The Holyoke Boys Club


      The Holyoke Boys' Club was organized February 3 11892, under the auspices of the International Christian Workers' Association, formed in Connecticut as a direct result of an experiment made in New Haven a few years earlier, when Mr. John C. Collins headed the forming of a Boys' Club in that city. This proving eminently successful, the work was extended into the state, and later, through a separate branch, into Massachusetts.
      The original Holyoke committee consisted of J.S. Webber, the first president of the Club; A.J. Rand, T.W. Holley, Charles P. Randall, W.T. Dean, and Allen Higginbottom, with the state organizer, J.C. Eastman. Charles P. Randall was the first treasurer, and he was soon succeeded by Edward S. Packard.
      The first home of the Club was the old Methodist church building on Main street, and this was used for about ten years.
      James Lawrence Dudley was the first superintendent of the Club, and he is remembered and loved by many a man in the city today as "a friend in need."
      This was one of the first clubs to recognize the importance of trade teaching for street boys, and classes in carving, bookbinding and printing were carried on, in addition to gymnasium work, and the necessary reading and recreation rooms. Later, paper box making was installed, and quite a business in this line was carried on. Mr. Dudley left the club in 1900, and was succeeded by his assistant, John D. Thompson, through whose efforts the gymnasium end of boy training reached a high mark, and who continued the activities of the club, both social and industrial. He was succeeded in September, 1907, by George W. King, the present executive.
      In 1905, the Club acquired the property on Race street, known as the "Merrick property," comprising 20,000 feet of land, with three tenement houses thereon, and it was proposed to build a suitable building for the work, but as the property was acquired under a mortgage, it was thought best not to build till this was discharged. The Club moved to a part of one of these houses, but after a short time it was thought best to go to the Holyoke Machine Company's block on Main street where it remained till the fall of 1907, when the house at 100-101 Race street was remodeled as a home for the work. This building is now used, and has proved practical, but far too small for the needs of the growing organization. The debt on the property has now been paid, and it is hoped to erect a building entirely adequate to the work, in the near future.
      The trades department has been enlarged by the installation of a fine Manual Training room, a class in cobbling, and one in chair caning; this work is only limited by lack of space. The directors decided to drop the box-making work, and this has been done. The Boy' Club in this city affects more than a thousand children and young people, and is constantly growing in its power for good in the civic life. Last year nearly 35,000 attendances were registered during the season, which runs continuously, Sundays excepted, from the day after Labor Day till the end of the following May. Hours are 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., with afternoon session from December 1 to March 15 following 3:30 - 3:45 p.m.
      Previous to 1904 the work was carried on by a voluntary association of business men; in that year it was incorporated as "The Holyoke Boys' Club Association," under the law of he state.
      In March 1906, J.S. Webber, the president of the organization since its inception, died. He was immediately succeeded by his son, Frederick S. Webber, who has since headed the work so well begun.
      It is a noticeable fact that many of the original givers to the work twenty years ago are still giving regularly and cheerfully to support the institution.
      The present organization of the Holyoke Boys' Club Association is as follows: President. Frederick S. Webber; vice-president, Nathan P. Avery; treasurer. Frank G. Wilcox; secretary, William A. Allyn; auditor, Edward . Packard; executive committee, Frederick S. Webber, Dr. George A. Maxfield, T. Henry Spencer; superintendent, George W. King; assistant superintendent, Herman G. Haese.






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