USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Fifteen years of civic history. Civic club of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. October, 1895-December, 1910 > Part 2
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CIVIC CLUB OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES 1896
During the year 1896, the Club vigorously agitated the ques- tion of securing women school directors, of procuring legisla- tion to compel the provision of seats in stores where women and girls are employed; of introducing the sub- ject of cheaper street car service and of protesting against the indecently overcrowded and unsanitary cars.
PEOPLES BATHS When the Civic Club was organ- 1897
ized, among the committees ap- pointed in the Social Science De- partment was one on Public Baths with Dr. Thomas Turnbull, a most untiring and efficient Chairman, and Mrs. F. F. Nicola, a no less active Secretary ; the object being to secure the establishment of a system of public baths throughout the city. Letters were sent to all the public baths of Europe and to those in this country (though at that time there were not many in the U. S.) regarding cost and maintenance. The committee decid- ed it would take at least $20,000 to start such an enter- prise. The question of raising the money was a serious one, and many plans were tried, but it was found im- possible at that time. Miss Matilda Denny was willing that a piece of property, known as Snyders Square, which had been given by her mother to the city for a public park might be used, but the city was not willing to give it up. The Adams Market was next thought of, but all the heirs could not be found, and just at a time when the Club was in despair a generous offer was made by one of its members, Mrs. William Thaw, Jr., to erect and equip a Peoples Bath, as a memorial to her hus- band William Thaw, Jr. Early in June 1897 the work was started and on Thanksgiving Day of that year the first public bath in Pittsburgh was presented to the
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Civic Club for operation and maintenance. The build- ing was located at the corner of Sixteenth Street and Penn Avenue and contained thirty-two shower baths and two tubs; the compartments being all marble with cement floors. The second story had five rooms for the use of the superintendent. A charge of five cents was made for a bath, each bather being given soap and a towel, and one day each week was set apart for women and children.
The first year the income was just sufficient to pay operating expenses, and a few years later increased to such proportions as to warrant a small addition to the building.
In 1907 the U. S. government purchased the prop- erty for $70,000; the site to be used for a post office. A location at 19th Street and Penn Avenue was then purchased and under the direction of Mrs. Thaw a new and more modern bath house was erected. This build- ing will serve the public even more satisfactorily than the old institution, as there is a separate floor to be de- voted to women and children, making a total provision for forty-three showers and four tubs. A barbershop occupies the front of the basement.
That it has not only become a necessity but a boon to the neighborhood, is evidenced by the fact that in its thirteen years of existence 846,539 men, women, and children have availed themselves of the privileges there offered. The Committee in charge early decided that no one who could not afford even five cents for a bath should be turned away, so that of this total 61,267 were given free of charge. The total receipts have been $39,103.71 and the expenditures have kept within this amount, so that it is self-sustaining, and as far as is known is one of the very few if not the only bath of its kind in the country that does not have to be assisted by an appropriation from the city or contributions from private sources.
The operation of this bath-house, with its much appre-
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ciated opportunities for cleanliness, has been remarkably successful and the great and constantly growing use- fulness of this benevolent and public-spirited enterprise reflects not only great credit upon the generous donor but upon the Committee (or Board, as the management is properly called) who have had it in charge.
SALUTE TO In 1897 the Civic Club introduced the THE FLAG "Salute to the Flag" in several schools
1897 by presenting a number of flags to the Franklin School (in the 7th and 8th Wards), where a large proportion of the children were of foreign birth, and needed education and object-les- sons in patriotism. This example was followed later by the Pittsburgh Chapter D. A. R. which has furnished flags for a number of schools and playgrounds.
CHILDRENS LEAGUES The "Children's Leagues OF GOOD of Good Citizenship" CITIZENSHIP 1897 which were inaugurated in 1897 by the Educational Department, soon after the playground movement became a success, proved less enduring, principally because of the indifference and discouragement shown by the school authorities. The leagues were established in six schools; the 5th Ward (Allegheny), Franklin, Ralston, Columbian Council School, Birmingham, and 6th Ward in Pittsburgh, Badges or buttons and cards with the rules were given to the children and the work proved most interesting and attractive the first year, but as in every case save that of the Columbian Council School they lacked the co-operation of teachers and principals, they gradually ceased to exist. The latter, under the direction of Mrs.
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Van Wagonen and Mrs. A. Leo. Weil, continued for some time to hold the interest of the children in the "hill district."
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES 1897 During the year 1897, activities of greater or less importance were absorbing the attention of committees not otherwise ap- propriated. Among them were the efforts to have wholesome food provided at the various school build- ings and to have diet kitchens established where boys and girls could purchase their luncheon instead of eat- ing the unwholesome food procured at outside bakeries; to have the ordinances enforced prohibiting fast riding and driving, also prohibiting the throwing of fruit or vegetables upon the streets, etc .; to have the number of letter-carriers increased through the Postmaster Gen- eral at Washington; to have the sidewalks cleaned; to urge civil service reform, and the adoption of the merit system in state and municipal affairs.
ASSOCIATED The history of the Civic Club does not CHARITIES record an undertaking that had a more 1898 discouraging career than that inaug- urated to federate the Charities of Pittsburgh. The interval between the beginning and the consummation of this effort saw the most prolonged and aggravated problem that was ever launched in the organization. The discouragments and rebuffs counter- acted by the patience and determination to ultimately associate the charitable and philanthropic organizations involves too much detail to recite at this time, but the fact that the Civic Club succeeded in accomplishing its purpose, namely, the organization and incorporation of the Associated Charties of Pittsburgh is a tribute to the perseverence of the members devoted to this cause.
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With the knowledge of at least four unsuccessful attempts (from as many different sources) to system- atize the administration of Pittsburgh charities, Mr. Robert D. McGonigle accepted the Chairmanship of the Social Science Department in January, 1898, on condi- tion that the members would undertake a large amount of active work which he was willing to outline and di- rect, stating that what he considered the most important matter for the Civic Club to take up would be the or- ganization of the various charities on a business basis.
A large committee was formed with a plan along lines laid down by similar organizations in other large cities. It was not inaugurated with the idea that the existing societies and organizations were not doing all the work they were intended to do, but because there was a lack of interchange and organization which is found so desirable in all branches of work, commercial and otherwise. The subcommittees were detailed in the preliminary work of education that necessarily was deemed the largest factor in the program of work. The plan taken from an exhaustive printed report, May 16, 1898, looked for the following results :
1st. No outdoor relief by the city.
2nd. Strict investigation of each case.
3rd. Beggars and vagrants to be arrested and dis- posed of by the police department.
4th1. All dependent children provided for.
5th. The worthy poor helped by the proper authorities.
6th. Medical relief given those in need. £
7th. Chronic paupers sent to the almshouse.
8th. Most important of all, no duplications and no impositions by the applicants receiving relief at all hands, but each one being referred to the proper society or department under which they might come.
9th. Money sent to all concerned and good work done in all directions.
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The outlook seemed promising at the end of the first year and the prejudice against the movement and the opposition thereto seemed to be gradually passing away, as it became apparent that the Civic Club did not wish to abolish any existing charitable institutions, but desired each to be represented in order to avoid dupli- cation. A Committee of fifteen with Hon. Wm. M. Kennedy, Chairman, was appointed to compile a report of the annual amount of relief given by churches and charity organizations for presentation at a public meet- ing, with a view to establishing an Associated Charities Organization.
In March, 1899, cards were printed ; 500 of these were for Allegheny, with the hope that an index card system could be introduced, but, when success seemed assured, an unexpected opposition from one or two of the most important charitable organizations defeated the plan. Quite a period elapsed covering some missionary work in this direction when Mr. Kennedy again urged the necessity for the establishment of a Department of Or- ganized Charities. In 1905 Miss McKnight, who had previously assisted the Committee and was now Presi- dent of the Club, with Mrs. Frederick Bagley, Chairman of the Civic Club committee, began a fresh campaign of education and endeavor to overcome this opposition. A conference and interviews were held, but the outcome was most discouraging, with the additional ill-fate of losing Mrs. Bagley, whose residence was changed to another State. However, under the new Chairman, Mrs. C. D. Claney, ably assisted by Miss Edna Meeker, a meeting was held June 10, 1907, which was attended by the representatives of eight of the leading societies. After going over the plan thoroughly it was agreed by those present that it would serve relief societies by handling for them cases that required other treatment than material assistance; it would help hospitals and other institutions doing indoor relief work and having
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no "visitors", by investigating cases for them; it would help churches, other religious bodies and the general public by giving prompt attention to all cases of need referred by them to this central bureau or clearing house and placing each family or individual under the care of the organization already established to assist them.
It was agreed that the Civic Club should take the initiative in presenting the matter of the federation of charities to other societies at a large meeting to be held in the Chamber of Commerce. Accordingly this meet- ing was held on June 20th, 1907. Hon. William M. Kennedy presided, and Mr. Wm. H. Allen, General Agent for the A. I. C. P. of New York, made the principal address. Over 200 attended, representatives of about 100 churches and philanthropic societies ; some spoke for and some against it, but a resolution was adopted by the majority favoring the association of all the charities of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, and directing the Chairman to call another meeting for further deliberation. On June 28, 1907, the Civic Club committee presented an elaborate plan to the Board of Directors consisting of eight sections, one of which was that permission be granted the committee to raise $3,- 000.00 for the purpose of securing data and co-operation with this committee. In general, the plan as outlined proposed that the Civic Club guarantee the sal- ary of a secretary for six months with all office expenses and that work be started at once. There were many meetings regarding the advisability of this plan and several applicants for the position from other cities were being considered, when the overwhelming catastrophe of Miss McKnight's death put an end to any further work for the moment. At the time of her death she had. already started a fund for the maintenance of a central office. The wonderful impetus she gave this work was building better than she knew, for through her experience, bought by labor unceasing and her famil-
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iarity with the conditions, her far-seeing and brilliant mind brought the work to a point where the Civic Club was bound to carry it out.
On October 18, 1907, another mass meeting was held at which Mr. Kennedy presided and Mr. Francis McLean, at that time Field Secretary of Charities and the Commons, spoke in reference to the relations of the central organization to the other societies. Representa- tives from 175 churches and philanthropic societies in Allegheny County were present. A Committee of 15, with Mr. Kennedy as Chairman, was appointed "to ar- range and establish a Federation of Philanthropies in Pittsburgh and to place it on a working basis".
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The individual labor of this Committee of fifteen with the help of Mr. Guthridge, General Secretary of the Associated Charities of St. Paul, the energetic and helpful assistance of Mr. Francis McLean of New York, Mr. Cornelius D. Scully, of the Civic Club, resulted in effecting an organization in December, 1907, incorpo- rated as the Associated Charities of Pittsburgh on Feb- ruary 21, 1908.
Dr. R. M. Little accepted the temporary Chairman- ship and gave of his time and ability so unstintingly that much of the well-deserved success of the Associa- tion is due to his initiative and leadership.
Too much credit cannot be given to all those who, too numerous to mention, devoted so much time and personal service to the organization of this most valu- able philanthropic agent, whose fundamental purpose may be realized only in the development of broad-spir- ited, patient co-operation among individuals and exist- ing charities.
ART EXHIBIT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1898
considered endeavors to
1 In May 1898, the Art De- partment, under Mrs. Wm. Thaw, Jr., amply justified its existence by its well- introduce into the public
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schools the means of awakening the children to a sense of the beautiful in nature and art. A large col- lection of pictures and casts, which had been purchased and presented to the Civic Club, was divided into ex- hibits of twelve pictures and five casts each. During five years the pictures were simply loaned to the schools in both cities as a traveling art collection. At the end of the year 1903 the collection was broken up, and the pictures and casts were presented permanently to the schools. Through the influence of the Chairman, sixty pictures and casts were presented by the late William R. Thompson to the Fourth Ward school in Pittsburgh. Some of these were placed in the halls and the rest in one large room. This was called the "Art Room", which the children were permitted to visit any time after school hours.
ARBOR DAY Following the activities in connection 1898 with starting the traveling art exhibit, Mrs. Thaw and her department in the year 1898 enlisted the assistance of the Educational De- partment in plans for inaugurating the observance of Arbor Day in the Public Schools. Mrs. Van Wagonen, as Chairman of a special committee, outlined a compre- hensive program which was presented to and approved by the Pittsburgh and Allegheny School Boards of Con- trol and the Principals' Club, and was sent to the schools in both cities. Mr. E. M. Bigelow co-operated by furnish- ing trees for some of the school yards, and the day was quite extensively observed by most of the schools. The reading of the Governor's proclamation, talks about trees, songs and tree planting were included in the cere- monies. The following year the Association of Colleg- iate Alumnae co-operated, and besides the public school exercises for which the committee furnished the pro- grams in both Pittsburgh and Allegheny, it was cele- brated at the Newsboys Home, at the Colored Orphan
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Asylum, where Miss Oliver planted trees, Protestant Orphan Asylum, Home for the Friendless, and at the Peoples Bath House where Mrs. Thaw planted trees, Kingsley House taking part in the celebration. The Civic Club carried on this work with varying degrees of success throughout the following years. The spirit of the day has taken a stronger hold on the schools and its significance has been illustrated through lectures by many interested persons, notable among whom is Mr. Frederick S. Webster and Professor John A. Brashear.
Through the principals and teachers the Linden, Homewood, Liberty, Friendship, and 5th Avenue High School have contributed largely to its success.
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES 1898 At various times during the year 1898 efforts were made to have manual training and domestic science taught in all the schools ; and an effort was made, with the assistance of Director J. O. Brown of the Department of Public Safety, to sup- press the posting of immodest and objectionable posters ; the opportunity was taken to co-operate, at the sugges- tion of the Rev. Chas. L. Thurgood, with the "Early Closing Association Movement".
EVENING INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS 1898 One of the most impor- tant and successful things undertaken by the Edu- cational Department .in 1898 was the boys' evening industrial schools, under the enthusiastic and successful Chairmanship of Mrs. Oscar Kleber. At the first one started in the O'Hara School 100 boys presented themselves, but only 30 could be accommodated. Later on another Boys' Club
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was started with 35 boys from 9 to 16 years, in several rooms tendered by the directors of the Springfield School.
While these evening schools were later abandoned (for they were practically the beginning of the Law- renceville Civic Club) they were of decided value as part of the educational movement that has since re- sulted in the wide public recognition of the necessity for such evening schools.
YOUNG MEN'S CIVIC CLUB OF LAWRENCEVILLE 1899
The boys' clubs grew so rapidly and presented such a field for more pre- tentious work that Mrs. Kleber, after having personally examined the scope and magnitude of the working men's clubs in New York and having learned that boys as well as men were equally eligible to membership, the older men paying fees and dues commensurate with their wage-earning capacity and thus making it possi- ble for the boys to accept membership without distress, decided that these same methods could be tried in Pittsburgh.
Mrs. Kleber took up this work in the old 12th Ward of the city, facing the difficulty of getting sufficient men interested to start the work. Standing by one of the gates of the large mills, she announced the meeting which would be held in the Springfield School, and, though the response to the invitation was not what could be called hearty, a few men came, their enthus- iasm was passed along, several more meetings followed and the audience increased each time. As it increased, so did Mrs. Kleber's anxiety as she pondered how she would obtain the funds necessary to place a roof over this fully-organized club to be known as the Young Men's Civic Club of Lawrenceville. The matter was
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put before the Civic Club Educational Department and its support was readily granted, Miss Kennard, its Chairman, proving an able assistant.
Mr. H. C. Frick gave a liberal cash donation and a number of gentlemen signified their willingness to be- come honorary members, paying $10.00 a year. At the same time the Civic Club Board agreed to supply any deficiency in the rent for the first three months and the lease was signed for a building at 2901 Penn Avenue in April, 1899. Later on Mr. Charles Schwab and Mr. Os- car Kleber guaranteed the rent but it was never necessary to take advantage of this security. It was a large three story house, well ventilated, well lighted, clean as hard work could make it, and containing a music room, a gymnasium, equipped by Mrs. C. L. Magee, bath rooms constructed as the gift of Mrs. J. R. McGinley, billiard and pool room equipment, the gift of Mr. Charles Schwab, rooms for conversation, furnished with com- fortable chairs and leather couch, roll top desk, etc., donations from many interested members of the Club in- cluding Mrs. William Thaw, Jr., and Mrs. Alexander King. A branch station of the Carnegie Library was installed and Miss Louise Taylor generously assumed the office of librarian. A piano afforded a wealth of pleasure and comfort to the individual members. A number of entertainments were given and a large Christ- mas treat, with all the charm of the holiday festival, was given to 700 children of the ward in 1899. "Buffalo Bill" added a generous donation in the way of entrance tickets for fifty of the younger boys to his Wild West Show. Under the personal supervision of Mrs. Kleber, this young army was successfully guided to the show grounds where the treat was enthusiastically enjoyed by the youngsters.
The club-house was never closed, for the men work- ing at day turn used it as late as 11 o'clock at night, and men employed during the night used it by day. With the dues fifty cents a month and the donations received, it
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became self-sustaining almost immediately and flour- ished for nearly six years. It, however, had not become independent so far as its management was concerned. To a man they relied absolutely upon Mrs. Kleber to take the executive responsibility, with the fatal result of a complete physical breakdown of their beloved leader and head. It was deemed advisable to let the men and boys assume the management, but the loss of their en- thusiastic confidante and guide seemed to undermine the organization, and gradually the membership of the Club diminished and the organization declined.
Not realizing that the responsibility that was so beneficiently assumed by Mrs. Kleber was not only over- burdening her, but diminishing the power of resistance when it came to the obstacles to be encountered in self- government, this Club, through its own inability, ceased to exist and has unfortunately become a thing of the past. Without doubt there still lingers in the minds of those who were fortunate enough to have enjoyed its privileges, a cherished memory for the many and gen- erous helps received from the kindly disposed people of the community and especially the personal services of Mrs. Kleber and her committee.
YOUNG MEN'S CIVIC CLUB OF ALLEGHENY 1899 The Young Men's Civic Club of Allegheny was organized in 1899, following the successful begin- ning of the Lawrenceville Club, An advisory committee was the only connecting link with the parent Club save the great interest of its individual members, chief among whom were Miss Kate C. McKnight, Mrs. Herbert Du- Puy, Mrs. Sullivan Johnson and Mrs. William H. Black. Miss McKnight, who was an active worker for the Club's best interests up to the time of her death, and Mrs. DuPuy, who has been the Club's most staunch
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supporter since its inception, were responsible for its organization.
Its first residence was on Western Avenue, but it was later moved to Windsor Street, Allegheny, where it was located until August, 1910. The Club, though not directly following the line of civics, has been very help- ful in many good movements and showed its apprecia- tion by doing a large share towards putting Miss Mc- Knight on the 5th Ward School Board, Allegheny, the only woman director who has ever served in either of the two cities.
In the fall of 1909 the membership had decreased, owing to the change of residence of many of its old members, and upon appealing to the Civic Club for assistance, the committee appointed found that all the efforts made to renew the membership had been fruitless, as the club-house needed many repairs and a gymnasium to bring it up-to-date. The business of tiding over the imminent crisis in the Club's affairs was most capably handled by Miss Emily McCreery, a member of the Civic Club Board and Committee, who called a large meeting in April 1910, started an associate membership and reorganized the advisory board, whose dues, with several large donations, have once more put this Club on its feet. In August, 1910, the property leased by the Club was sold for a factory site and it now occupies an entire store building at 1256 Rebecca Street, the gym- nasium being nicely accommodated in the store room. A shower bath has been set up which proves an attrac- tion to the men from the mills across the street.
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