of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 439-441
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. The Young Men's Christian Association of Muscatine has a history that gives point to the paragraph above. It had its beginning many years ago and then for a while dropped out of the running. But today this association is strong in numbers and in the pride and affection of the community. It is prospering as it should and has a home that is the pride of all.
On the evening of November 10, 1855, a meeting was held in the reception room of the Congregational church, preliminary to the organization of a Young Men's Christian Association. At that meeting a constitution and by-laws were adopted and then the meeting adjourned for one week, when it was purposed to complete the organization. This intelligence is gathered from the Journal of the date herein mentioned, but unfortunately no further mention of the association can be found until 1868, although it is taken for granted that the society made all necessary arrangements, carried on its work and meetings for some time and then dropped from sight.
From a book now in possession of the association, it is recorded that on the evening of February 28, 1868, a meeting was held in the office of Allen Broomhall, a Young Men's Christian Association was organized and a constitution adopted. Rev. John Armstrong was chosen president, and D. W. Lewis secretary pro tem. At a later meeting Henry Jayne was elected as the permanent secretary. How long this attempt to maintain an association continued cannot be gathered from the minutes. The next we know is first steps were taken in the organization of an association in 1877. On March 5th of that year a meeting was held at the Methodist Episcopal church and an organization was perfected, with D. C. Richman as president; P. M. Musser, vice president; William H. Woodward, corresponding secretary; William C. Betts, recording secretary; A. K. Raff, treasurer. Leroy McColm, O. G. Jack, W. H. Keating, Thomas Prosser, Fred Giesler and C. Heppe constituted the board of directors. Rooms were then secured at a place used by the Reading Room Society, where meetings were held. The association then continued its work for some years, when for some reason it was discontinued.
THE PRESENT ORGANIZATION. The present organization of the Y. M. C. A. was effected in November, 1888, by W. M. Danner, who at the time was secretary of the state Y. M. C. A. The meeting for the first proceedings was held at the Kemble House. The first president was P. W. Francis and G. W. Bawden, secretary. This reorganized association had the first paid general secretary.
The next step forward of the association was a movement for securing a permanent home. In the year 1890 a few of the boys, in a spirit of amusement more than anything else, took up a collection toward a building fund, which amounted to $2.50. The money was deposited in the Muscatine Savings Bank. In 1892 $1.25 was added to it. This money remained in the bank until the interest had amounted to fifty per cent of the principal. The offer of P. M. Musser, early in the summer of 1901, to increase by twenty per cent any fund which the association might secure toward a building, was remembered and steps were taken to carry out certain conditions he had made and start subscriptions toward a building fund. Some time in July of that year Aubrey Dean, who had returned from the Philippines, subscribed $50 of his soldier pay to the fund. Others heard of this generous action and offers of various amounts began to come in. Preparations were then made for a canvass to secure $30,000, that being at that time considered a sufficient amount for a building. On New Year's day of 1902, a letter was received from Thomas Irvine, a former citizen of this city, offering $10,000, and at the first annual dinner held January 3, 1902, Governor Cummins, with other prominent men, was present and assisted very materially in promoting the Y. M. C. A. spirit among his auditors. The building movement was then and there formally launched. Later S. G. Stein, one of Muscatine's most generous-hearted citizens, came forward with a subscription of $5,000, which gave the canvassers renewed hope and induced greater energy in raising the necessary amount. The work of canvassing went on without cessation and before the subscription books had been closed, over five hundred people had subcribed to the fund and the building was assured.
In November, 1902, a lot on Iowa avenue, just north of and on the same side of the street as the library building, was purchased and ground broken for the structure, which is 100 feet in length by 60 feet wide and three stories in height. Up to the water table the building is of gray pressed brick. The balance is of home-made brick laid in red mortar, with trimmings of terra cotta and Bedford stone. The structure stands back from the street a distance of ten feet and a porch juts out from the building proper to the property line. The style of architecture is colonial. This first and only home of the Y. M. C. A. is a most creditable structure in appearance and its interior is so arranged as to meet the needs of an association of this kind. It cost in round numbers about $40,000 and was dedicated December 28, 1903. The officers of the present association from 1888 to 1910 are here given:
1888-89, P. W. Francis, president; G. W. Bawden, secretary; 1890, T. B. Prosser, president; William Egge, general secretary; 1891, Z. W. Hutchinson, president; William Egge, general secretary; 1892, S. T. Sinnett, president; I. E. Munger, general secretary; 1893, Z. W. Hutchinson, president; I. E. Munger, general secretary; 1894, S. M. Batterson, president; W. B. Engle, general secretary; 1895, W. E. Bliven, president; G. D. Baker, general secretary. Mr. Baker resigned and was succeeded by S. E. Taylor, October 1st; 1896, P. W. Francis, president; S. E. Taylor, general secretary; 1897-8, Fred Beach, president; J. L. Scofield, general secretary. Mr. Scofield resigned March 22, 1898, and was succeeded by G. J. Ross, while October 1st Mr. Beach was succeeded by Elmer S. Batterfield in the office of president; 1899, Elmer S. Batterson, president; J. F. Robertson, general secretary; 1900, Mr. McQuestion, president; C. F. Nevins, general secretary; 1901-2, John A. Robbins, president; R. M. Chase, general secretary; 1903-4, J. A. Robbins, president; C. F. Nevins, general secretary; 1905, W. F. Chevalier, president; C. F. Nevins, general secretary; 1906, Z. W. Hutchinson, president; Hugh Jameson, general secretary; 1907, Fred Beach, president; Hugh Jameson, general secretary; 1908-9, P. W. Francis, president; Hugh Jameson, general secretary. During the latter year Mr. Jameson resigned and June 8, 1909, J. G Mitchell was elected general secretary; 1910, J. E. Hoopes, president; J. G. Mitchell, general secretary; 1911, J. E. Hoopes, president; J. B. McNiel, general secretary.
Back to Historical Index Page
