USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume II > Part 23
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The present work of the association includes the general headquar- ters at 212 West Seventh Street, the Recreation Hall and Activities Cen- ter at 4071/2 Main Street, the Nort Forth Worth Branch, on Exchange Avenue and the branch on Sixth and Grove streets, where work among negroes is carried on.
There are a number of classes and clubs in progress and others being organized.
The new building will be well equipped with modern cafeteria, gym- nasium and swimming pool, clubrooms and an auditorium.
In addition to the educational, religious and recreation features the Traveler's Aid alone assists about 1,100 each month.
The work of the professional forces has been ably supplemented by that of volunteers, and the two forces are mutually interdependent. There are numerous ways of contributing to the support of the organiza- tion, one of which is the life membership plan. The life membership fee is $100, all of which goes, at present, to the support of the local as- sociation. Among the life members today are : Mesdames D. T. Bomar, W. A. Duringer, S. B. Hovey, J. J. Jarvis, Geo. Manning, J. T. Pember- ton, George Reynolds, B. K. Smith and Dan Waggoner, all of this city. Many of these are also contributing time and work, and it is through
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the efforts of such women as these and other contributors that the as- sociation has attained its present standing.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The initial Young Men's Christian Association organized in Fort Worth was about the year 1880 by George B. Loving. It held its meet- ings in the Northern Presbyterian Church, which stood at the corner of Ninth and Houston streets. It had a precarious existence for a few years, when Mr. W. T. Fakes was elected president and J. G. Reeves. recording secretary, and Harry W. Stone, who has since developed into one of the foremost general secretaries of the United States and who
WESTBROOK HOTEL, FORT WORTH
is now a general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Portland, Oregon, was the general secretary.
During the period between its date of organization and the year 1905, when it moved to its present home, the Y. M. C. A. occupied successively quarters at different places in the city.
While the Y. M. C. A. has not made the progress in Fort Worth that it has made in other cities, yet it has progressed steadily. It now occupies a building valued at $65,000; a building adequate to house the program of the Y. M. C. A. when the structure was completed over sixteen years ago but entirely too small for a city of Fort Worth's present size. The present inadequacy of the plant has caused the Board of Direc- tors to announce a campaign for April, 1921. for the purpose of securing pledges and making possible the erection of a new building in keeping
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with the city's progress along other lines. The present membership is 1,200. This is about one-half what it should be in a city of 125,000 population, but the present plant and equipment cannot efficiently handle a larger number.
In September, 1919, a separate organization was inaugurated to work among the negro population. This branch has today nearly 700 mem- bers and is at least 75 per cent self supporting.
In the winter of 1919, a vocational school for negro men and boys was started at Seventh and Calhoun streets. Courses in automobile mechanics, carpentry, shoe-repairing, electric wiring and stenography were given to about seventy-five students. Ever since the beginning of this work it has maintained a free employment bureau, actually placing in employment over 3.000 men, women, boys and girls during the past one and one-half years. The present location of this branch is at 912 Jones Street.
In March, 1920, O. B. King was added to the Central Y. M. C. A. staff as educational secretary. His first work was the outlining of a scholarship policy for ex-service men. Through the co-operation of the National War Work Council of the Y. M. C. A. over 200 ex-service men were helped during 1920 to a better education. These men engaged in varied study, some attended the Y. M. C. A. classes of Spanish, book- keeping, accounting, business arithmetic and auto mechanics. Others entered the various colleges and universities of the state, and still others are taking correspondence courses. Other courses have been added until now a student may get auto mechanics, electricity, acetylene welding. vulcanizing and battery building at this school. It is the most thoroughly equipped school of its kind south of St. Louis, and the instruction is very thorough. The plan of the Y. M. C. A. is to develop its schools so as to supplement the splendid work of the public schools and colleges of Fort Worth. Many civilians as well as ex-service men are handled in these schools and the under-privileged boy is given an opportunity to recoup himself.
Boy's work also has taken the form of community service largely. owing to the inadequacy of the present building. Through most of the year 1920 R. M. O'Hair directed the work. On September 1. 1920. he went to St. Louis and was succeeded by O. S. Burkholder, a man with eight years experience in this kind of work. These men have, through the courtesy of the public schools, organized Hi-Y Clubs in the North Side, the Central and Junior High schools and in the Polytechnic High School. These clubs are emphasizing clean living among the students of those schools. A boy's employment club, a newsboy's club and several church clubs have been organized and a street boy's club is the prospect of the near future. Among all of these boys a better physical body, a better education, a better social life and Christian decision are emphasized. The building boy's work, under direct supervision of O. S. Jones, is promoting gymnasium classes, Bible classes, socials and some educational work. Boy's camps will be a big feature of the coming year. In addition to the above, the Y. M. C. A. co-operates closely with the Boy Scout's movement in the city in its excellent program. Great de- velopments lie ahead of our boy's work.
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Last, but not least, our physical program, under direction of W. I .. Peterson, assisted by J. C. Roberts, is filling a great need in Fort Worth. This department, with its gymnasium classes, its swimming pool, its basket ball, volley ball, hand ball and indoor baseball, its wrestling and boxing, its outdoor games and its mass play at community points, is always popular with boys and young men. But in addition to all the above the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium offers longer life and greater efficiency to the older business man who will use it.
When the new building is provided it is the plan to have two gym- nasiums, so that this institution can more effectively co-operate with the various churches of the city regardless of denomination or sect, provid- ing space and skilled direction for church athletics. The physical direc- tor has always held himself ready to promote the city's amateur athletics, and the Y. M. C. A. has for several years maintained an outdoor athletic park where community, school, church and even college games may be played.
HOSPITALS
Fort Worth is well provided with hospitals for the care of the sick, but additional facilities are in process of foundation to provide for the future needs of a rapidly growing city.
Chronologically Saint Joseph's Infirmary is the pioneer institu- tion. In the early '80s the city donated a tract of land overlooking the city and built a hospital for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company. That company sold the hospital to the "Sisters of the Incarnate Word," who have since controlled and managed it. The buildings are commodious and fully equipped with the latest and most approved appliances for the care of the sick.
ALL SAINTS' HOSPITAL
This hospital was erected and equipped by the benevolent people of the city. It is supported by voluntary contributions. Its man- agement is under the direction of a board of trustees composed of the public spirited and philanthropic women of the city. It is open to all practicing physicians. Its location is picturesque and the buildings of modern design and construction.
JOHNSON & BEALL SANATORIUM
This is located near the business center of the city. It is owned by a firm of well known physicians, is of recent foundation and there- fore modern in construction and equipment.
THE PROTESTANT HOSPITAL
This is the latest addition to the institutions of this character. It is a three story building with about forty rooms well equipped for the care and comfort of its patrons. It is managed by Johnson & Totton, but all reputable physicians have access to its portals and may practice therein.
CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITAL
This hospital, as its name implies, is under the control of the county and city jointly and is sustained by public funds. The city
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physician and county physician manage its affairs with the aid of physicians, who serve without compensation. Primarily it is an emergency hospital for the cure of persons injured by accident, or who are unable to provide medical care and treatment for themselves.
THE HARRIS SANITARIUM
This was privately built and owned by Dr. C. H. Harris, who recently deeded it to the Methodist Church conditioned that it be enlarged. The church has purchased a handsome block of ground and raised a substantial sum of money in order to comply with the terms of the deed of gift. It will, when completed, be one of the finest if not the finest institutions in the Southwest.
FORT WORTH FREE BABY HOSPITAL
This, one of the most worthy benevolent institutions of Fort Worth, originated with Mrs. Ida L. Turner about the year 1912. Mrs. Charles Scheuber co-operated with her in every way in present- ing the suggestion for the foundation of a Free Baby Hospital to the public. It was taken up, endorsed and advocated by the Federation of Women's Clubs under the direct management of Mrs. J. H. Strayer, chairman of the Social Service Committee of the Federation. Every means known to social workers was adopted to secure money, and when the fund was sufficiently large active operation was begun. The Fairmount Land Company donated a site, between Forest Park and the Texas Christian University, for the hospital. The project received such an enthusiastic reception by all of the people of Fort Worth that lumber dealers, furniture dealers, hardware merchants and, in fact, every line of business in the city donated the material for the building, and the carpenters, brick masons, plumbers, painters, decorators, electricians and all other trades donated their services and erected a building without cost to the association. Furniture dealers donated the furniture, hardware merchants the queensware and others donated all that was necessary to completely equip the institution. The doctors volunteered their services to care for the occupants.
Facilities for the care of fifty babies were provided. A mainte- nance fund was subscribed by the patriotic and benevolent citizens of the city, and nurses, a housekeeper, a cook and other domestics were employed.
The building was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on the 12th day of May, 1913, at which Bishop A. C. Garrett, of the diocese of North Texas, pronounced the invocation, and addresses were made by Captain B. B. Paddock, Rabbi George Fox, Rev. Dr. F. P. Culver and the Rev. Dean Robert M. Nolan.
The institution cares for sick and destitute children from infants to children of ten years of age.
Fort Worth is amply supplied with every benevolent institution known to philanthropic activities.
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These comprise the Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., Salvation Army, Welfare Association, Relief Association, Benevolent Home, Cumber- land Rest and the Humane Society and the Baby Hospital.
BENEVOLENT HOME
This institution was founded by Mrs. Belle M. Churchill many years ago. For a long time she cared for it from her own means and such voluntary contributions as her friends made. It finally became large enough to attract the attention of benevolent people, and a house was erected, superintendent employed and a home insti- tuted for unfortunate waifs. A handsome two-story brick structure was built at Sycamore Heights, where from forty to fifty inmates were cared for and educated. Recently the county has taken over the institution, relieving the citizens of further demands upon their purses.
CUMBERLAND REST
This is a home for friendless and destitute old women. The society owns a comfortable home on Sixth Avenue, where these unfortunate women are made comfortable and as happy as the condi- tions will admit.
RELIEF ASSOCIATION
This is an organization of the charitable people of the city, who contribute their time and means for the relief of the sick and destitute who drift to the city or who, by unfortunate circumstances, require the assistance of the charitably inclined public.
HUMANE SOCIETY
This organization looks after every species of animal creation ; abandoned women and children; lame and uncared for animals and every other praiseworthy work receives its attention. It is supported by the voluntary contribution of charitable people.
There are three organizations in Fort Worth which challenge the admiration of every citizen. The first of these is the
FORT WORTH CLUB
The Fort Worth Club was organized in 1885 under the name of Commercial Club. The name was changed some years ago to make it a more distinctive social organization. Its initial membership was limited to 100, and it occupied rented quarters on the second floor of the building at the corner of Main and Second streets. In 1889 it purchased the lot at the corner of Main and Sixth streets and erected thereon a four-story building. The ground floor and the third and fourth floors were rented, and only the second floor devoted to club purposes.
In 1913 this building was demolished and the present magnificent six-story building was erected. The club now has a membership of around 600, with a waiting list of nearly 100 more. The club rooms are beautifully and substantially furnished, and the dining room, on the sixth floor, is the most attractive and complete in every respect
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to be found in the Southwest. The financial condition of the club is all that could be desired.
It has recently purchased a lot 200 feet front by 100 deep on Throckmorton Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, on which it proposes to erect a much larger and more commodious building, when labor and material conditions will justify the investment. It is probably the most popular social organization in the city.
Next in importance is the
RIVER CREST COUNTRY CLUB
In the late '90s a club was organized known as the Fort Worth Country Club, located at Arlington Heights, but it was not a success. During the early part of 1910 some of the members of this club became thoroughly convinced that it was essential that the Country and Golf Club be organized with suitable and sufficient grounds upon which to maintain a standard eighteen-hole golf course and that the club should own the grounds outright.
This conclusion being reached the next question was to locate and. if possible, purchase at least 100 acres of land. A self constituted committee composed of about half a dozen men, among whom were John W. Broad, David T. Bomar, W. T. Humble and Morris E Berney, after several weeks' search finally found the site of the pres- ent club ; but in order to obtain 100 acres, suitable for the golf course, it was found necessary to purchase 625 acres, of which more than 400 acres were river bottom land, unsuitable for the purpose contemplated. and that it would require $125,000 to purchase the same. Several interested parties agreed to help finance the project, and after a brief canvass about twenty-five or thirty people subscribed for from $500 to $5,000 each, which was deemed sufficient to carry out the deal.
Immediate steps were taken to organize and incorporate the River Crest Company, which purchased the land, and shortly thereafter the golf course was surveyed and the present golf course was laid out. This work was supervised by Mr. J. W. Broad, who practically donated a year of his time to the work.
One hundred acres of the land was allotted to the club, which was chartered as the River Crest Country Club, with about 100 members. Plans for the club house were drawn by Sanguinette and Staats, and the River Crest Company undertook to furnish the money with which to build and equip the club, the total cost of which was $50,000. The actual construction of the club house began in August, 1911, and it was completed and formally opened in June, 1912.
The original membership was limited to 200 active members, and this limit was maintained until 1915 when, owing to the increased growth of Fort Worth as well as interest in golf and country club life, the membership was increased to 300 active members. The club is now full, with seventy-five on the waiting list, seventy-five junior members and fifty associate members.
In the early part of 1915 the River Crest Company, having disposed of practically all its holdings, decided to present to the River Crest Country Club its net earnings, which amounted to $50,000. This club
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now owns 155 acres of land, a modern and completely equipped club house and an eighteen-hole golf course, equal to any in the state, against which there is not a dollar of indebtedness except $75,000, representing the capital stock of the club.
More credit for the successful promotion of the River Crest Coun- try Club is due to the late David T. Bomar than to any one person. He worked out and carried into successful execution the entire financing of the River Crest Company as well as of the River Crest Country Club, the total amount in both being well above $250,000.
John W. Broad personally supervised the laying out of the grounds, building of roadways, water mains, construction of club house, etc., and to him and Mr. Bomar are due the biggest part of the success of the River Crest Country Club.
This club occupies a beautiful location on an elevated plateau west of the city, and is one of the most attractive institutions of the city.
GLEN GARDEN COUNTRY CLUB
This club is located about three and a half miles southeast of the city on the Forth Worth & Cleburne Interurban road.
It was organized in 1913 and now has 340 members. It owns its own grounds, consisting of 111 acres, and besides its club house, which cost $20,000, its golf course is conceded to be one of the most beautiful in the country. It also has four of the best tennis courts in the city.
Because of its accessibility and its splendid appointments many clubs and organizations give their parties there during the winter months.
This club was promoted by Messrs. L. D. and H. H. Cobb, who are entitled to great credit for its establishment and success.
MEADOW MERE CLUB
The last candidate for social recognition is the Meadowmere Club.
This club is located in Arlington Heights, in buildings which were built by the Government and the Red Cross during the war. There are approximately fifteen acres in the club site, and four substantial buildings, the club house, bachelor quarters, swimming pool and garage. These buildings have been remodeled and fitted up for club purposes.
There are at this time 140 members, the limit of membership being 200. All of the appointments are first class in every particular, including the tennis court, swimming pool, stables for equestrians, and other opportunities for the members to display their skill and enjoy the pleasures incident to out-door life.
Mr. T. E. D. Hackney is the managing director and gives his undivided attention to the club, which promises to be an attractive social feature of the community.
WOMEN'S CLUBS
The number of Women's clubs in Fort Worth is legion. Every field of endeavor, including literature, music, art, home economics and amusement, is represented.
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. In literature the Woman's Wednesday Club is the oldest. It was organized in 1889, with a membership of fifty, which number has never been changed. Its activities are exclusively of a literary char- acter.
The Monday Club is composed of the younger set of matrons. Its activities are also literary. Its membership is limited to fifty, and it has been a pronounced success from its inception to date.
The Harmony Club is the leading musical organization, has been in existence for a number of years and has been a potent factor in the development and encouragement of musical talent. It brings to the city every year noted artists, both vocal and instrumental, including such as Caruso and Galli Curci and other artists of inter- national renown.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
In the year 1900 Mr. J. W. Spencer and Capt. B. B. Paddock took the initiative in the organization of the Fort Worth Board of Trade. They secured a membership of 100, with dues at $5 per month. An organization was perfected with the late Paul Waples as president and Talbot O. Bateman as secretary.
The income was not sufficient to enable the Board to engage in many activities, but it formed a nucleus around which public matters gathered. It took the lead in securing subscriptions to defray expenses at conventions, public gatherings, excursions, etc.
After the first year the membership was increased, and Mr. Spencer was elected president and Captain Paddock secretary, and it became very active in advertising the city, securing industries and performing other public services. The presidency was changed annually, but Captain Paddock remained secretary until 1910, when he was com- pelled on account of failing health to retire from every activity.
In the year 1912 the name of the organization was changed to that of Chamber of Commerce and its field of endeavor broadened to embrace the management of every public service. Instead of annual dues members were solicited to make contributions which would
cover all calls made upon it of a public nature except that of charity and churches. It took over the management of the freight bureau, grain inspection, expenses of the fat stock show and every other public service requiring work and money. It organized a company for the construction of the present Chamber of Commerce building, with its splendid auditorium and offices.
After the retirement of Captain Paddock, Mr. R. O. McCormack was elected secretary. He served for three years and was succeeded by Dr. C. C. Gumm, who held the position for four years, during which time it promoted and financed the military cantonment and the three aviation fields for the general Government. This stupendous work was conducted successfully and satisfactorily, and is a tribute to the business efficiency of the then secretary-manager.
In 1920 Dr. Gumm resigned to engage in private business, and the Chamber was successful in securing the services of the present secretary, Mr. Eugene S. Shannon, of Nashville, Tennessee, a man of wide experience in work of this nature.
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In 1919 the then president. Mr. William Monnig, conceived the idea of the junior directorate, composed of the younger element of business men, to aid and assist the officials of the Chamber in the performance of their duties.
This has proven a most efficient adjunct to the Chamber of Com- merce and has been instrumental in securing the services and co-oper- ation of a large number of young men who might not otherwise be interested in public work.
One of the most conspicuous and serviceable branches of the Chamber is its agricultural department, which has been successful in influencing the farmers throughout Tarrant County to a more inten- sive cultivation of their lands and a diversification of crops, the organization of Farmers' Clubs, Boys' Corn Clubs, Baby Beef Clubs, Girls' Canning Clubs and Domestic Science. This department is managed by Mr. H. M. Means, and has been instrumental in bringing about a more harmonious feeling between country and city.
The present membership of the Chamber of Commerce is 1,875 and its annual income is $125,000.
ROTARY CLUB
The Fort Worth Rotary Club was organized on Friday, March 13, 1913, with thirteen members. Notwithstanding this handicap of superstition it has been a pronounced success from its inception. It now has 237 members, who meet at luncheon every Friday at 12:15, giving one and a half hours to luncheon, entertainment and business.
The Rotary Club has been a potent factor in every movement for the upbuilding and advancement of Fort Worth and its business activ- ities. It was enthusiastic in its work in the sale of Liberty Bonds, raising funds for the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A. and all other benevolent organizations. It selects and gives a four-year course to a young woman at the T. W. C., paying all expenses, including clothing, during the entire course. It has fostered and assisted the Boy Scouts, the Young Brother Movement and every other worthy subject pre- sented for its encouragement and assistance.
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