USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume II > Part 35
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
Mohegan Chapter, No. 221, Royal Arch Masons, was organized on
744
THE BRONX AND ITS PEOPLE
March 4, 1868, and in 1884 had sixty-one members. Westchester Lodge, No. 46, Free and Accepted Masons, which was organized at West- chester in June, 1796, was removed to Eastchester in 1797. At first the Masons met in Eastchester at the tavern of William Crawford. Later an addition was made to the hotel building sufficient to provide for a lodge room. Westchester Lodge remained in Fowler's Hall until November, 1814, when it moved to New Rochelle, where the members surrendered its charter in 1827. Hiawatha Lodge, No. 434, Free and Accepted Masons, was granted a dispensation, August 25, 1857, and a charter was given it in 1858. The dedication took place in the Methodist Episcopal Church, June 24, in Mount Vernon. The first officers were there also installed. Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 228, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered February 3, 1869, with Commander John H. Gray as High Priest. In 1846, Zaradotha Lodge of Masons was in- stituted, with "Dolph" Beekman as Worshipful Master. Its lodge was held in the old Franklin Academy Building. In 1850 the lodge was discontinued, as Westchester Lodge, No. 180, had just been organized that year.
Masonry at Yonkers was first represented by Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council, as well as a Commandery, as follows: Rising Star Lodge, No. 450, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in 1836. The charter was surrendered in September, 1831, after which Masonry slumbered for many years in Yonkers. However, January 22, 1851, the lodge was reorganized ; its original number was 393, but upon reorganization was changed to No. 142, and when the lodges of New York State in 1858 were renumbered, this was changed to 450. Another lodge at Yonkers was Nepperhan, No. 736, Free and Accepted Masons, organized under dispensation, February, 1875. Nepperhan Chapter, No. 117, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under dispensation, February 3, 1864. Nepperhan Council, No. 70, Royal and Select Masters, was organized, July, 1877. Yonkers Commandery, No. 47, Knights Templar, was organized April 10, 1869. Yonkers Board of Masonic Relief was organized in December, 1878. It derived its funds by assessments from the members.
Club Life in The Bronx-The club life of The Bronx which was formerly merged with Westchester County, became after the annex- ation linked with the club life of the city of New York, and residents of The Bronx are conspicuous in all the leading clubs. The New York Yacht Club, which draws a good deal of its membership from the region of The Bronx, was organized in 1844. In 1850 its membership did not reach the one hundred mark, and its regattas attracted little attention. Its prestige rapidly increased after 1867, when it sponsored the first ocean race, which was won by James Gordon Bennett with his yacht
745
FRATERNAL ORDERS AND SOCIETIES
"Henrietta." It is noted as the custodian of the America's Cup, first won over English yachts in 1851. There were rowing clubs from an early time. The Amateur Boat Club Association in 1834 established boat-houses at Castle Gardens. Among the best known of its numerous successors are the Atalanta and the Nassau clubs. The Mutual was an early baseball club, forerunner of the great league of today. The American Jockey Club was formed in 1866 with the names of Leonard W. Jerome, Lester Wallack, Henry J. Raymond, and August Belmont among its charter members. The New York Riding Club was formed in 1873, the Turf Club in 1880, and after them there were the Driving Club, the Coaching Club, the Tuxedo Club, Adirondack League, and other organizations representing every out-of-door amusement. The Turf and Field Club, and the American Kennel Club, are important modern examples. Automobile and Aero clubs assumed great importance with the development of the motor car and the flying plane. The Auto- mobile Club of America, incorporated in 1899, is perhaps the largest and oldest of all.
Of the athletic social clubs, the Racquet, established in 1868, was the earliest. The New York Athletic Club, also dating from 1868, and now one of the strongest organizations in New York, has a country club with track, grounds, and boat-houses on Travers Island, Pelham Manor, Long Island Sound. Other nineteenth century athletic clubs include the University Athletic, the Manhattan Athletic, and the Berkeley Ath- letic associations. The Racquet and Tennis Club is conspicuous among athletic organizations which grew out of the developing interest in sport. There are many country clubs having similar purposes.
There is another large group of clubs which take their names from the geographic origins of their founders, such as The Puritans, the Ohio Society, the Canadian Club, the Southern Society, the English St. George's, the Scotch St. Andrew's, the St. Nicholas Club, and the Holland Society, which latter makes descent from the early Dutch settlers of Manhattan a qualification for membership. In like manner the German residents have long had their singing and social clubs, such as the Arion, the Liederkranz, and the Central Turnverein, and clubs like the Allemania. Of the many purely Jewish clubs, the oldest is the Harmonic, and others include the Freundschaft, Progress, Washing- ton Irving, Fidelio, and the Gotham. Similarly other races, religions, and localities have associations in Greater New York, nearly all of them drawing membership from The Bronx.
The Women's Club movement, one of the extraordinary social devel- opments of the last half century, had its beginning in New York, with the formation of Sorosis in 1868. Mrs. David G. Croly (Jennie June), Mrs. James Parton (Fannie Fern), and Alice Cary, were the leading spirits. Other clubs for women followed rapidly. In 1889, Mrs. Croly
746
THE BRONX AND ITS PEOPLE
founded the New York Women's Press Club, and in the same year there was a Ladies' New York Club. Today there are a great many clubs covering every phase of feminine activity. Most of them are members of the New York City Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1903, which in turn is a member of the State and National feder- ations.
Bronx Woman's Club-An outstanding woman's club of The Bronx, one that has stood for the highest standards and principles of club life, is known as the Bronx Woman's Club. This club, composed of the representative women of The Bronx, was founded in the Melrose Li- brary in 1916. It was federated in city and State in 1917. Up to the present year, three presidents and one acting president have been its leaders. The first president and founder was Mrs. Mary D. Fisk. Be- cause of the illness of her husband, Colonel Fisk, Mrs. Fisk was called to California in the year 1918. Mrs. Robert A. MacGregor, first vice- president, became acting president during Mrs. Fisk's unexpired term. Mrs. Alfred H. Hausrath was then chosen president and served the club seven years. The present president, Mrs. Harry Weber Taylor, took office in February. This club is the only woman's club in The Bronx which owns its own club-house. The club-house, located at David- son Avenue and 190th Street, was purchased in 1921 when the club became incorporated. Beside the usual member of officers, there are five directors. The club membership is divided into sections, each section represented by a chairman, such as Art, Civic and Patriotic, Current Events, Drama, Home Economics, Literature, Music, Library and Junior. The ten standing committees are also represented by chairmen. Many worthy objects have been accomplished during the ten years of the club's activity. The Red Cross work of the club, under the leadership of Mrs. Herbert C. Davidson, was most faithfully carried on during the World War. The purchase of the club-house was a great event in the club life. Through the able chairman of Art, Mrs. Robert A. MacGregor, the Bronx Artist Guild was organized and held its first exhibit at the club-house. A Christmas party for the crippled children of The Bronx has been given each year for many years, bring- ing joy and gladness into the lives of the less fortunate. The policy is to reach out a helping hand where it is most needed. Many lives have been brightened and strengthened by the concrete work carried on by the membership, whether it has been philanthropic, patriotic or the arts. The object of the club is to encourage all movements for the betterment of society and to foster a generous spirit in the community. The official personnel is as follows :
Mrs. Harry Weber Taylor, president; Mrs. Mary D. Fisk, honorary president and founder; Mrs. David Thiell Brown, vice-president; Mrs.
747
FRATERNAL ORDERS AND SOCIETIES
John J. Decker, vice-president; Mrs. Herbert C. Davidson, vice-pres- ident; Mrs. Louis B. Lippman, recording secretary ; Mrs. William Hob- son, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Philip G. Hahn, assistant correspond- ing secretary ; Mrs. Arthur D. Cree, treasurer ; Miss Matilde M. Weisker, historian.
Directors (1926-1929) : Mrs. Frederick R. Elliott; Mrs. Wallace G. Geety ; Mrs. Joseph S. Taylor; Mrs. Stevenson J. Thorne; Mrs. Louis Vonderahe; (1925-1928) : Mrs. John C. Adams; Mrs. Louis Frank; Mrs. J. F. Geisler ; Mrs. E. Menne Meyer; Mrs. Reuben Zoller ; (1924 --- 1927) : Miss Edith W. Bayreuther; Mrs. Silas C. Cutler ; Mrs. William P. Hoffman; Mrs. Horace W. Ingraham; Mrs. John J. Unger, Jr.
Chairmen of sections and standing committees : Mrs. Robert A. Mac- Gregor, Art; Mrs. Frederic Ernst, Civics; Mrs. William L. Jamison, Drama; Mrs. Drake V. Smith, Home Economics; Mrs. Minnie B. Bowen, Literature ; Mrs. Milton F. Reese, Music; Mrs. George F. Stahl, Librarian; Mrs. William White Niles, Junior; Mrs. E. Menne Meyer, Current Events.
Standing committees : Mrs. David Thiell Brown, House; Mrs. John J. Decker, Membership; Mrs. Charles E. Mathewson, Reception; Mrs. Charles C. Chevalier, Press; Mrs. Reuben Zoller, Hospitality ; Mrs. Arthur Johnen, Special Program; Mrs. Albert S. Taylor, Bulletin ; Miss Louise H. Freyberg, Printing; Mrs. Henry D. Patton, Year Book; Mrs. Herbert C. Davidson, Zoning; Miss Florence McLernon, Pres- ident's Page.
The City Federation represents about 100,000 women, a great many of whom live in The Bronx. The clubs of the Federation are of such diverse character as culture and study clubs, lodge auxiliaries, patriotic societies, political clubs, theatre clubs, garden clubs, and professional associations. There are besides a great number of non-federated women's clubs, including many important organizations, such as the Colony Club, the various chapters of the Daughters of the Revolution and the Colonial Dames, the League of Women Voters of New York City, and the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The uptown movement, which took the most important clubs away from the bus- iness sections, led to the establishment of various downtown organiza- tions, some of them at first mere dining clubs for men. Such were The Merchants and The Commercial, long since defunct. The Down- town Association, the Commercial Travelers, and many others of like nature, now satisfy the social needs of down-town business men. Prom- inent among the city and social clubs for business men is the Rotary, first established in 1910. It now has chapters in all important cities of the United States. An organization of similar scope is Kiwanis.
Then there are the clubs of a religious aspect, and of these possibly the oldest is the Catholic Club, since it was formed from the Xavier
748
THE BRONX AND ITS PEOPLE
Alumni Sodality, which dates from 1863. It was renamed Xavier Union in 1871, and Catholic Club in 1888. In the latter year there was also formed the Clergy Club, for the convenience of the Episcopal clergy of the diocese of New York. The Church Club is made up of laymen of the same denomination. Other churches, too, have their associations for both men and women. The Laymen's League, which is under the auspices of the Unitarian Church, but admits men of all creeds, is a strong example. The Quill Club, although not strictly religious, requires membership in some church as a qualification to admission. The Young Men's Christian Association is, in effect, a religious club. Prominent religious societies include the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, the Daughters of the King, the Girls' Friendly Society of America, the Holy Com- munion of the Episcopal Church, the Kings' Daughters and Sons, and B'nai B'rith.
New York is the home, moreover, of a great number of societies that are technically classified as "learned," and that draw their membership indifferently from The Bronx and the other boroughs. These par- ticular societies exist for the advancement and cultivation of some special field of knowledge. Historical, scientific, and literary interests form the basis of the greater number of these, though many commercial industries have associations of equally serious purpose. The oldest of all such organizations is the New York Historical Society, which was founded in 1904. It is interested in all matters pertaining to the history of New York State, and it maintains a fine specialized library, as well as an art gallery. The Holland Society, founded in 1885, is concerned with the history of the Dutch settlers of the city and the State, and, like the New York Historical Society, it issues valuable publications from time to time. The City History Club of New York, which aims to awaken civic patriotism, through a study of local traditions, also publishes informative guide books and historical essays. Closely akin to these is the New York Genealogical and Biographical Association, organized in 1869, and a prolific publisher of historical material. The United States Catholic Historical Society, which dates from 1884, collects material relative to the progress of the Catholic church in this country.
Associations and "Borough Day"-We have thought it well to refer briefly to some of the leading clubs and societies of the larger city in view of the fact that they are largely recruited from among residents in The Bronx, and in some cases have branches or their actual situation there. The fraternal orders in the borough usually take a conspicuous place in any public activities in which there is general interest. They have usually a good deal to do with the promotion of "Borough Day," which features a parade along the Grand Concourse. Thus on Saturday,
749
FRATERNAL ORDERS AND SOCIETIES
June 12, 1926, the Fraternal Division of the parade attracted much attention. The division was in charge of Edgar Hirschberg, who has had the same post for several years past. First in line were members of The Bronx Lodge of Elks, who captured the prize award for making the best showing in this division. A battalion of the old 69th Regiment also marched with the Elks. They were followed by units representing the Knights of Columbus, The Bronx Chapter of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, the Color Guard of Archbishop Hughes General Assembly, and representatives of Unity Council, No. 326, St. Thomas Aquinas Council, No. 757, and the St. Martin of Tours Council, made up this unit.
The Rotary Club of The Bronx, with its elaborately decorated float, was next in line, followed in turn, by the contingent from the Lions Club of The Bronx. For the first time in several years, Bronx Aerie No. 491, Fraternal Order of Eagles, was in the line of march with two floats. Approximately two hundred members of the Improved Order of Red Men followed the Eagles, escorting the American flag carried by the American troops when they landed in Porto Rico in 1918.
Masonic Bodies in The Bronx-The following is from the directory of lodges of Free and Accepted Masons and other Masonic bodies in The Bronx :
R. W. District-Deputy Grand Master, S. Joseph Bowman, No. 404 East 141st Street, Bronx; Samaritan, No. 1085 ; Pelham, No. 712; Angle, No. 989; Trowel, No. 873; Level, No. 914; Azure, No. 868; Live Oak, No. 1024.
Wyoming, No. 492; Great Light, No. 1007; Lily, No. 342; Hopewell, No. 596; Bronx, No. 830; Gavel, No. 708; Hebron, No. 813; Fordham, No. 1012; Guiding Star, No. 565; Marion, No. 278. Master, William F. Grosser; Senior Warden, Irving G. McDowell; Junior Warden, George Fairweather; Secretary, James Harrington; Treasurer, Frank R. Butler; Trustees, John L. Lyttle, John H. Schaufer, William R. Butler.
Lily, No. 342-Master, Arthur Bell; Senior Warden, Arthur C. Bach- man; Junior Warden, A. Ralph C. Wefer; Secretary, George H. Camerden.
Wyoming, No. 492-Master, George J. Baxter; Senior Warden, John Ottman; Junior Warden, Otto W. Holmgren; Secretary, Thomas C. S. Wallace.
Guiding Star, No. 565-Master, F. Wm. Heintz; Senior Warden, Louis H. Weise ; Junior Warden, Charles F. Boekell; Secretary, Richard M. Backus.
Hopewell, No. 596-Master, Eugene Louis Brisach; Senior Warden, Harry Frostick; Junior Warden, Louis Lyle Knittell; Secretary, Judge Harold Cauvet.
750
THE BRONX AND ITS PEOPLE
Gavel, No. 703-Master, Harry L. Schoenfeld; Senior Warden, George S. Mase; Junior Warden, Henry Raymond Agnais; Secretary, J. Clark Wilson.
Pelham, No. 712-Master, John L. Gazenmuller; Senior Warden, John A. Sinclair; Junior Warden, Benedict F. May; Secretary, Walter C. Hitchcock.
Hebron, No. 813-Master, William A. Wilson; Senior Warden, Charles E. Fuhse; Junior Warden, William Pearce; Secretary, Louis Martin.
Bronx, No. 860-Master, Herman Ramon Suskind; Senior Warden, William Morrison; Junior Warden, Benjamin Simon; Secretary, Samuel Warren Miller.
Azure, No. 868 Master, Frank M. Polenz; Senior Warden, John B. Meredith ; Junior Warden, William Kroeger ; Secretary, George J. Hunt.
Trowel, No. 873-Master, David Blakely Roberts; Senior Warden, Kenneth Mayring Magee; Junior Warden, Philip Wall; Secretary, Joseph John Barr.
Level, No. 914-Master, Irving Ritter; Secretary, Joseph Brand.
Angle, No. 988-Master, John H. Waterman ; Senior Warden, Wilburt S. Stilson; Junior Warden, William H. Waterman; Secretary, Peter M. Stagg.
Eternal, No. 989-Master, Fred Heck; Senior Warden, Peter M. Ruppert; Junior Warden, Albert Schultz; Secretary, Joseph H. Feurer. Nathan Hale, No. 1006-Master, Carl Boehm; Senior Warden, D. Robert Kaplan ; Junior Warden, Nathan W. Altman ; Secretary, Leonard Lewis.
Great Light, No. 1007-Master, Michele Santoro; Senior Warden, Angelo Longarzo; Junior Warden, Louis Caropresi; Secretary, Francis P. Pappalardi.
Fordham, No. 1012-Master, Theodore Friend, Jr .; Senior Warden, William C. Stohldreier; Junior Warden, Carl F. Schirmer; Secretary, Edward C. Hunter.
Live Oak, No. 1024-Master, Edward Friedman; Senior Warden, Arthur Posner ; Junior Warden, Max Zucker; Secretary, Ralph Levy.
Samaritan, No. 1035-Master, Bernard Sklarow; Senior Warden, Robert Jordan; Junior Warden, Dr. Hermann D. Robinson ; Secretary, Leo Lewis.
Eden, No. U. D. Hebron Masonic Temple-Master, Max Sunshine ; Senior Warden, Samuel H. Richter; Junior Warden, Gus W. Roth; Secretary, Samuel Newman; Treasurer, Michael Davidson.
Foresters of America in The Bronx are as follows: Bronx, 160, Court- landt Avenue; Fordham, 451, No. 608 East 187th Street; Dante Ali- ghieri, Morrisania Hall; Grover Cleveland, 79, 142nd and Third Avenue ; Mott Haven, 57, Ebling's Casino; Melrose, 216, Bronx Hall; Morrisania,
751
FRATERNAL ORDERS AND SOCIETIES
497, Morrisania Hall; Rising Star, 223, No. 3037 Corlears Avenue; Unity, 310, Knights of Columbus Hall, Williamsbridge Road.
Improved Order of Red Men in The Bronx: Moscosco, 304, No. 148th and Willis Avenue; Massapequa, 317, No. 149th and Walton Avenue; Taekamuck, 395, No. 531 East 17th Street.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows in The Bronx-Bronx and New York, No. 1, William W. Dowden, Jr., D. D. G. M., No. 1251 Grant Avenue, Bronx ; 113, Mechanics, No. 110 East 125th Street; 135, Mount Sinai, Ebling's Casino; 171, Morrisania, No. 1931 Washington Avenue; 201, Harlem, No. 508 Willis Avenue; 207, Olympic, Ebling's Casino; 264, Daniel Webster, Harlem Masonic Temple; 576, Chester Hill, No. 1475 Williamsbridge Road.
Bronx and New York, No. 2-Louis Markert, D. D. G. M., No. 464 Lafayette Avenue, Grantwood, New Jersey; 82, Herman Ridder, No. 514 Willis Avenue; 193, Goethe, No. 382 East 156th Street ; 595, G. D. Meinen, No. 508 Willis Avenue; 859, Unionport, No. 2176 Westchester Avenue.
Knights of Pythias in The Bronx-Federal, 6, No. 128 East 149th Street; Arminia, 146, No. 120 East 149th Street; Bronx, 446, Ebling's Casino; Claremore, 451, No. 128 East 149th Street; Victory, 452, No. 128 East 149th Street; Royal Penn, 464, No. 128 East 149th Street; Bon Amicus, 458, No. 742 St. Ann's Avenue; Carlisle, 467, No. 1941 Madison Avenue; Civic, 469, No. 128 East 149th Street; Climax, 472, No. 128 East 149th Street; Loyalty, 473, No. 120 East 149th Street; Crabona, 474, No. 156th Street and St. James Avenue; Golden Rule, 477, No. 120 East 149th Street; Robin Hood, 482, No. 156th Street and St. James Avenue; Comet, 482, No. 120 East 149th Street; True Com- rade, 486, No. 120 East 149th Street; Valor, 488, No. 120 East 149th Street.
The Maccabees in The Bronx - Greater New York, 521, No. 220 Audubon Avenue; William McKinley, 711, 149th Street and Walton Avenue; Bronx, 702, 156th Street and St. Ann's Avenue; First Van Nest, 1539, 163rd Street and Southern Boulevard.
Royal Arcanum in The Bronx-Alma, 191, No. 534 Willis Avenue ; Kingsbridge, 1082, No. 248 West 230th Street ; Suburban, 1354, St. Ann's Avenue and 156th Street; Fordham, 1412, No. 2707 Webster Avenue; Bronx, 1416, No. 717 East 216th Street ; Free Will, 1487, Masonic Hall, Westchester; Claremont, 1655, No. 2707 Webster Avenue; Morrisania, 1739, No. 3707 Webster Avenue; City Island, 1844, Masonic Hall, City Island; Wakefield, 1944, No. 2707 Webster Avenue; Woodlawn, 2049, No. 427 East 240th Street; Bevel, 2161, Southern Boulevard and 163rd Street.
752
THE BRONX AND ITS PEOPLE
Woodmen of the World in The Bronx-Aurora, 14, C. H. Wilhelm, Clerk, 177th Street and Third Avenue; Harlem, 40, J. E. Long, Clerk ; No. 534 Willis Avenue; Crotona, 66, Hy Kissell, Clerk, No. 703 Court- landt Avenue; Mutual, 238, Joseph F. Patterson, Clerk, No. 705 Court- landt Avenue; Colonial, 249, B. Steinfelder, Clerk, No. 138 East 149th Street; Mazzini, 257, A. Sciorra, Clerk, No. 245 East 152nd Street ; Belmont, 308, R. Tricarico, Clerk, No. 577 East 191st Street.
Older Local Societies and Clubs-Writing a few years ago, a com- mentator on the social life of The Bronx enumerated the organizations which the "North Siders" had formed for "the amusement, instruction, development and political aspirations of the members." Some of the organizations to which this chronicler alluded a couple of decades ago, have preserved their strength to the present day. The Jefferson Club is not only a political, but a social organization, and was the conception of Louis F. Haffen, who has filled many responsible public positions in the borough, and is one of the leading figures in the life. The mem- bership has included the leading lights among the followers of Thomas Jefferson, and its functions are noted for their fine attendance. The historian, Randall Comfort, goes on to describe other associations of like character in The Bronx, some of which have changed their name, and others of which have endured.
He describes the Longwood Club as a "recent acquisition to Bronx clubdom, located at Beck and 136th streets. The idea of organizing this club originated with George F. Johnson, a prominent Bronx real estate operator, who perceived the advantages that would accrue to the section which he has done so much to develop by instituting a home where the neighborhood could enjoy the privileges of the bowling
alleys, gymnasium, billiard tables, and other accessories of a first-class club as well as the entertainments, receptions, dances, smokers, at a moderate cost for membership. The movement has been a success and resulted in the general good of the community."
The Bronx Club, located at Nos. 1261 and 1263 Franklin Avenue, he describes as another prominent social organization which became favorably known on the North Side, owing to the prominence of its members in the social, political and business life of the borough. The officers of The Bronx Club were: William Ebling, president; Joseph P. Henessy, first vice-president ; Thomas B. Paton, second vice-president ; John A. Fleischmann, third vice-president; William Schwegler, sec- retary; William F. Hull, financial secretary; William D. Austin, as- sistant secretary; and John H. J. Ronner, chairman of the board of directors.
The Melrose Turn Verein is, he goes on, "an organization devoted to physical culture, which has attained a world-wide reputation for
0
1
GRAND CONCOURSE, LOOKING NORTH, SHOWING THE LARGEST HOTEL OF THE BRONX THE "CONCOURSE PLAZA"
753
FRATERNAL ORDERS AND SOCIETIES
its many creditable victories in various contests in the United States. With a well-equipped gymnasium and competent instructors it conducts an institution that has done much to add to the physical development of the rising generation. The Brownson Catholic Club, as its name indicates, is a social-religious organization which has done much good in the circle in which it operates. It is housed in its own quarters on East 146th Street near Third Avenue, where the corner-stone of the handsome structure was laid on Sunday, April 26, 1903. The Fleetwood Park Club was the conception of Robert Bonner, the noted publisher and horseman, and did much for the development of the road horse. With the death of Mr. Bonner, who never stopped to consider the price of a fast trotter, and the advancing tide of population, the club had to forsake its trotting track just west of Webster Avenue, between 163rd and 167th streets, and only a portion of the track is still visible at this writing, while the club-house itself, doomed ere long to destruc- tion, seems incongruous among the two and three-family residences with which it is daily being hemmed in. Among the well-known social clubs of The Bronx is the Schnorer Club, located on a rising knoll on East 163rd Street and Eagle Avenue. The organization has attained quite a reputation from the various functions which have been given under its auspices, that have been participated in by prominent public officials not only of the city of New York, but of other municipalities. The membership of this club includes many of the leading business men of the borough and is in a very flourishing condition. The club- house is a very attractive structure, and is fully equipped with every- thing that tends to the enjoyment of its membership, including a cuisine that has won commendation."
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.