Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 90

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048

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rence, George Graham, Charles W. West, Will- iam Procter, Joseph Longworth, John Sher- man, William Glenn, George H. Pendleton, Joseph Rawson, Henry C. Urner, Samuel F. Covington, John A. Gano, Charles Davis, John Kennett, Richard Smith, Julius Frei- berg, A. E. Armstrong, David Gibson, Reuben A. Holden, Paris C. Brown, William A. Proc- ter, Michael Ryan, Grove J. Penney and H. Wilson Brown. Messrs. Urner, Freiberg, Armstrong and the last five mentioned are the living honorary members.

The membership of the Chamber on the Ist of January, 1903, was 986. This organization has always taken an active part in the affairs of, the city and is justly esteemed as a repre- sentative body of the highest character. It may be regarded as the legitimate successor of the Canal Produce Exchange established in 1835 with Josiah Lawrence as president and William Rockey as secretary. This organiza- tion met originally in Maj. Daniel Gano's brick store at Court and Mound and was maintained but a few years.

THE BUSINESS MEN'S CLUB.

In 1892 a number of young men organized themselves together for the purpose of inform- ing themselves with relation to matters of pub- lic interest to citizens of Cincinnati and for the discussion of the municipal conditions. The plan involved a series of banquets at which were present prominent speakers of the city representing the business, literary and artistic interests of the community. The organization was successful for a time but afterwards lan- guished. In 1896 it was reincorporated under the name of "The Young Men's Business Club of Cincinnati" and its purpose as given in its articles of incorporation was "to promote the best interest of Cincinnati." Subsequently a change of name was decided upon and by pro- ceedings had in 1899 it became "The Business Men's Club of Cincinnati." This organiza- tion after several changes of location has now established itself in the Chamber of Commerce Building and is governed by a code of regu- lations adopted May 18, 1903. The club is largely social in its character and is fully equipped with dining rooms, billiard rooms and reading and lounging rooms. Its special pur- pose however is best shown by a list of its committees. These cover the subject of canals, Ohio River improvement, Ohio State Board of Commerce, taxation, park improvements,

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manual training, Ohio Mechanics' Institute, street improvement and eleaning, smoke pre- vention, fair grounds, transportation; terminal facilities, quarantine laws, legislation, street railways, conventions, processions and art. Its president is James C. Hobart and Irwin M. Krohn is secretary.

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS,

The Manufacturers' Club of Cincinnati, es- tablished in 1895, was organized for the de- velopment of the manufacturing interests of the city. It is non-partisan in politics and limited to a membership of 100. This club has an annual banquet and monthly meetings at which matters relating to manufacturing in- terests and also to business affairs in general are discussed. Its president for 1903-04 is P. C. Fosdick and secretary, E. P. Wilson.

The Merchants' & Manufacturers' Associa- tion, organized in 1887 and incorporated in 1893, has for its object the encouraging of merchants to visit the city for commercial purposes by continuous offers of legitimate inducements and attractions. For the purpose of inducing buyers to transact their business with merchants and manufacturers of Cincin- nati, this association offers free transportation to merchants throughout this section of the country. Its chairman is Stewart Shillito and secretary, John W. Irvine.

The Cincinnati League, representing the civic authorities, the railroads, the hotels, Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers' Club, Board of Trade, Merchants' & Manufacturers' Association and citizens of all classes is or- ganized for the purpose of extending the or- ganized hospitality of Cincinnati to conven- tions. Its president is O. H. L. Wernicke and Secretary and manager, E. P. Wilson.

The Cincinnati Industrial Bureau was or- ganized at a meeting held at the Business Men's Club on January 8, 1901. Its purpose is to promote the industrial interests of the city, particularly by seeking to secure the lo- cation here of new industries, by aiding and encouraging existing manufacturing enter- prises, and by making known generally its advantages as an industrial center. It is main- tained by popular subscription and is con- ducted by a board of 15 directors. Many of the most prominent business firms and inen are included in its membership. Its president is John H. Gibson and its secretary, Will L. Finch.

THE CINCINNATI BAR ASSOCIATION

Was organized February 22, 1872. Its ob- jects were to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession, the cultivation of social in- tercourse and the promotion of legal reforms. To aid it in its purposes it has a number of standing committees on such subjects as in- vestigation, grievances and on the judiciary and legal reform. Its banquets held at fre- quent intervals have been for many years among the pleasant social features of the city and it has taken part in numerous movements looking to the improvement of the administra- tion of the law and the attainment of a ju- diciary of high character. On several occa- sions the association has been active in the promotion of a non-partisan judicial ticket which in several notable instances was quite successful at the polls. Its meetings are held in the Literary Club rooms and its president for the year 1903-04 is Alfred B. Benedict. Its membership includes over 300 members of the bar.

THE CINCINNATI WOMAN'S CLUB

Was organized in the rooms of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio on Easter Monday, March 26, 1894, at a meeting called by Mrs. S. P. Mallon, Miss Annie Laws, Mrs. J. J. Gest, Mrs. H. C. Yergason, Mrs. 11. B. Morehead, Mrs. Fayette Smith and Miss Clara C. Newton. The meeting was called to order by Miss Laws, who became the first president. At the preliminary meeting papers were read by Miss Laws, Mrs. Smith and Miss Newton looking towards the organization of a club of women. The organization was completed at once and in a very short time the membership limited to 150 was almost entirely taken up. Meetings were held for a time in the hall of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History and afterwards for a number of years in the Perin Building. The club was regularly in- corporated in 1897 and in 1899 a movement for the purpose of securing a permanent club home resulted in the formation of a stock com- pany, whose special object was the procuring of a club house. The club has finally arranged for quarters in the new Mercantile Library Building which were dedicated on Thursday. April 7, 1904, at which time a reception was given to the great musician Richard Strauss and his wife. The club rooms are quite spacious and are regarded as among the handsomest in the country occupied by a woman's organization.

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They include a large assembly room extending to the height of two stories with which com- municate tea rooms, committee, cloak and toilet rooms with a well furnished pantry and a library and lecture rooms. The president of the board for the current year, 1903-04, is Mrs. Lawrence Maxwell, Jr. The club has a number of departments, covering many fields of interest by lectures, discussions and exhii- bitions.

THE CINCINNATI KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

Is a most important educational organization whose purpose as expressed by its articles of incorporation adopted in 1894 is to organize and supervise kindergartens and to carry on a training school for kindergartens. Kinder- gartens had been started in Cincinnati as early as 1875 at which time Miss Helene Goodman conducted a private school of this character in the building of Miss Nourse's school on Sev- enth. An organization was had in December, 1879, for the purpose of increasing interest in the subject and widening the usefulness of the schools. During the year 1902-03 there were conductd under the auspices of the association 25 kindergartens, which in addition to two pri- vate kindergartens were supported by various charitable persons and organizations. The head- quarters of the association and training school are on Linton street in Vernonville. This school furnishes a two-years course leading to a regular diploma. The president of the association is Miss Annie Laws.

POLITICAL CLUBS.

Among the principal political clubs of the city are the Young Men's Blaine Club ( Republican), which was organized on June 6, 1884, the day of Mr. Blaine's nomination for the presidency, and has a handsome club house on Eighth street east of Vine; the Stamina Republican League, organized November 5, 1888; the West End Republican Club, organized February 22, 1888; while the Duckworth Club ( Democratic), which was organized in 1880, has a handsome club house on Ninth street.

SOCIAL CLUBS.

The Queen City Club, a leading social club, was organized in October, 1874. Its building on the southwest corner of Seventh and Elm was built at that time and has since been en- larged so that it is equipped with all the ap-

pointments of a first class club house. Here are held many of the semi-public gatherings of citizens for the discussion of topics of general interest and the club is quite a center of city life. The Commercial Club, an important or- ganization since 1880, whose object is largely indicated by its name, meets regularly in the Queen City Club House. Other clubs that use this club house for their home are the Optimist Club and the Piccadilly Club.

Another prominent social club is the Phoenix Club, founded in - 1856, whose house at Ninth and Race, erected in 1894, is one of the fine buildings of the city. The Cincinnati Club, or- ganized in 1889, has a handsome club house on Melrose avenue on Walnut Hills. The Phoenix and Cincinnati clubs are practically limited to Jewish membership.

The Literary Club, organized in 1849, has been referred to at length in an earlier chapter. This club, the oldest of its class in the country, includes in its membership many of the most prominent professional and business men in the city. It meets every Saturday night from Sep- tember to June to hear papers prepared by its members. It has a handsome club house, built especially to answer its needs, on Eighth near Walnut street.

Other well known clubs are the Country Club and the Cincinnati Golf Club adjoining it on Grandin road, the Riding Club, Clifton Golfers' Club and the Pillars.

The Academy of Medicine is, as is indicated by its title, an association of the physicians of the city ; it meets regularly in the Literary Club rooms. Here, too, meets the Engineers' Club.

FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.

The number of societies, secret and public, as is natural to expect in so large a city, is almost countless. It is estimated that they exceed 2,000 in number and the list of some of them occupies 68 closely printed columns of the city directory. There are almost 300 building associations.

Under special headings are given such orders as the Catholic Knights of America, of which there are 10 branches, and a central committee, Catholic Knights of Ohio, of which there are 26 branches and a local council, Catholic Order of Foresters with a central chapter and 14 courts, two councils of the Young Men's Institute, and 14 conferences and the particular council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Over 170

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trades unions are enumerated. Thirteen lodges and chapters of Masons meet in the Masonic Temple at the northeast corner of Third and Walnut, three commanderies meet at the Scot- tish Rite Cathedral ; in addition there are enum- crated 18 other lodges and chapters, as well as a Masonic Employment Bureau, Masonic Relief Association and Masonic Library Association. The office of the grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ohio is in the Masonic Temple. The various bodies classed under the heading Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry meet at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, as do also the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. There are also six colored Masonic bodies, including one of the Scottish Rite. About 30 different bodies belong to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and one to the Imperial Order of Muscovites; 14 organizations are listed under the heading G. U. O. O. F. and seven organizations in the Ancient Order of Hibernians. There are about 30 lodges and associations of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and one grove of Druids. There are nine lodges of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and two of the Independent Order of B'rith Abraham. There are eight or- ganizations under the auspices of the American Protestant Association as well as one of colored people. The Benevolent and Protective Order of. Elks has two lodges, one of which is of colored people. There are three bodies of the Independent Order of Red Men and four of the Improved Order of Red Men.

There are a dozen lodges of the Knights of Honor, one of colored Knights of Honor, 11 of Knights and Ladies of Honor and two colored bodies of the same. The Knights of Pythias include about 25 lodges and four organizations of the Uniform Rank, as well as seven colored lodges and one lodge of the Improved Order of Knights of Pythias. There are three organiza- tions under the auspices of the Sons of Temper- ance and eight of the Royal Arcanum. The following organizations are entirely made up ,

of colored people: United Brothers of Friend- ship, of which there are nine bodies; 'Inde- pendent Order of Good Samaritans and Daugh- ters of Samaria of North America (three lodges) ; United Order of True Reformers, of which there are 38 organizations, under such headings as "Fountains" and "Rosebuds"; and the International Order of Twelve, including IO "Tents," "Temples" and "Tabernacles," and a "Royal House." There are 17 councils of the

National Union, nine tents, etc., of the Knights of the Maccabees, six hives of the Ladies of the Maccabees. The Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order and the Essenic Army include about To separate organizations. Seven organ- izations make up the Tribe of Ben Hur and six the Independent Order of Foresters. The Junior Order of United American Mechanics has 22 bodies and the ladies' auxiliary to this, known as the Daughters of America, has 23 organiza- tions in its ranks. Other organizations of one or more branches are such as the American Benefit Club Fraternity, the I. O. F. S. of 1., Fraternal Mystic Circle, Order of the Sons of St. George, Knights and Ladies of the Golden Eagle, Protective Home Cirele, Sons of Ben- jamin, United Commercial Travelers, Order of Mutual Protection, Daughters of Liberty, Knights of Joseph, Home Guards of America, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Knights of Fidelity, Knights of Columbus, Order of the Iroquois, Royal League, Order of Hercules, Fraternal Censer, Fraternal Order of America, Knights of Ancient Rome, Woodmen of the World and Ye Ancient Order of Whynot.

MILITARY ORDERS.

A most distinguished order is the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. There is also a Society of the Hispano-American War, a Regular Army and Navy Union, the National Army of Spanish-American War Vet- erans and the well known Society of the Army of the Tennessee. There are 30 posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, including the affiliated organizations-Ladies of the G. A. R. and Women's Relief Corps -- and five organiza- tions of the Union Veteran Legion, as well as four of the Sons of Veterans and two of the Daughters of Veterans. There are also chapters of the Society of Mayflower Descendants, So- ciety of Colonial Wars, Society of Colonial Dames, Daughters of the Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revo- lution, Sons of the American Revolution, War of 1812 societies. and numerous other so-called "hereditary" societies.

THE CINCINNATI HOUSE OF REFUGE,

Opened for the reception of inmates, Octo- ber 8, 1850, is situated about four miles northwest of the city Post Office on the cast side of Colerain. Its grounds include nine and seven-eighths aeres, five of which are enclosed

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

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on three sides by a stone wall. The main build- ing completes the quadrangle. This is a castel- lated edifice of rough blue limestone trimmed with white Dayton stone, with a front of 277 feet. It contains 112 sleeping rooms for boys, 72 single sleeping rooms for girls and a large dormitory for girls with plunge and shower baths, dressing rooms, sewing rooms, school · rooms, laboratories, hospital and offices. There are also special buildings for the kindergarten department, one for the girls and one for the boys, as well as a chapel, manual training school, printing offices, gymnasium, power house, laun- dry and other special buildings. The building accommodates 450 inmates and is heated by steam and lighted by electricity. The superin- tendent and secretary is James Allison.

THE CITY WORK HOUSE

Is located on Colerain avenue upon the grounds of old Camp Washington, used for the ren- (lezvous of Ohio troops during the Mexican War. The buildings are handsome and ex- tensive,-about 510 feet in length, five stories high and froom 54 to 60 feet in width. They were designed by Adams and Hannaford and built under the direction of Robert Allison, chairman of the building committee of the Council in the years 1866 to 1869, at a cost of about a half million dollars. It has 606 cells and receives between 2,500 and 3,000 prisoners each year.

THE CINCINNATI HOSPITAL

Is an outgrowth of the Commercial Hospital and Lunatic Asylum for the State of Ohio, which was established January 22, 1821. It subsequently became known as the Commercial Hospital and May 1, 1861, as the Cincinnati Hospital. It occupies the block between Central avenue and Plum, 12th and Ann streets. The old buildings were used until 1867-more than 46 years -- when they were removed to make way. for the new buildings which were com- pleted and opened for occupation January, 7, 1869. The structure contains eight distinct build- ings placed en echelon and connected by corri- dors surrounding a large central court 400 feet square. They are constructed of brick with freestone finishing around the angles and fin- ished in French style with Mansard roofs. Each building is three stories high. The cost of the structure was about $800,000. There are 16 free wards accommodating between 500 and 600 62

beds. There is also a Branch Hospital for Con- tagious Diseases in Green township near Lick Run road.

LONGVIEW ASYLUM.

From 1821 to 1854 there was what was called a crazy ward in the Commercial Hospital which in fact was organized in part for asylum pur- poses. For six years following 1854 the insane of the county were cared for in a large building in Fairmont now known as the "Woolen Mill." Longview Asylum at Carthage was first occu- pied in 1860. The building, which took five years to build, has a frontage of about 1,000 feet, with a depth on the north wing of almost 300 feet and on the south wing of 375 feet and the grounds, which are beautifully improved, cover an area of 100 acres. The hospital, which at the time it was built, was regarded as fully adequate for its purposes, has long since proved of insufficient size and accommodation. It was never expected to receive over 1,000 patients : the average during recent years has been between 1,100 and 1,200. It is at present in charge of Dr. W. F. Harmon as superin- tendent.

THE CITY INFIRMARY

Is located at Hartwell. The buildings erected in 1851 and 1898 are in form of the letter "E," with a frontage of 380 feet and a depth in each wing of 250 feet. The floor space is equal to three acres. The buildings cost $350,000. Sur- rounding them is a farm of 160 acres, purchased by the city as early as 1847. The institution will accommodate 1,200 inmates. Its superin- tendent is Frank A. Tucker .-

CHARITABLE AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

The Children's Home, situated on Ninth street between Plum street and Central avenue, has for its object the amelioration of the condi- tion of the children of poor and unfortunate parents in procuring for the homeless and desti- tute children, who may be committed to it in accordance with its charter, permanent country homes where they will be trained in habits of industry and receive a suitable English educa- tion, in clothing, feeding and instructing all such children as long as they remain in the Home and in affording a temporary home for poor children whose parents thus aided may be enabled in a short time to support them in homes of their own. It is one of the oldest charitable institutions in the city.

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The Cincinnati Union Bethel is located on East Front street between Sycamore and Broadway. Its chief object is to do constructive and preventive work among the poor. It has a Sunday-school, sewing and cooking schools, daily kindergarten and a well equipped bath and laundry for poor women, gymnasium, music school, dentistry department, district nurse, social settlements, boys' and girls' clubs, millinery and shirt-waist clubs, home libraries and a suite of men's club rooms which any self-respecting man may join for 25 cents a month. Relief is given to the poor in the form of clothes, shoes, groceries, rent, etc., and the Bethel also runs a lodging house where such as are not able to work at the labor yard are kept free.

The Cincinnati Relief Union was established in 1848. Its purpose is indicated by its title. It is supported by voluntary contributions and conducted without charge by ward managers located in the various wards.

The Ohio Humane Soociety at No. 24 East Ninth street was organized for the protection of children and the prevention of cruelty to animals. It cooperates with the House of Refuge, Chil- dren's Home, Orphan Asylum and other asylums, hospitals and charities of all sorts. Its agents seek out and investigate cases of abuse and neglect of children, hunt up the cruel and crim- inal parents and compel them to care for their children and also gather up homeless and vaga- bond children. It also prosecutes cases of cruelty to animals as well as to children.

The Associated Charities of Cincinnati has its office and industrial department at No. 304 Broadway. Its objects are the promotion of co- operation among charitable institutions and in- cludes a registry of dependent, defective and de- linquent persons, the provision for temporary employment and industrial instruction for such persons and the prevention of imposition and the diminution of vagrancy and pauperism. In additon to its registration bureau, it maintains a free employment bureau and labor yard for nien and 'a work room for women.' Here are provided meals, lodging, free baths and reading rooms and the men and women are employed in varions occupations, the former in wrecking buildings and in splitting kindling and the wo- men in plain sewing, rug making, carpet weav- ing, laundry work and the like.

The Widows' Home and Asylum for Aged and Indigent Females dates from 1850. It has a fine building on McMillan street and Ashland

avenue. One wing of the building is occupied by the Widows' Home and the other by the Old Men's Home.

Other well known charitable institutions are the Home for Incurables, Home for the Friend- less and Foundlings, the Bodmann German Prot- estant Widows' Home, Cincinnati Orphan Asylum, Deutsches Altenheim (German Old Men's Home), Fresh Air Home, Rescue Mis- sion and Home for Erring Women, the Homes for the Aged Poor, Glenn Industrial Home, as well as the large number of Catholic and Jewish institutions covering every form of charitable relief work.

Between 50 and 60 benevolent associations are enumerated in the latest directory. These include five convents, a number of orphan asy- lums, widows' homes, old men's homes, homes for the friendless, aged, poor, incurables, Jew- ish aged and infirm, working boys and various relief associations.

In addition to the Cincinnati Hospital and the well known Good Samaritan Hospital at Sixth and Lock and St. Mary's Hospital, better known as the Betts Street Hospital, and the United States Marine Hospital, there are the Jewish Hospital, one of the very best, on Burnet ave- nue: Christ Hospital in the building of the old Mont Auburn Institute, the German Deaconess Home and Hospital on Clifton avenue, the Prot- estant Episcopal Free Hospital for Children (better known as the Children's Hospital), Pres- byterian Hospital, the Ohio Hospital, St. Joseph's Maternity Hospital, the Ohio Ma- ternity Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and sev- eral other institutions for the care of the sick.

THE CHURCHES.

According to the last directory there are in- cluded in the city of Cincinnati 24 Baptist churches in addition to six stations of the Ninth Street Baptist Church (II of these churches are colored), eight Congregational, II Disciples of Christ, one Friends' Meeting House, 15 Ger- man Evangelical Protestant, two German Evan- gelical Union, two German Reformed, one Hol- land Reformned, five Lutheran, 27 Methodist Episcopal, six Methodist Episcopal (German), one Methodist Protestant, eight Methodist (colored), one Church of the New Jerusalem, 29 Presbyterian, two Presbyterian Reformed, one United Presbyterian, 22 Protestant Episcopal, 58 Catholic, one Seventh Day Adventist, three United Brethren in Christ, one Universalist,

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Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 90

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1048

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048