRESENT
"Every train running into JJoplin had on board representative cit- izens of our neighboring towns and cities. They came by twos, by the dozen and by the score. They were the flower of the people represented. and it is not an exaggeration to say that taken all in all there was never seen in Joplin a finer-looking body of men. They were intelligent-looking and well dressed, many of them wearing full dress snits to do honor to the occasion calling them here. Coming thus they paid a double com- pliment to the organization that had invited them to partake of their hospitality. Long before twilight the early visitors had gathered about the hotels weary with the long stroll they had taken. while viewing the beauty and activity of the southern metropolis, better known as the ยท Electric Wonder.' Before the hour of assembling at the club rooms, the visitors spent the time at the hotels renewing acquaintances and reeeiv- ing new arrivals. At 8 o'clock the grand march for the club rooms in the new theater began. There the scene was an animated one. Until the hour for the evening's exercises to begin arrived, the rooms were crowded with as lively and vivacious a body of men as they will ever hold again, in all probability. The seenic artists had put on the fin- ishing touches, the florist had arranged flowers and tropical plants with consummate skill, and the rooms had been decorated with an eye to beauty and pleasure. All was in readiness for the chairman's gavel when it fell at 9 o'clock. Before it went down, however, the guests had
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made hundreds of new acquaintances, had shaken hands all round and exchanged the compliments of the day. Liquid refreshments had been enjoyed and the air bore testimony to the fact that numerous boxes of choicest Havanas had given up their fragrance to the delectation of the lovers of the weed. The gentlemen entertained and entertainers were in the best of spirits and fully ready for the unalloyed enjoyment of the program of the night. It had been the intention of the widely known and popular club to give a grand opening on the completion of the new rooms and the time came last night. Ample preparations had been made to make it a suceess and neither time nor means had been spared in the work. The committee appointed to superintend it has never shirked but had entered upon carrying out the wishes of the club with seeming pleasure. To their arduons labors is due the successful termination of last night's banquet. The double rooms which were last night dedicated to the use of the enterprising wide awake business men of Joplin are large beautiful and elegant, suitable in every respect for the purpose for which they will be used. They are such headquarters as the mem- bers can feel proud of and be happy at all times to show to the world. They were dedicated not only for business but for pleasure. All work and no play would do for the elub what it would have done for Jack, hence the tables of amusement which will be placed in the rooms and other attractions for whiling away the spare hours. The Joplin Club is to be an institution of the future as substantial and active as any in our midst for the city's future welfare and prosperity. The people ex- pect mueh of it and they will not be disappointed if the opening exer- cises can be taken as an indication of what is proposed to be done.
"At 9 o'clock the president of the Joplin Club, W. H. Picher, called the audience to order and made a brief speech of welcome. He said that lie welcomed the guests present in the name of the Joplin Club. On behalf of its members he extended to every visitor a hearty weleome. He wanted all to go away with the kindliest recollections of the evening. He welcomed all in the true spirit of hospitality. The club is yet young he continued, but it was with reasonable pride that he alluded to the success it has already attained. Every member was proud of it. This building had been erected by the members of the club. Mr. Picher con- cluded with a pleasing reference to the guests of the evening and then read the following letter from Governor Francis :
STATE OF MISSOURI, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF JEFFERSON, March 2. 1891-S. C. Henderson, Esq., Joplin, Mo .- Dear Sir :- t very much regret that official duties will prevent me from being with you on Wednesday, the 4th inst., at the opening of the loplin Chib, for it would afford me great pleasure to visit your city again and partake of your whole souled hospitality and renew the many delightful acquaintances formed there.
The progress of Joplin and the enterprise of her public spirited citizens has attracted attention beyond the limits of our state. The mineral wealth of your section has in my opinion hardly begun to develop. The future has in store a grand destiny for Southwest Missouri and its realization will be hailed by no one with more sincere satisfaction than by
Yours respectfully.
DAVID R. FRANCIS.
Vol. 1-26
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" After the reading of the letter, he introduced Hon. Gabriel Schmuck, of Galena, who said that it afforded him great pleasure to be present and participate in the pleasure of the evening. He also regarded it as an honor to follow the president of the club who had delivered the ad- dress of welcome. 'I come here,' he said, 'rather to sit at the festive board than to make a speech. Not being thoroughly versed in the history of Missouri I hesitate to tackle so large a subjeet as has been assigned me. Although we have been mining for years we have not as yet got at the true merits of the case. Not many years ago the buffalo roamed over our hills and valleys, now the abode of men of industry and culture. The buffalo is dead and gone, but we have still the ox and the ass and we are digging for another animal. We are digging for jaek. We are growing more conservative, more liberal. The state line that separates Kansas and Missouri is only an imaginary one. After all, gentlemen, Missouri is only a continuation of my state of Kansas. You are our brothers and we should all have a kindly feeling for each other. We are getting metropolitan in Galena ; we speak all languages there and speak them all correctly. But, gentlemen, think of such a grand country as we have. We are one people, ours one country. State lines are only im- aginary. We should be bound together in brotherly affection. There is no room for hate, but there is room for all. I'm proud of Joplin. I'm proud of such a buikling as this is which you have erected. It is an evidence of great power and endurance. Galena can take a lesson from Joplin. A great change has come over Joplin in the last few years. She is no longer a village, but a city. Energy has done it. I want to see her reach a population of 100,000. We all want to see it. What is your interest is our interest. Let us all grow together. Let brotherly feeling prevail among us all.'
"The next speaker was Judge O. I. Picher. He said he had listened with great pleasure to his old friend, Mr. Sehmuek, whom he esteemed very highly. As to state lines he agreed with Mr. Schmuck that they were only imaginary. 'Nature never intended that Kansas and Mis- souri should be separated at all. Whether Kansas belonged to Missouri, or vice versa, depended altogether on the Ozark mountains. The range settled it. One certainly included the other. Southwestern Missouri depends on the Ozark range. It has on its surface all that we shall talk of tonight. On her slope lies this distriet. It happens that right here are gathered more of those things that conduce to the happiness and pleasure of the world than you can find anywhere else that I know of. Here fruits grow and vegetables abound in abundance on the surface and mineral is found beneath the surface. It is found here as it is nowhere else in the world. At first it was thought that this mineral was to be found only in pockets, that it would only be temporary and after a while would cease ; but not so. In 1872 I happened to be in Califonia and was informed there by a friend that our lead was all right, but as for zine we would find we had an inexhaustible supply of it in Mexico, as soon as a commereial value could be set upon it. That was nineteen years ago and what is the result ? There is not in the whole world a country as rich on
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account of its zine ore as this. My throat fails me, gentlemen, but I will add that the comfort of my life is the staying qualities of this locality. It is the poorman's paradise. You may fail here, as I have done often, but the country will support you. You can get on your feet again. Note the beauty of it. The poor men with their piek and shovel have brought this district to the attention of the capitalists. Notwithstanding and in spite of trade fluctuations without outside help, with the aid of her own citizens by the stuff that lies in the ground, there is no such country like that of southwestern Missouri in the world. I believe it and you all must. You can afford to make mistakes here, beeause this country will take care of you when you do. Her resources are unlimited. There is nothing here but solidity. We all wish very much for more unity ; we should be more united. There are many things that united we can do, while as individ- uals we cannot do. There is no room here for individuality. We have an association that we should all be interested in. We should all attend its meetings, stay with the association. Together we ean do a great deal. For that purpose these halls are built. We must get together and discuss our interests. United aetion is necessary. There is no limit your in- fluence will have on the markets of the world. Each community must have an organization of its own. Just sueh an organization as this. Each one ean do something by itself, but more if we all combine in smelting our ores and in other industries.' Judge Pieher then spoke of the faet that the elub had invited its guests without any intention of being formal in the banquet proceedings and asked all those present whenever they happened to be in Joplin to make the rooms their headquarters. To feel free and at home.
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