Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - Chapter 31: Societies and Clubs, 1914

Miss A. E. Kidder

This club was organized October 31, 1895, with the object, as stated in the articles of incorporation, "Of creating an organized center of thought and action among women and for the promotion of social, educational, literary and artistic growth, and Avhatever relates to the best interests of the city." The charter members were Fannie M. D. Galloway, Elizabeth N. Day, Bessie "W. Doolittle, Ida May Hill Starr, Fannie E. Buffiugton, Annette J. Shaw, Belle F. Cutler, Cordelia M. Allen, Augusta E. Kidder, Sara W. Holm and Mary 0. M. Walmsley. The membership the first year Avas fifty-four, and it has increased steadily until it numbers now in 1914 over 240. The club was federated with the state organization in 1896 and with general organization in the same year. There are five departments for Avork in special lines, viz. : Art, literature, modern drama, public AA-elfare and travel, each department conducted by a leader chosen annually by ballot. In addition to its efforts for intellectual esthetic and moral development the club has proved its interest in civic improvement on many practical lines.

"The Associated Charities,"' organized by the club in 1896, is given financial aid each year, and its anti-tuberculosis committee, composed of men and women, has been aided by members in the club so signally as to merit special mention. In order to secure the Eau Claire County Sanitarium for the treatment of advanced cases of tuberculosis the committee pledged itself to purcliase a site. Over twelve hundred dollars were raised by subscription, and the admirable nine-acre site at Shawtown, Mt. "Wasliington, was bought and deeded to the county. The committee also raised fifteen hundred dollars for furnishings and equipment. For five years the club has responded to the request of the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association, and has each year conducted a sale of the Red Cross stamp for the support of the state and city work.

in the work through volunteer probation service and through plans for the convention of delinquency among children. This eonunittee comprises also prominent men of tlie community who are willing to give time and thought to the cause.

The traveling libraries owned by the club for a number of years were given in 1908 to the county of Eau Claire to form the nucleus of the county traveling library system. A case of books is still kept at the rest rooms, and these books are loaned to visitors to the rooms. In July, 1899, public rest rooms were established in the city under the auspices of the Woman's Club. These rooms not only afford a pleasant place where people from out of town may rest, eat kmcheon and exchange ideas, but they also tend to establish a closer relationship between the dwellers in the country and those in the city. In addition to the circulating library in the rooms, quantities of magazines and other reading matter contributed by the women of the city are sent into the country. The use of the rooms is free, the expense being met by the business men of the city, together with an annual appropriation from the club and occasional contributions from the country districts. The matron's register shows the average number of daily visitors to exceed forty. Besides these matters of vital importance to the welfare of our city, others not less urgent are receiving earnest consideration and practical aid. The club contributes yearly a liberal sum to the salary of the visiting housekeeper, lectures, social center work in the schools and other kindred subjects, and is cordially recognized by the Civic and Commerce Association of Eau Claire as a valuable aid in its campaign for I'ighteous living and loyalty to the best in all things, with a full recognition of human interests everywhere and a prime motive expressed in the club motto, "Come let us help one another."

The following is the list of the presidents of the club since its organization: Mrs. W. K. Galloway, Mrs. Elizabeth N. Day, I\Irs. M. S; Frawley, Mrs. L. A. Doolittle, Mrs. E. S. Clark, Mrs. IMary D. FitzGerald, Mrs. D. R. Davis, Mrs. H. E. Lamb, Mrs. A. II. Shoemaker, IMrs. W. K. Coffin and Mrs. David Drummond.

The Philharmonic Society Of Eau Claire

The Eaii Claire Philharmonic Society was established in 1911 by a few enthusiastic spirits whose love for the best in music was inspired and urged on by an indomitable spirit which yielded to no obstacle and overcame all difficulties. They have seen their efforts crowned with success, for the society now boasts of a chorus of one hundred, an orchestra of thirty, a conductor of acknowledged ability and the best of financial credit, resting as it does upon a foundation composed of the very best citizens, whose faith and appreciation are proven by generous yearly donations. The objects of the society are first to educate the tastes of the young people of the city through practice and studies under a competent conductor in the best music. Second to give the public the benefit of this study through public musicals and yearly festivals, and third, to bring to our city better musical attractions and musicians than would come were there no such society here. These hopes have been realized even in the brief life of the society thus far, and the future will develop this prediction with a great certainty of achievement. Three annual May festivals liave been held and these have become a yearly event, looked forward to with keenest anticipation and attended by the citizens of this and surrounding cities with every evidence of thorough appreciation.

The greatest material benefit aside from the bringing of musicians to our city of a higher grade in rank than might otherwise come is in the musical advantages given our young people and the incentive given for the higher and better things in the world of music. The outlook for the future of the society is most encouraging, its members will be recruited from the many schools of the city, and a large, permanent membership is assured. The ordinary citizen is slow to awake to a realization of the advantages and benefits from the best music and a musical education, but those awake to these things realize the immense importance of this society to our city, both from a civic and a social standpoint. It furnishes an outlet for the superabundant life of our young i^eople, and is a constant uplift to a higher plane of life and living. The officers of the society are : F. H. Graham, president ; C. Midelfart, vice-president ; Mildred Henry, secretary ; R. Westluud, treasurer, and Edwin Howard, conductor. The directors are F. H. Graham, C. Midelfai't, Rev. II. M. Thompson and C. W. Lockwood.

Masonic Lodge. The initial steps for the institution of Eau Claire Lodge, No. 112, F. & A. M., were taken by W. P. Bartlett, H. C. Putnam, D. R. Moon, L. B. Foote, H. P. Graham, William Mosher and George Mulks, in the fall of 1857. A dispensation was granted in December to L. B. Foote as W. M., D. R. Moon as S. W. and W. P. Bartlett as J. W., and the lodge was instituted on March 26, 1859. The charter was received on June 14 and the first officers under it were as follows : L. B. Foote, W. M. ; D. R. Moon, S. W. ; W. P. Bartlett, J. W. : H. C. Putnam, treasurer ; Thomas C. Spencer, secretary ; B. F. Cowen, S. D. ; Charles P. Mosher, J. D. ; Charles Pringle, tyler.

The meetings were held in a frame building at the corner of South Barstow and Gibson streets until the following spring. The lodge room is described as about twelve or fourteen feet square and the ceiling about seven and one-half feet high, and the furniture as very primitive - a nail keg for an altar, a fiat box for the master's rostrum and a soap box for cuspidor. The next home of the lodge was on the third fioor of a building between Gibson street and Grand avenue East, which was consumed by fire on May 1, 1864, by which the lodge lost its records. It then moved into DeArmand's Hall on Water street and returned to Barstow street, into the Burgar building, in January, 1866. Two moves were subsequently made into other buildings on South Barstow street, when, in March, 1882, the different Masonic bodies in the city united in a lease of moi'e desirable accommodations in the Chappell block on Grand avenue East. The lodge occupied these quarters until 1893, when it moved into the Opera House block, soon after which steps were taken to establish a permanent home, which was accomplished by the erection of the Masonic Temple, corner South Barstow and Main streets. The first regular communication of No. 112 was held in it on February 6, 1899, with E. E. Vallier as W. M. It is the property of a corporation, known as the Masonic Temple Association, has an assessed valuation of .$25,000 and is clear of all indebtedness. A very small proportion of the stock is owned

Following is a list of the living Past Masters of this lodge: G. Tabor Thompson, F. 11. L. Cotten, J. G. Ferry, George B. Wheeler, A. B. Jones, E. E. Vallier, George J. Nash, D. D. Lockerby, Thomas A. Hobbs, R. L. Meader, "Warren A. Smith, Walter Bonell, Charles E. Shane, F. N. Herrick and Fred W. Thomas. The present officers are : 0. W. Moehle, W. M. ; L. A. McKinley, S. W. ; A. 0. Kromrey, J. W. ; George B. Wheeler, treasurer ; D. D. Lockerby, secretary ; L. A. BuDahn, S. D. ; August Stock, J. D. ; M. Benson, chaplain; J. H. Gadsby, tyler; L. A. LeFevre and L. E. Jones, stewards ; C. E. Shane, F. H. L. Cotten and T. A Hobbs, trustees. The present membership is 425. In point of membership it is one of the strong lodges of the state and in point of influence and prestige it stands second to none. Three of its members have been chosen as Grand Master : F. H. L. Cotten, E. J. Farr and George B. Wheeler - an honor accorded to no other lodge in Wisconsin, and, in addition, a number of its members have been permanent members of the Grand Lodge. The affairs of the lodge have for many years been in capable liands and it is recognized as a power for good in the community.

Woodmen of the World. Eagle Camp, No. 54, Woodmen of the Woi'ld, was instituted on the evening of November 28, 1899, with the following charter members: Dr. J. F. Farr, J. D. Fanning, Edward Hanson, Edward H. Randall, George E. Richardson, William H. Schwahn, H. J. Leinenkugel, John Huebseh, Thomas D. Dudgeon, H. J. Patterson, L. G. Hart, William Sutter, R. E. Parkinson, W. J. Davis, J. P. Leinenkugel, Frank McCoove, Edward Costello, W. J. Mills, Joseph Mills, Charles Wilk, E. J. Friscvold, Walter J. Conway, W. H. Frawley^ Joe Evans, Dan McGillis, W. L. Garderzik, Dr. E. S. Hayes, James M. Charles^ Deputy Commander Harry J. Hurley was the instituting officer.

The first officers of the camp were as follows: Consul commander, IT. J. Patterson; advisor lieutenant, Edward H. Randall; banker, H. J. Leinenkugel; clerk, Thomas D. Dudgeon; escort, Joe Evans; watchman, W. J. Davis; sentinel, William Sutter; physicians. Dr. J. F. Farr and Dr. E. S. Hayes ; manager for one year, William Schwahn ; manager for two years, John Huebseh ; manager for three years, James D. Fanning; delegate to head camp, J. M. Charles.

The regular camp meeting nights were the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The camp has been in continuous operation since, and has lost by death since its organization only four

The camp is prospering at the present time, introducing new members at every meeting. Since the organization the meeting nights have been changed to the third Monday night of each month at I. 0. 0. F. Hall. The following are the officers for 1914 : Consul commander, M. J. Mills ; advisor lieutenant, Alb Cook ; banker, J. P. Meyer ; clerk, J. P. Leinenkugel ; escort, John Modi : watchman, E. R. Fox ; sentinel, S. C. Erity ; manager, three years, Charles Wilk ; manager, two years, George M. Betz ; manager, one year, Edward J. O'Brien; physician, John Montgomery.