CHAPTER XVI

CLUBS, LODGES, SOCIAL AND OTHER ORGANIZATION S

Y. M. C . A ., Boys ' Club, Home for Aged People and Similar Institutions . Quequechan Club , and Masonic and Other Lodges. The Militia . Labor Union s and Labor Troubles

The leading club in the city is the Queque - in 1868, with George B . Durfee president . chan, which has a large and comfortabl e He was succeeded by E . C . Nason in 1870 , house on North Main street, where nearl y Leroy Sargent in 1873, Ray G . Ruling and all the distinguished visitors to the city J. H . Pierce. The work was discontinue d have been entertained in recent years . Amon g in 1880 . these have been the Honourable Artil- The present association was formed eight lery Company, of London, when it was th e years later, in 1888, with James F . Jackso n guest of the Ancient and Honorable Artil- president, Andrew J . Jennings vice-presi- lery Company of Boston ; the delegations o f dent, W. Frank Shove recording secretary, prominent Filipinos who visited the Unite d and Enoch J . French treasurer . Mr . Jack- States as the guests of the nation, and Gov- son was succeeded in 1891 by Rev . Percy S . ernors and other high dignitaries . The Grant, who held office till the fall of 1893 , club was formed in 1893 in part as a succes- when he resigned to remove to New York . sor of the old Commercial Club, with 2 5 A movement to raise funds for a buildin g charter members, of whom William F . was started at this time, and about $19,00 0 Hooper, James E . Osborn, Edward Barker , paid in, with which the site of the presen t F. O. Dodge, David Beattie and Dr . D. A. building was purchased . Babcock were the more active . The mem- The home of the association from 1888 til l bership soon increased to 200 and now con- 1895 was in the Slade house, so-call- sists of 235 resident and 95 non-residen t ed, at the corner of Elm and North members . The William Mason house wa s Main streets, generously contributed rent purchased and greatly enlarged to its pres- free by Mrs . Mary B. Young . The ent size. William F . Hooper and James E . selection of the site of this structur e Osborn have been president and vice-presi- for the new public library buildin g dent, respectively, since its organization . made removal necessary and the store - Frederick O . Dodge was the first treas- room on the southeast corner of Nort h urer, succeeded by Edward I . Marvell an d Main and Pine streets was occupied till th e shortly after by Edward Barker, the presen t old house that stood on the site of th e officer . R. P . Borden was the first secre- present building could be renovated an d tary. That office is now held by P . A . made ready for occupancy in the fall o f Mathewson . 1896. The first Young Men's Christian Associa- Shortly after entering this building Mr . W . tion here was formed in the sprin g of 1857, D. Fellows, of Erie . Pa., was engaged as with R. K . Remington, Walter Paine, 3d , general secretary, and his coming to th e William H . Mason, John C . Milne, Elihu An- city marked the beginning of a new era drews, John D . Flint, Alexander T . Miln e for the Association . He was a man of mag- and Walter C . Durfee among its prominen t netic personality, rare executive and busi- supporters . R . K. Remington was president, ness ability, combined with unusual spirit- James B . Pearson secretary and Charles J. ual gifts, and under his administration th e Holmes treasurer . The association live d Association gathered fresh impetus . Mr. Fel- until the outbreak of the Civil War, when i t lows was ably assisted during this crucial gave up its work, in common with man y period by Mr. Arthur Rudman, who resigne d similar organizations . It was reorganized in 1904 to accept a position in the work at

HISTORY OF FALL RIVER 133

Manila, Philippine Islands, under the Inter - sachusetts and Rhode Island . The thir d national Committee. floor front contains a kitchen with moder n A gymnasium was erected in 1896, and i n accessories, and dining room, and the fourt h April, 1900, the building fund for the present floor is given up to dormitories, from which structure was started with a gift of $10,000 . an annual income of over $3,000 is derived . Other contributions brought the fund up t o The basement of the combined structur e about $77,000, and work was begun in th e contains separate lavatories and locke r spring of 1901 . The cornerstone was lai d rooms for junior and senior departments , September 21 of that year, and the build- swimming pool and bowling alleys, and a ing dedicated April 19, 1903, with addresse s photographic dark room . by prominent city officials and others . The building proper cost $90,000, and wit h It is a handsome four-story structure of the connecting gymnasium and the lan d hammered Fall River granite and gray represents an of $125,000 . A s Roman brick, with a frontage of 86 feet on a result of a special effort early in 1906 th e North Main street and a depth ranging fro m property is free from debt .

Y. M . C . A . Building 75 feet on Pine street to 87 feet on the The Association now has 1,054 regula r north . The front elevation is an American members and 232 contributing nonmembers , modification of the French Renaissanc e and is in a prosperous condition and doin g style and most attractive . The building i s an excellent work among the young men o f handsomely finished, with a large reception the city. Andrew J. Jennings is president, room, reading and game rooms, and a smal l having succeeded Mr . Grant in 1893 . Th e hall on the first floor . other officers are : Leonard N . Slade, Vice- A pretty auditorium, with a seating ca- president ; Charles D . Buffinton, treasurer ; pacity of 548, occupies the east half of th e Ralph B . Smith, recording secretary. second and third floors . This is called Rem- The secretaries have been : George M . ington Hall, in memory of Robert K . Rem- Stowell, 1889-91 ; A. N . Lowe, 1891-96 ; W. D. ington, whose widow was a large donor t o Fellows, 1897-1905 ; D . M . Spence, since 1905 . the building fund . It contains an excel - Associated with Mr . Spence on the execu- lent portrait in oil of Mr. Remington . Th e tive force are Ernest P . Conlon, assistan t west half of the second floor is given up t o secretary ; William J . Davison, physical the boys' work, with comfortable and cos y director ; George L . Atwood, assistant phy- quarters . The Association has the larges t sical director, and John H . Piper, boys' work boys' department in the two States of Mas- director .

134 HISTORY OF FALL RIVE R

The Women's Union was started late i n late Robert Adams gave a lot on Highlan d 1873, and on December 15 opened a room avenue as the site for a new building, an d in the Troy Building, where working wome n an active canvass for money to pay the cos t might come for enjoyment and assistance . of erecting a structure, aided by a gift o f Mrs . A. G . Hart was the first president . A $15,000 from M . C. D. Borden, justified the sewing school was begun in 1879, and in beginning of work in the latter part of Oc- 1883 the rooms over the Union mill offic e tober, 1896. The structure, which is of brick, were offered and have since been used . 76½ by 37½ feet, was completed at a cos t Classes in millinery, dressmaking, cooking , of $41,000 and dedicated in March, 1898. etc., have been successfully carried on . A Various individuals, churches and societie s day nursery was established December 27 , furnished the building, which has a com- 1886, but discontinued after two years . I n manding view, is finished in whitewood an d 1887 the Union was incorporated . The Work- North Carolina pine and excellently arrange d ing Girls' Club, which now has a member - for its purpose . As a result of numerou s ship of 200 and is the largest of its kind legacies it now has invested funds amount- in the State, was formed in 1891, and has ing to about $56,000 . The present officer s always been self-supporting . Up to 1893 th e are : President, John D . Flint ; Vice-Presi- Pleasant street rooms were opened certai n dents, Milton Reed and Mrs . D. M . Anthony ; evenings in each week—since then they Secretary, Miss A . B . Wrightington ; Treas- have been open every week day evening urer, Edward S . Adams . from October to June, four evenings being The Boys' Club of Fall River was organ- devoted to the Working Girls' Club and tw o ized February 1, 1890 . The first impulse fo r to the Happy Girls' Club . October 14, 1896 , its formation came from Rev . John C . Col- the Home on Pine street was opened . Thes e lins, representing the Christian Workers ' rooms were furnished by various societie s Association of New Haven . The late Rev . and have been kept under the supervisio n Edwin A . Buck was a prime mover in th e of a resident matron . organization . Local citizens took hold o f The Industrial Exchange was opened De- the work with heart and soul, and from tha t cember 1, 1896, and has been self-supportin g time to the present interest and faith hav e except that the Union has provided rooms , never faltered and the club has steadil y rent free, in the Pine street home . In 190 4 grown, until now it ranks with the highes t a lot of land on Rock street, corner of Frank- in efficiency, power and . The firs t lin street, was presented to the Union, an d home of the club was on Third street—on e upon this lot it is intended to erect a build- room, with a piano, a few tables and bench - ing suitable for its various needs, includin g es, several mottoes on the wall, were it s a reading room and reception or waitin g only adornment . A corner was railed off room, where any woman (from in town o r for a toilet room, with two tin hand basin s out of town) may find a convenient an d and a roller towel . A book case filled wit h comfortable resting place. A committe e books occupied another corner . This wa s was appointed to devise means for raisin g the beginning, and yet the boys came, wer e the desired amount of $50,000, and circu- happily entertained, and thought the tw o lars were issued in October, 1905 . During hours spent in the room in the evening the next three months more than half that passed altogether too quickly. In less than amount was pledged, and it is now hope d a year the club outgrew this home, an d that Fall River may soon see the Women' s rooms in Vermont Block, Pocasset street, Union established in its own home . were procured and occupied . The presen t The Home for Aged People, which no w building was given by M . C . D. Borden, occupies a handsome brick building on of New York, a native of Fall River, an d Highland avenue, providing a comfortabl e was dedicated January 12, 1898 . home for between 25 and 30 persons of ad- It has indeed been to the members of th e vanced years, is the outgrowth of a move - club a true home in every sense of the ment begun in 1891 by John D. Flint, John word, and the boys take the greatest prid e S. Brayton, Hon . Milton Reed, Mrs . Hannah in keeping it without mar or disfiguration . Almy, Mrs. Charles Durfee, Mrs . David M . Through the generosity of Mr . Borden th e Anthony, Mrs . John H . Boone, Miss A. B. club has been able to extend its privilege s Wrightington, Mrs . Edward S . Adams and to other organizations, and to young me n others . The old Leland house, on High who have long needed the influence of suc h street, was rented for the first home. The a place, where they could spend their even-

HISTORY OF FALL RIVER 135

ings. Mr. Borden has watched the wor k towards the club, and was always ready t o grow with unabated interest, and is at the sanction any plan that would lead to the present time enlarging the work by erecting formation of high principles and noble char- and giving to the club another building , acter in any of its members . connecting in the rear and facing Pocasse t The superintendent, Thomas Chew, has street, which will be larger than the present been with the club since its formation, an d structure and adapted in every departmen t it is owing largely to his unremitting labor s, to the needs of these older boys . The old zeal, forethought and tact that the clu b adage "Tall oaks from little acorns grow " holds its present position in the communit y is illustrated in the Boys' Club of Fall River . and country. The exterior of both of these buildings is The club was incorporated in 1892 . Th e fire-flashed buff brick, with brown ston e present officers and directors of the clu b trimmings . The one now occupied is 90 fee t are : George A. Chace, president ; John D . long, with a depth of 75 feet . On the groun d Flint, vice-president ; James W. Bence , floor is a hall, with seating capacity of 500 . treasurer ; Harriet H. Brayton, secretar y A library, gymnasium, reading room an d (the president, vice-president and secretar y

Children's Home, corner Walnut and Robeson Streets

office, all finished in oak. The second stor y were charter members) ; Richard J . Thomp- has four class rooms . The third story i s son, M . D ., Cornelius S . Greene, Mrs . E. H . the home of the superintendent, with a larg e B. Brow, Mrs . Jefferson Borden, Mrs . James game room . In the basement are to b e Osborn . found a swimming pool, bowling alleys and In 1896 George W . Dean gave to the clu b bathing facilities . the Dean farm, in Freetown . Many of th e The extension will be 141 feet long an d members go there in summer for a tw o have an average width of 65 feet. The gym- weeks' outing . nasium will have an area of 9,000 square With the superintendent to lead on, th e feet and be 22 feet high, with no columns . club cannot but always be one of the bea- There will be 28 shower baths, a kitchen, con lights in the history of the city . dining room and many other special fea- The Children's Home of Fall River, whic h tures . now cares for about 80 boys and girls, 5 9 The membership of the club is 1,800. in its building at the corner of Robeson an d The late Rev . Edwin A. Buck was the firs t Walnut streets and 21 in private homes , president of the club, and retained the offic e and by its last annual report had sheltered until his death, March 10, 1903 (thirteen 685 children since its foundation in April, years) . Mr . Buck held a parental feeling 1873, was incorporated by act of the Legisla-

136 HISTORY OF FALL RIVE R

ture, allowing the Fall River Orphans' Asy- ceeded by the present incumbent, Nathanie l lum and the Children's Friend Society t o B . Borden . unite and constitute one corporation . The present officers are as follows : Presi- Thomas J . Borden was the first presi- dent, Nathaniel B . Borden ; Vice-Presidents , dent, Thomas F . Eddy and Dr . J . L . Clarke Robert T . Davis, Charles B . Cook, Oliver S . vice-presidents, John C . Haddock secretary , Hawes and Mrs . William Beattie ; Treasurer , and Samuel R . Buffinton treasurer. Th e Benjamin S . C . Gifford ; Corresponding Sec- board of managers was composed of promi- retary, Miss Lydia H . Read ; Recording Sec- nent and influential people who recognize d retary, Miss Ellen M. Shove. the necessity of charitable work, and who The Deaconess Home was founded large- were willing to devote themselves to allevi- ly through the efforts and benefactions of ating distress and misfortune in Fall River . John D . Flint, who, becoming impressed A tract of land 300 feet square was pur- with the value of the work, about 1888 em- chased, and a substantial frame buildin g ployed Miss Emma Ross as a city mission- ary was erected at a cost of $10,018 .26, and dedi- . Her reports were so encouraging tha t cated to its work on February 27, 1874 . a meeting of representatives of all the Meth- odist Churches in the city was called Decem- It was necessary to mortgage the prop- ber 21, 1892, and the following year a cor- erty, and for many years it was a struggl e poration was formed . Mr . Flint gave $10, - to meet obligations . 000 as an endowment , and in 1894 the Ben- In 1882 Simeon B . Chase and George H . jamin Covel estate, on Second street, wa s Hawes felt that it was time that some ef- purchased for the headquarters of the werk. fort should be made to liquidate the indebt- The Salvation Army, whose work now ha s edness so as to put the Home on a substan- the respect and assistance of all, was begu n tial financial basis . Subscriptions wer e here November 3, 1883, when Captain an d solicited and nearly $12,000 was obtained , Mrs . Holmes came to this city to inaugurat e and all indebtedness cancelled . it at the request of William Brooks, a loca l In 1883 John M . Bryan donated $1,000 , citizen who had been a member of the arm y which was the beginning of the permanen t before emigrating from England . The first fund, now amounting to $83,377 .52 . The in - quarters were in the old opera house in come from the investment of this fund pro- Court Square, where it remained 11 years , vides money which pays about one-half th e removing to the southeast corner of Pleas - annual expenses . The rest of the mone y ant and Third streets and subsequently t o d necessary to maintain the Home is derive other rooms, till in November, 1903, it occu- from the board of some of the children, an d pied its present citadel on Bedford street, from the annual contributions from th e which had erected for its work. This is a churches at Thanksgiving . The home wa s brick building with a commodious hall on full all of the time, and it soon became ap- the first floor, and on the second a dormi - parent that larger accommodations wer e tory with 34 beds, shower baths and readin g necessary . At the suggestion of Mrs . Sara h rooms . A salvage department has also been B . Chace, widow of Edmund Chace, step s established and a brass band of 22 piece s were taken to interest the people of Fal l organized . The membership is now 125 . River to furnish the means to build a ne w The Young Men's Irish-American Catho- brick building, which resulted in the erec- lic Total Abstinence and Benevolent So- tion of the present home building, dedicate d ciety was formed January 28, 1872, as th e May 20, 1895 . This building cost $23,000 , result of the efforts of Patrick E . Foley, Dan- the greater part of which was generousl y iel Downing, Timothy Harrington and Fran k given by Mrs . Chace, who had been a mem- O'Brien . Its first quarters were in the Con- ber of the original board of managers, an d cert Hall building on Pleasant street, fro m had always taken great interest in the wel- which it removed to Mayhew Hall on Augus t fare of the Children's Home, and was con- 10 . Carrolton Hall, the next home, was oc- versant with its needs . cupied from May, 1877 to 1895, when th e Thomas J . Borden, the first president, wa s Quinn, Woodland & Co . building, the D . D . succeeded in October, 1874, by Thomas F . Sullivan building and St . John's Hall wer e Eddy, who held the office of president unti l occupied within a few months . Work o n October, 1876, when Dr . James M . Aldric h the building on Anawan street, now occu- was elected . Dr . Aldrich resigned in 188 9 pied by the society, was begun July 31 , on account of failing health, and was suc - 1895, and the structure dedicated January

HISTORY OF FALL RIVER 137

27, 1896 . It is of red brick, with buff bric k tion here in courts We'll Try, Littlejohn , and terra cotta trimmings finished in Nort h Good Samaritan, Progress, Benevolence, On - Carolina pine, with library, smoking an d ward, Victory, Rochambeau ; Court Lad y lounging rooms and a hall 61 feet square . It s of Victory, of the Massachusetts Catholi c cost, with furniture, was $24,672 . The Irish - Order of Foresters ; Courts Work and Win , American Guards and a drum corps were or- Robin Hood, and a juvenile court of th e ganized in 1889, and an auxiliary, th Ancient Order of Foresters, and Courts Sau- . e Women's Catholic Associates, in 1892 F. A. val, Notre Dame and St . Ann of the Catholi c O'Brien was the first president, and among order . There is also an organization of th e his early successors were Marcus Leonard, Companions of the Forest . Patrick E . Foley, Thomas F . Cunneen, P . M . The Ancient Order of Hibernians hav e McGlynn, P . H . Baldwin, Edward F. Murphy, five divisions, known as Nos . 1, 6, 11, 14 an d Augustus P . Gorman, John H . Carrell , 16 . James F. Manning, Michael H . Connelly, In addition to these many others could be Thomas Donohue, John Casey and Daniel J . named, including Pocasset Council of th e Harrington . The present officers (April, Royal Arcanum and its ladies' auxiliary ; 1906) are : President, James Fagan the Weetamoe Chapter of the Order of th e ; Recordin; Vice-President, Thomas Fitzpatrick g Eastern Star ; Fall River Commandery of Secretary, Frank L. Coyle ; Correspondin g the United Order of the Golden Star ; Har- Secretary, Thomas Geary ; Treasurer, Ber- mony Lodge, Order of Brith Abraham ; nard F . Doherty ; Financial Secretary , Mount Hope, Puritan and Volunteer Colo - James M . Manning ; Assistant, John H . nies of the United Order of the Pilgrim Murphy . The membership is 510. Fathers ; Troy, Fall River and Priscill a The Masonic societies are represented by lodges of the New England Order of Protec- Mount Hope Lodge, instituted December 8, tion; Fall River and Quequechan Conclave s 1824 ; Narragansett and King Philip Lodges , of the Improved Order of Heptasophs, an d Fall River Royal Arch Chapter, Fall Rive r Pilgrim and Plymouth lodges of the United Council of Royal and Select Masters, God- Workmen . frey De Bouillon Commandery of Knight s From the close of the Civil War until 187 6 Templar and the Purple Consulate . The Fall River had two companies of militia , order is making great advances in member - known as B and D, of the Third Regiment, ship and has a comfortable hall on Frank- but they were disbanded in the reorganiza- lin street . tion of the militia in that year . In Novem- The Independent Order of Odd Fellows ber, 1878, a petition for a new company wa s has four lodges—Mount Hope, dating from circulated and granted by the Governor . O n March 5, 1845 ; Friendly Union, from Sep- November 29 an order was issued for Sierr a tember 5, 1873 ; Loyal Unity, from June 4, L. Braley to recruit a company to be at- 1881, and Fall River, from December 1, 1892 . tached to the First Regiment, M . V. M., an d Metacomet Encampment was instituted i n known as Company M . The rolls were 1847 . These are supplemented by Canto n opened December 5 and sent to Boston th e Beard, Patriarchs Militant, Loyal Purita n following day with 57 names . This was th e and Olive Branch lodges, Manchester Unity , beginning of what was afterward known a s the United Sisters, I. O . O . L ., M. U ., an d Battery M, and now as the Twelfth Com- Hiawatha and Minnehaha. lodges, D . of R . pany, Corps of Coast Artillery, M. V. M . The Knights of Pythias have seven lodge s The company was mustered in Decembe r —Mount Vernon, Anawan, Puritan, Lafay- 12, and on December 17 elected Sierra L . ette, Pocasset, Star and Excelsior—and two Braley captain, V . O . Sayward first lieuten- sections of endowment rank. The Rathbon e ant and Charles E . Tetlow second lieuten- Sisters have two temples—Damon and Rath - ant . Arms were received in April, and on bone . May 30, the new organization made its firs t The English are well represented in the public appearance, as escort to Post 46 , four lodges of the Sons of St . George— G. A . R. Since then it has taken part in all Livingstone, U . S. Grant, Bonnie Red Rose tours of duty performed by the regiment . and Cromwell—and the Uniformed Rank , It attended the funeral of General Grant i n Napier Commandery . The Daughters of St . 1885, the Philadelphia celebration in 1887, George have two lodges—Britannia an d the 250th anniversary of the settlement o f Primrose . Providence in 1886, the McKinley inaugura l The Foresters have a large representa - parade in 1901, and was stationed at Fort

138 HISTORY OF FALL RIVER

Greble during the joint army and nav y paymaster on the staff, and since then Joh n manoeuvres in 1902 . It has an enviable rec- T. Nelson, lieutenant, junior grade, has bee n ord for efficiency, discipline and attendance acting chief of company, with John M . at drills . Young, Jr., ensign. On the 25th of April, 1898, the day wa r Company I was formed as a reserve com- was declared with Spain, Captain Braley re- pany May 25, 1898, at the outbreak of th e ceived orders to "assemble his comman d war with Spain, and was one of four com- and await further orders ." In one hour th e panies organized at this time . William B . men were assembled, had answered the roll- Edgar, who headed the petition for the com- call and were armed and equipped to answe r pany, was elected lieutenant, chief of com- the call of the President. Early the next pany, with Richard P. Borden lieutenant, day it was on its way to Fort Warren, wher e junior grade, and George W . Palmer ensign . it was mustered into the ser- Mr . Edgar resigned November 3, 1899, an d vice for two years, on May 9, a part of th e was succeeded by Richard P. Borden til l first volunteer regiment in the country to February 8, 1904, and by William M . Old- be mustered in . It served there unde r ing till November 11, 1904 . Since then th e Major James A . Frye until September 19 , company has been in charge of Minor W . when it went to South Framingham to be Wilcox, lieutenant, junior grade. Charles A . mustered out . A furlough was granted Octo- MacDonald is ensign . ber 5, and the federal duty ended November Company I as a whole was not called into 14 . active service during the war with Spain , By act of the Legislature the regiment t o but the men of Company F served on the which the company belonged was change d Lehigh and Prairie, and in some cases wer e to the Heavy Artillery June 1, 1897, an d detached for duty on other vessels . The Company M became Battery M . In accord- Signal Corps was also called out . ance with the statutes of 1905 it assume d The Prairie detachment, which numbere d its present title November 1, 1905. about 30 men, were a part of the first detail Captain Braley resigned January 1, 1899 , of the naval brigade to respond to the Pres- and on February 14 was succeeded by Cap - ident's call for men, and reported at th e tain David Fuller, the present commanding Brooklyn Navy Yard at 9 o'clock Sunday officer . William J . Meek is first lieutenant, morning, April 24, 1898, in response to a n and Harry W . Skinner second lieutenant . order from , then As- Others than those named who have bee n sistant Secretary of the Navy, the day be - lieutenants are James F. Jackson, Charle s fore, received here on the afternoon of th e B. Woodman, John D . Munroe, Horace E . 23, and now preserved at headquarters . Th e Whitney, Walter F . Borden and Fred W . Prairie served first on patrol duty, an d Harrison . about July 1 was transferred to Cuban an d Company F, Naval Brigade, was forme d Porto Ricoan waters, where it went on th e September 30, 1892, under General Orders blockade . One member of the company, No . 15, of September 26, in accordance wit h Lynwood French, died of disease during th e an act of the legislature allowing the form- conflict . The Lehigh was attached to th e ing of four companies as the Second Bat - Northern Atlantic patrol fleet. talion . Companies were also formed at th e Headquarters and the Signal Corps were same time in Fall River, New Bedford an d brought here on the election of Mr Lynn. John D . Munroe was the first lieu- . Buflin-ton as lieutenant commander, in 1900 . tenant chief of company, with Nathan Dur- fee and William B . Edgar lieutenants, junio r THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC grade, and Richard P. Borden and W . C . . Wetherell, ensigns . Mr . Munroe retired Richard Borden Post No . 46, G . A. R., December 11 . 1894, with the rank of lieuten- was organized January 22, 1868, and reache d ant commander . He was succeeded b its greatest membership—494—in 1895 . Thi s . Edgar, who served till his resig-y William B has now fallen to 210 . The list of past nation December 24, 1897 . George R . H . commanders includes Frank McGraw, Joh n Buffinton, Mr . Edgar's successor, wa s H. Abbott, Joseph Harrison, John M . Deane elected lieutenant commander and was fol- and Amos M . Jackson .. lowed by William H . Beattie June 4 . 1900 , The officers for 1906 are : Commander , and by Milton I . Deane March 15, 1904 . Th e John Gilbert ; Senior Vice Commander , latter resigned December 4, 1905, to become Joseph Bowers ; Junior Vice Commander,

HISTORY OF FALL RIVER 139

George Hanson ; Adjutant, F. H. Channell ; George Gunton was prominent in the labo r Quartermaster, Edward Hague ; Officer o f meetings at this time . The mills starte d Day, Gilbert Arnold ; Officer of Guard , up on September 27, but required the op- James Holehouse ; Chaplain, Albert S. eratives to sign an agreement not to belon g Palmer ; Surgeon, Charles M . S . Gerry ; to any labor organization. One clause wa s Sergeant Major, Robert Fielden ; Quarter- misunderstood and led to a demonstratio n master Sergeant, William McLane . near the city hall and the calling out o f The present handsome armory, of Fal l five companies of militia, two from this city , River granite, was completed in 1897 . It two from Taunton and one from New Bed - contains on the first floor rooms for th e ford, who remained here until Saturday. Twelfth Company, and another whe n The strike of 1879 on the part of th e needed, as well as a drill hall, 150x75 . The spinners for an advance of 15 per cent i s quarters of Companies F and I, Naval Bri- still remembered for its bitter spirit, en- gade, are on the second floor, rooms fo r gendered largely by the bringing of strike - two others on the third, and a gymnasium breakers here, to be quartered on the prop- on the fourth. Land owned by the city o n erty of the corporations . It was marked b y the south side of Pine street, opposite Rug- occasional violence, and lasted from Jun e gles Park, was first selected as the site fo r 15 to October 26, and was unsuccessful . the structure, but abandoned in deferenc e Mr . Gunton was again prominent in labo r to the general desire. Prior to the erectio n meetings . of the armory the militia was quartered i n In 1884 occurred the "ten-mills' strike " a frame building on Bedford street, ,and against a reduction, which lasted eightee n later on the upper floor of the Central En- weeks, and was also unsuccessful . It be- gine House . Another building on the cor- gan early in February and affected the tw o ner of Fourth and Pleasant streets was Border City Mills, the Sagamore No . 1 , rented for Company F . the three Union Mills, the Wampanoag No . 1, Tecumseh No . 1, Slade and Chace . These s Fall River has had its share of labo r were assisted financially by the other mill troubles, some of them extended and a during the strike, and the idle operatives severe blow to the welfare of the communi- received aid from those at work. ty. Since the 1879 strike, however, they The strike of 1894 was against a reduc- have been notable for the orderly behavior tion, and began as a "vacation" of th e of those on strike, even under trying con- operatives August 24 . The spinners later ditions, a fact of which all have been proud , declared a strike, and returned to wor k the sympathizers with the mill owners n o October 15 on a compromise, by which thei r less than those who sided with the opera- wages were cut only 5 per cent, instea d tives . of the 10 of the others . This was to b e The first serious trouble began in July , restored if the margin was 85 cents for th e 1870, when the spinners struck in protes t next sixty days . Many of the weavers re- against a reduction . By August 24 som e mained out till October 30, when they ac- of the men had returned to work, and o n cepted the reduction . that day a large crowd gathered at the Dur- The strike of 1904 was the longest an d fee Mills. The police felt unable to handl e most disastrous in the city's history and fol - the situation and the fire department was lowed the announcement of a 12½ per cent . called on to disperse the crowd with it s reduction of wages, the second within a hose . The two local military companie s year, to which were added a feeling of re- were called to their armory and two other s sentment at what was regarded as high- brought here from Taunton, but were no t handed action on the part of the manufac- sent out . The strike, which had lasted jus t turers ,and the opposition of the weavers t o two months, ended September 15, when th e being asked to run more looms . In the spinners returned to work at the reduction . vote of the unions on the strike question , The "Great Vacation" began early i n July 21, three—the weavers, loom fixers an d August, 1875, in the decision of the opera- slasher tenders—were recorded in favor of tives to take four weeks' rest, believing tha t suspending work, and the carders and spin- a curtailment was a better remedy for th e ners also showed a majority in favor of thi s situation than the cut in wages proposed . cour se, though they were counted in oppo- At the end of that time the manufacturers sition because they did not have the neces- decided on another vacation of equal length . sary two-thirds vote . The textile council

140 HISTORY OF FALL RIVER

had recommended acceptance of the reduc- ary 18, 1885, 16 .50 ; March 1, 1886, 18 .5 0 tion, but as three of the five unions favore d February 13, 1888, 19 ; July 1, 1892, 19 .6 ; De- a strike it had no course but to order one, cember 5, 1892, 21 ; September 11, 1893, 18 ; which went into effect Monday, .July 25 . Th e August 30, 1894, 16 ; April 22, 1895, 18 : strike was carried on till the 26th week , .January 1, 1898, 16 ; February 27 . 1899, 18 ; when, on January 18, at a conference befor e December 11, 1899, 19.80 ; Ma Governor Douglas at Boston, the labor lead - .78 ; November 23, 1903, 19 .80y , 1 21 ; July 25 , ers agreed to an immediate return to work 1904, 17 .33 ; October 23, 1905, 18, and a at the reduction, with the condition tha t dividend based on the margin ; July 2, 1906 , the Governor should investigate the situa- 19 .80 . tion and report a margin on which a fiv e The profit sharing system went into effec t per cent . dividend should be paid on wage s October 23, 1905, after a conference of man- earned . The Operatives returned to wor k ufacturers and labor secretaries . It wa s the following day, and on January 21 a re- based on an amended form of what was a duction was announced in the Fall Rive r fair margin for manufacturers reported b y Iron Works, which had been kept runnin g Gov. Douglas after an investigation follow- at the full scale throughout the strike . The ing the strike in 1904 . It was announce d strike is estimated to have cost the opera- following the request of the operatives for tives $4,500,000 in wages lost . About $200, - higher wages, and after granting an in - 000 was paid out in benefits by the unions , crease to a basis of 18 cents a cut for weav- including $26,500 to non-unionists . Th e ing allowed for a weekly dividend to th e overseers of the poor were rushed with ap- help of one per cent on their wages fo r plicants, and considerable sums were sen t every cent of margin over 72½ cents unti l here from outside for the aid of the strikers . the margin reached 85, when one-half of Several thousand persons removed from th e one per cent . was given for every cent of city and the merchants lost heavily by the increase . The margin was figured daily o n decline of trade . Various fruitless confer- the difference between New York quotations ences were held during the struggle . A t for 8 pounds of middling upland cotton and one held November 5 it was agreed that the the average selling price of 45 yards 28-inc h books of the corporations should be in- 64x64s and 33 .11 yards 3 8½ -inch 64x64s . N o spected by a committee of five, consistin g change was to be made in the minimum be - of two labor men, two manufacturers an d fore October 1, 1906 . The dividends pai d a fifth man to be selected by these four, to ranged from zero to ten per cent. It wa s verify the assertions of losses . The textil e abandoned on the advance granted July 2 , council approved this, with the addition tha t 1906 . the reduction notices be taken down and th e The Mule Spinners' Association has for help allowed to return at the old scale pend- many years been a conservative and power- ing a settlement. This was refused by the ful organization, numbering in its ranks manufacturers, and the matter dropped . every spinner in the city and possessed o f At a conference December 4 the labor lead - finances that have allowed it to care for it s ers proposed a reduction of 6¼ per cent . members through thick and thin . It was for three months, when another conferenc e established in January, 1858, chiefly by me n was to be held . The manufacturers refused , who had come here from Lancashire, Eng- and on December 30 the unions voted on th e land . where they had seen the benefits o f continuance of the strike . Little chang e united effort . Patrick Carroll was its firs t in the sentiment was shown from July . president and John McKeowen secretary . I t The mills were opened November 14 an d at once began an agitation for more wages , ran with varying success till the strike wa s one-third of which was granted and the re- declared off in January . The entire strug- mainder obtained prior to the outbreak o f gle was marked by notable good order. the Civil War. During that conflict mos t A strike had been averted March 17, 1902 , of its members shouldered the musket, an d after all the unions had voted to go out , the books, which had been closed in 1861 , only by the granting of the advance asked , were not re-opened until 1866 . In 1870 the y to take effect May 7 . asked for an advance of 10 per cent . in The prices paid for weaving, on which th e wages . The manufacturers offered to com - wages of all operatives are based, have bee n promise on five per cent., but this wa s changed in recent years on the followin g refused, and a nine weeks' struggle followed , dates : February 4 , 1884, 18 .50 cents ; Janu- ending in defeat for the spinners . This was

HISTORY OF FALL RIVER 14 1

a severe blow, as hours of labor were in- ture in 1880, was elected to the Senate i n creased, wages reduced and the backbone 1885 and served consecutively until 1893 . of the union broken . Their efforts were He resigned his position with the union i n then devoted to securing the passage of th e 1897, and was succeeded in July of tha t ten-hour law, which they saw put on the year by Thomas O'Donnell, the present sec- statute books in 1874 . In February, 1875, retary, who had been treasurer since 1885 . three and then six mills were struck for a n The present weavers' union, formed Feb- advance in wages, leading to negotiation s ruary 27, 1888, is the successor of variou s with the manufacturers and the resump- organizations of weavers more or less shor t tion of work on the promise of an advanc e lived . Its name was at first the Weavers ' April 1 . An agitation for weekly instea d Protective Association and was changed t o of monthly payments was also begun . the Weavers' Progressive Association whe n What is known as "The Great Vacation " it was united with the Amalgamated Asso- commenced August 1, 1875, following an an- ciation in 1889 . The first hall was in th e nouncement of a reduction in wages . Th e Pocasset block, and it occupied variou s operatives, believing a curtailment was a quarters till the completion of its hand - better remedy for the situation, determine d some building on Second street, erected i n to take a month's vacation . At the end 1904 . This is a four-story structure, cost- of that period the mills gave them anothe r ing $47,000, with stores on the first floo r month, and on the ninth week the help wer e and offices and halls above, the larger wit h obliged to submit and to sign a document , a seating capacity of 839 . Patrick J . Con- promising, among other things, not to be - nelly, the first secretary, served until April , long to any trade associations in the future . 1891, when he was succeeded by Jame s All the other labor organizations but th e Whitehead, the present secretary, who ha d spinners went to pieces . Three more re- formerly been treasurer and president . Wil- ductions in wages and a disastrous strike liam Granton is now president, and John T . at the Granite mills led to desertions, an d Riley treasurer . The union has a member - it was only by the most strenuous effort s ship of more than 3,000 . that the union, the only organization of textile workers in New England at th e About thirty-five years ago Fall River ha d time, was kept alive . In June, 1878, Rober t two or three families of Jews, who cam e Howard was elected secretary, and the as- here from the German-speaking portions o f sociation soon began to increase in member - Europe . About thirty years ago there wer e ship and funds . two or three families of Russian and Polis h Early in 1879 conditions of business ha d Jews . In 1880 the number increased t o so improved that a restoration of part of about a dozen families . Not until 1891 di d the wages lost was asked, but refused, an d the numbers increase to any extent . after fruitless negotiations a strike was or- That year the terrible persecutions by th e dered June 15, which continued until Octo- Russian government drove the Jews to emi- ber 26, with considerable bitterness . I t grate to all parts of the world . Many o f was lost for want of money to carry it on . them found their way here . From that da y In January, 1880, an increase was given , to this there has been a gradual increas e and the agitation for weekly payments car- in the Jewish population of Fall River, so ried on with the result that by April, 1 9 that to-day they number about 3,000 . of the 53 mills made the desired change . I n They are settled in group s . Most of them 1885, through the efforts of Mr . Howard, a are found in the centre of the city. There i s 60-hour law passed the Legislature and wen t a large number of the Jews in the easter n into effect January 1, 1886 . In 1884 had portion of the city, large enough to main - occurred the ten-mills strike against a re- tain a synagogue for themselves . duction, which, after I8 weeks, ended in de - All told there are three synagogues owne d feat, and in 1886 the spinners were formall y by the congregations—one on Pearl street , recognized by the manufacturers . one on Union street and one on Quarr y The organization reached its larges t street . membership in 1885, with a total of 7 50, The majority of the Jews are engaged i n which has since fallen to about 400, owin g business on their own account, as hawker s to the substitution of frame for mule spin- or storekeepers . Several of them ow n ning in many mills. Secretary Howard, wh o stores of considerable size . The rest of th e had been elected a member of the Legisla - population are clerks or mill workers . Those

142 HISTORY OF FALL RIVER

occupied in the mills are by no means con- erable number that cannot take care o f tent, and the first opportunity they get themselves, and these are provided for b y they go into business . the two Jewish women's societies that hav e There are no wealthy Jews in Fall River . existed for several years . A few are well fixed . More are moderatel y Besides these societies there are twelv e well off, but the biggest portion of them lodges, and the Beaconsfield Club (recentl y are not far removed from a hand-to-mouth organized), which are ready to alleviate th e existence . There is only a very inconsid- sufferings of their people .