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 investment 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 .