USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Past and present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 28
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Early in their work the club found that there was danger of con- fusion and positive harm from the duplication and overlapping of the work of different organizations, all seeking to alleviate suffering, so the plan of the civics board of charities was devised. It is composed of the Charity Committee of the Woman's Club, the three members of the board of county supervisors who reside in Hastings, the super- intendent of the Hastings schools, the truant officer and the editors of the daily newspaper. The plan has worked out admirably and has resulted in a much more intelligent and efficient method of dealing with cases of destitution.
Mrs. W. H. Dillon was elected president in 1912, with Mrs. J. M. Sewell vice president; Mrs. A. E. Allyn, recording secretary; Mrs. George Kimball, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. W. E. Painter, treasurer. In June of that year the general federation met at San Francisco and Ilastings was represented by Mrs. John M. Ragan, Mrs. F. C. Babcock, Mrs. Charles F. Morey and Mrs. John Slaker. In the fall of that year the convention of the clubs of the Fifth Con- gressional District met in Hastings.
In 1913, according to the club's established precedent, Mrs. Dillon was reelected president, but because of removal and other changes her fellow officers were changed to Mrs. F. C. Babcock, vice presi- dent; Mrs. Sexson, recording secretary; Mrs. Slaker, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. George Kimball, treasurer. These were suc- ceeded in 1914 by Mrs. John Slaker, president; Mrs. George Kim- ball, vice president; Mrs. Silas Lyman, recording secretary; Mrs. George Churchill, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. E. A. Francis, treasurer. All of these ladies are now filling their respective offices, having been reelected January, 1915, with the exception of Mrs. George Kimball, who declined reelection and was succeeded by Mrs. Agnes Meston.
It was during Mrs. Dillon's administration that the club ventured upon the most important undertaking of its career, the thing by which it will be remembered when all of its other activities have been forgotten-the establishment of Sunnyside. For a long time the
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civies board of charities, and especially the women of the charity committee of the club, had been realizing the need of some place where those in need of temporary shelter might find a safe place, where a sick, tired woman could go for a time, where a neglected or abandoned child could find a loving, friendly welcome and where old people of limited means could be cared for. From the first suggestion of its possibilities the enterprise met with enthusiastic support from the club women. Several entertainments were given to raise funds and finally, on February 27, 1914, a resolution was in- troduced providing for the appointment of a committee to take the necessary steps for the establishment and maintenance of such a home. The resolution was passed with one dissenting vote.
The Sunnyside Home was opened April 1, 1914, upon the site and building purchased at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fourteenth Street. The building was destroyed by fire on the night of January 6, 1916. Steps were taken at once for rebuilding and the present Home was erected and opened in September. 1916. The cost of the build- ing was $12,000. Sunnyside has thirty rooms and at present has twenty guests. It has awakened interest in its work among the woman's clubs in many states. Miss Margaret Kealy has been the matron since the opening of the institution and at the time of the fire saved the life of two of her wards at the risk of her own.
In June, 1914, the biennial convention of the general federation was held in Chicago. At this meeting Hastings was represented by its president, Mrs. Slaker, and its ex-president, Mrs. Dillon, also Mrs. A. H. Brooke, Mrs. Will Lowman, Mrs. William Dutton and Mrs. C. F. Morey. It was at this meeting that the general federa- tion took its stand as being unequivocally in favor of equal suffrage for men and women. One of the Hastings delegates described it as one of the most dramatic episodes she had ever witnessed. This was the moment for which many of those women had striven for years; whichever way it went it was fraught with consequences of deep significance, and yet the spirit manifested was one of most kindly consideration.
It took less than ten minutes from the time that the resolution was introduced until it was passed, the cheering over and that vast assembly, which completely filled the Auditorium Theater, settled back to the order of the day. Some had feared that the southern women would balk at it but it was found that some of its warmest supporters were among the southern delegates.
It was because of the action of its central body that the Hastings club threw itself so enthusiastically into the campaign for woman
a
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suffrage in the fall of 1914. The City of Hastings was carried for suffrage, but the total vote for Adams County resulted in a tie.
While engaging freely in civic affairs the club strongly empha- sizes its position as a conserver of culture in the community and its influence is always to be felt in any undertaking which tends to advance the intellectual status of Hastings, also as a social center it is a valuable asset. Each year several delightful social affairs find place on the club calendar and the annual birthday party which is celebrated on or about the first of February is always an event of delightful importance. At first it took the form of a club breakfast, but in more recent years it has been the occasion for a formal evening banquet, at which toasts are responded to in a manner quite up to the high standard which the club has set in every other branch of its activity.
The real work of the club is done chiefly in the departments, the general meeting being a kind of clearing house for department and committee work, and so the annual banquet is almost the only occa- sion when all the members are together.
During the spring of 1915 the club gave an entertainment at the Kerr Opera House which was unique in many ways. This was the presentation of a morality play, "Everymatron," modeled after the old morality plays of the dawn of English literature and written by Mr. R. D. Scott of the state university. The play was beautifully staged under the direction of Mrs. Frank Babcock, the cast was unusually strong, there were no evidences of amateurishness and alto- gether the performance left nothing to be desired. Admission was by invitation only; each club member being given a certain number of tickets, which she was free to distribute among her friends.
Among the notable achievements of the club was the historical parade which formed a part of the Fourth of July celebration in 1915. It was a panorama of American history by periods from the landing of Columbus down to the present time. Some of the floats were remarkably beautiful, others were humorous; the whole parade was an object lesson in our history not easily forgotten. The difficult undertaking was carried to its successful issue by a committee com- posed of Mrs. C. H. Dietrich, chairman; Mrs. Alice Dudley, Mrs. Silas Lyman and Mrs. A. E. Stitt.
In September, 1913, when the state federation met at Norfolk Mrs. Slaker, the president, unanimously endorsed by the chamber of commerce and the city council, asked for the federation to meet in Hastings in 1916. This invitation has been accepted and the fed- eration will meet here in October, 1916.
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Among the recent acts of generosity are a gift of $35 to the civics board of charity to be used for the poor at Thanksgiving time and a box of some two hundred books and magazines to a small club in the western part of the state that is making heroic efforts to start a public library.
The club is hoping that at some time in the future it may possess its own club house for there are many things that it would be able to do that are impossible while occupying rented quarters. A few years ago a fund was started for this purpose, but for the past few years club energies have been expended in other ways. Its mission is to do the thing at hand, to fulfill the duty of today and, adapting itself to whatever condition may arise, the Hastings Woman's Club is proving its value to the community.
The scope of the work carried on by the woman's club necessitates the division of the workers, hence there are the following depart- ments: Parliamentary law, civics, physical culture, household economics, literature, art, current events and dramatic art. New departments are added from time to time as the need appears.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Niobrara Chapter of Hastings was organized October 12, 1910, and chartered March 23, 1911, with nineteen members. Mrs. Charles G. Lane charter regent.
The chapter has had enrolled one real daughter. A real daughter is one whose father rendered Revolutionary service. Mrs. Caroline Herrick Johnson was born in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Her father when a mere boy was enrolled in the Eighth regiment, state militia, and was soon called into active service. These poorly equipped, young and undisciplined troops were quickly discharged. Hence- forth Ebenezer Herrick's service was that of the camp. The national society pays a small monthly pension to each real "daughter."
The chapter is open to any woman proving her eligibility under conditions of article 3, section 1, constitution and by-laws of the national society: "Any woman may be eligible for membership who is of the age of eighteen and who is descended from a man or a woman who with unfailing loyalty rendered material aid to the cause of inde- pendence, provided the applicant be acceptable to the society."
The purpose of the organization is, "To foster true patriotism, love of country and love of God; to perpetuate the memory of men and women, who by self-denial, sacrifice and heroic endeavor achieved American independence; and to uphold the blessings and responsi- bilities of liberty; to hold hands and hearts ever ready to aid the needy and succor the distressed."
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The monthly meetings are devoted to general business, study and discussion of history and topics of interest and importance at the present day. A beautiful silk flag is displayed by request of the late Mrs. S. T. Riordan. The flag was presented to the chapter by Mrs. Riordan, mother of Mrs. Charles F. Morey.
A few examples will illustrate the activities of the chapter. October, 1911, a committee composed of Mrs. J. M. Dailey, Mrs. A. E. Allyn and Mrs. W. II. Fuller was appointed to take charge of raising money for a marker to be placed on the Oregon Trail at the point nearest Hastings. The fund was started by voluntary con- tributions from chapter members. In February, 1912, Mrs. C. F. Morey, with the consent and approval of the proper authorities, gave an entertaining and instructive lecture on "Historie Spots in Amer- ica" at the Hastings High School. Pupils who wished to do so con- tributed their mites to the cause. In April, 1912, Mrs. F. C. Bab- cock gave a reading from Dickens at Fraternity Hall. Her highly cultivated natural talent and sympathetic delineation of character assured a large audience and crowned the effort with success. The Oregon Trail State Commission added $25. The granite marker, engraved :
OREGON TRAIL Erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution And The State of Nebraska 1811-1912
was placed on the LeRoy Road, seven miles south of Hastings.
A moving picture show was given by the chapter, November, 1913, for the purpose of assisting the pupils of Longfellow School. to secure a silk flag for the assembly room and similar flags for the other rooms. They were presented February, 1914.
During February, 1915, woolen scarfs, caps, and socks were knitted by chapter members and their friends and sent to the Belgian sufferers. Enough clothing, non-perishable food and toys for little children to fill three large boxes, was collected and sent to the war stricken countries of Europe on the Christmas ship of 1915.
The chapter was invited to take charge of a patriotic program before the patrons' league of the Alcott School, May 20, 1915. Pupils furnished the music. Mrs. E. B. Hamel real a paper on "How to Teach Patriotism in the Home," and Mrs. William Madgett pre- sented a paper on "How to Teach Patriotism in the School."
The Liberty Bell, en route to the San Francisco Exposition, arrived in Hastings at 6:30 P. M. July 9, 1915. The program was
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in the charge of Niobrara Chapter, Mrs. A. E. Allyn, regent. An automobile parade, in which the cars were beautifully decorated in the national colors, started at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and at + the school children assembled on the court house lawn and with Civil war veterans and a large concourse of citizens listened to a program of music and speaking. The music was in the charge of Mrs. W. E. Barnes and the speakers were J. N. Clarke, Mayor William Madgett and Rev. A. A. Brooks, pastor of the Methodist Church. Miss Lucia Dillenback gave a reading, and at intervals the Monroe Drum Corps rendered stirring music. At the conclusion of the program the children under the escort of the teachers and Company G, state militia, marched to the train to greet the Liberty Bell. The car stopped immediately east of the Burlington Station, where a plat- form had been built that enabled pedestrians to view the old bell with comfort and despatch.
On the occasional social affairs mention may be made of one. a garden party given on Flag Day, 1912, on the lawn of Mrs. A. E. Stitt. Chapter members wore colonial costumes and a varied pro- gram realizing the spirit of the colonial era and the work of its leaders was enjoyed. Fortunes were told in a wigwam and the Treble Cleff Society of Hastings College sang patriotic songs. A display of relics of colonial and revolutionary days was made on the veranda, which was beautifully decorated with flags, flowers, and the colonial colors, buff and blue. Among the articles were a family tree and rare books and samplers. Mrs. Luey E. Gutherie exhibited a rolling- pin 125 years old; Mrs. E. B. Hamel displayed embroidery 125 years old and Mrs. A. E. Allyn contributed for the occasion solid silver monogramed spoons of an equally early date. An interesting ex- hibit was a hand embroidered dress that had been worn at a party honored with the presence of George and Martha Washington. This dress is the possession of Mrs. A. E. Stitt and is an heirloom from the family of Mrs. W. H. Dillon.
The charter members of Niobrara Chapter are Mesdames Charles G. Lane, C. E. Pratt, L. C. Gutherie, A. E. Allyn, M. Sims, W. H. Waldron. E. F. Yarndley, A. R. Van Sickle, M. Stewart, G. W. Tibbets, E. B. Hamel. W. T. Blackman, J. A. Loudermilch, S. T. Riordan, Chicago, G. II. Pratt, W. H. Fuller, Oswald Oliver, J. M. Dailey and A. E. Stitt. Mrs. Riordan lost her life August 17. 1913. in the wreck of the S. S. California off the coast of Alaska. The real daughter. Mrs. Carolina Herrick Johnson, died at Hastings. Jan- uary 23, 1915. She would have been ninety years old the follow- ing March.
CHAPTER XIX BASEBALL AND ENTERTAINMENTS
BASEBALL
Adams County and Hastings displayed a thorough American spirit from their earliest days in many ways, but by perhaps nothing more characteristic than the manifestation of enthusiasm for the great national game. It is to be noted that many of the names identified with the early development of business in Hastings and the county were also the ones who promoted baseball, not merely as fans but in the early days as players, too.
Hastings had very good amateur baseball as far back as 1878, when the ball ground was located a little south of the Burlington track on Lincoln Avenue. In 1879 H. S. Mulford, "Sandy Mulford," as he was familiarly known, arrived in Hastings. "Sandy" was the first "curve" pitcher to make his home in Nebraska, and his ability to fool the batter gave Hastings baseball a zest that it had never known before. There were many in those days who did not believe that it was possible to pitch a ball so that it would curve, and as the prowess of Mulford became noised about be came to be regarded as a won- der and a hero. In the summer of 1879 G. J. Evans was the catcher for Hastings, and with "Sandy" in the box they were able to admin- ister defeat to the West Blue team which heretofore had proven a formidable opponent. William Monroe and the Tompkins brothers were important members of the West Blue aggregation. The Hast- ings team at this time was composed of "Sandy" Mulford, G. J. Evans, Johnnie Crosthwaite, S. J. Weigel, H. G. Newsom, Frank Stine, J. B. Dallas, Harry Haverly and, when the opponents were particularly strong, William Monroe. Games were played in the early days with Grand Island, Central City, Fairbury, Harvard, Sut- ton, Juniata and Red Clond. George Mizen is a survivor of the Juniata players. J. B. Dallas figured as an important pitcher for the early Hastings team as well as Mulford.
Baseball activities in Adams County have naturally centered prin-
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cipally in Hastings where it has been characterized by periods reach- ing a high pitch of enthusiasm and achievement alternating with periods of almost total dormancy. The chief activities may be said to have commenced June 23, 1880, when the Hastings Baseball Asso- ciation was organized with Charles H. Paul, president; John Stabler, vice president: George T. Williams, secretary; R. D. Tussey, treas- urer; J. D. Crosthwaite, captain; Edwin Boelich, umpire and John Ballard, scorer. The players composing the team under this organiza- tion were G. J. Evans, H. S. Mulford, J. D. Crosthwaite, Frank Stine, O. F. Lambertson, J. J. Cline, J. A. Dallas, E. Hersey and Frank Miner. The game at this time was on a non-professional basis.
In 1884 there was a reorganization of the association and the Hastings Athletic Association came into being and took steps to place the game upon a permanent footing. During this year the association purchased block 3 in St. Joseph Addition. This ground was located on the south side between Colorado and Kansas avenues and D and E streets. A grandstand and bleachers were erected and the block fenced. It was upon these grounds that the game was played until about 1890, when the fence was presented to Hastings College and removed to the college campus. The college grounds were used for about two years.
In 1892 D. S. Cole prepared a ball ground immediately east of Cole's park in the southeast portion of Hastings. A bicycle track was also constructed around the diamond and for a few years following 1892 bicycle racing was a prominent sport. Among those who attained good reputations as bicyclists were L. C. Landis, HI. C. Wanzer, Curt Clark, Henry Jacobson and others. These athletic grounds were used for bicyele races, baseball and football until about 1895. Then grounds were fitted up south of the fair grounds in the extreme northwest part of the city. In 1897 the locus of athletics again moved, this time to the old east ward school grounds, located between Second and Third streets and Minnesota and Colorado ave- tues. This ground was fenced and in the course of time serious objec- tion to the location of the grounds was raised by nearby residents. Following the sale of the ground by the board of education in the winter of 1907-8 the complaining residents determined to settle the matter by tearing down the fence and with this purpose a considerable body of men went to work with their hammers. Alarmed, baseball supporters rushed to the courthouse to secure an order to prevent the demolition of the fence. The court hastily granted a temporary injunction but before the papers could be served the fenee was down.
In 1908 grounds were leased from the Y. M. C. A., who held it
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under lease from the Burlington railroad and since that time the games have been played on that ground, which is located between First and Second streets and Baltimore and Briggs avenues.
During the season of 1884 the Hastings team was made up partly of professionals and partly of amateurs. It served to determine the supporters of the game to assemble such a team as would advertise the city to be one of the most progressive in this section of the west. The 1885 team was wholly professional. The team, known as the "Hastings Reds," made two notable trips during the season. On the first trip games were played with Atchison, Leavenworth and St. Joseph. The second trip was to the west and games were played with Denver, Pueblo and Leadville. This trip was managed and financially guaranteed by Charles H. Dietrich. Hastings won about one-half of the games played on the two trips. It was in this year that "Dad" Rohrer came to Hastings from Illinois upon an invita- tion to join the Hastings Reds. After that time, Mr. Rohrer was actively one of the chief supporters of baseball in various capacities until the formation of the state league, and still is one of the keenest of the fans.
During this trip Hastings won a notable game from the Omaha Union Pacific team. The score was 2 to 1 and the game went twelve innings. It was in this year that Hastings played its first game with Fremont. During the itineraries of the team G. J. Evans was the umpire, and during the game with St. Joseph seemed for a time to be in imminent danger of losing his life at the hands of St. Joseph patrons who resented his decisions.
During the season of 1886 the Reds played as an independent club which was organized by Amasa G. Smith, the Reds' pitcher, in 1885. Ganes were played with the clubs of the Western League. Toward the close of the season Hastings challenged Lincoln and the challenge was accepted for Lincoln by Dave Rowe. Three games were played with Lincoln at Hastings and Hastings won all three and by that winning claimed the championship of Nebraska in baseball.
February 1, 1885, the Hastings Reds were admitted into the mem- bership of the Western League, the certificate being signed by E. E. Murphy. The other cities composing the league were Lincoln. Omaha, St. Joseph, Leavenworth, Denver, Kansas City and Topeka.
The year 1887 was the year of the boom in Hastings and that year Hastings was a member of the Western League. That year M. L. Elsemore was president of the Hastings Baseball Association and II. B. Knowlton, secretary. Fred Corey, of the Athletics, was secured for manager at a salary of $500 per month. He held that
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position only a short time and was succeeded by U. S. Rohrer. The pitchers for Hastings in the season of 1887 were Wehrle, who after- wards won distinction on the Pacific Coast, and Nicholson, afterwards with Chicago. Topeka won the pennant for 1887 and Hastings fin- ished about the middle. By the next year the boom had collapsed and with it went Hastings baseball for a season. The next year there was no Hastings club.
The first period of professional baseball in Hastings was 1885 to 1887. inclusive, with the team of 1884 partly on a professional basis. Among the financial supporters of the game at that time may be men- tioned Jay Cherry, G. J. Evans, J. B. Dallas, Durley Dent, A. H. Cramer, C. K. Lawson, J. F. Ballinger, A. L. Clarke, C. K. Lawson, C. H. Dietrich and F. J. Benedict. Pay of the players ranged from $75 per month to $250. Of the team of 1885 Brimblecom, fielder, subsequently won distinction in the Western League and the Three I. while A. G. Smith, pitcher, became prominent in the Southern League. Ebright, Reds catcher in 1886, won subsequent laurels in the Western League.
Following the collapse of professional baseball in 1887 there was not much baseball activity in Hastings until 1891 when U. S. Rohrer organized a team known as "Rohrer's Rustlers." and composed of local players. This team was run on the cooperative plan and lasted practically through the season. The team fared successfully finan- cially until the last game, which was played with Fremont. The adversity sustained in this game caused the team to disband.
In 1892 Hastings joined the state league for the first time. The league was composed of the clubs from Grand Island, Fremont, Plattsmouth, Lincoln, Beatrice and Hastings. One after another the clubs dropped out and the league disbanded July 4. Hastings was the last club to drop out.
In 1893 F. F. Carruthers organized a Y. M. C. A. team on the cooperative plan and baseball was kept alive. The Y. M. C. A. team kept the baseball fire smouldering for about two years. Subsequently independent teams were organized by U. S. Rohrer, Will Mace, H. C. Schauble and William Hoagland and a semblance of baseball life was maintained until the tearing down of the baseball fence on the East Ward school grounds in the spring of 1908.
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