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POWERS
Hall, Decatur's first theater, filled a long felt want in the city
when it was provided in the year 1856 by William L. Powers. Up
to that time Decatur citizens had to make use of hotels of other
buildings for public programs or entertainments. Mr. Powers built
a block of store buildings in the 100 block East Main street, south
side, and arranged the third floor for use as a theater, providing
it with stage and seats. It was the first stage built in
Decatur.
In that hall appeared some of the good Theatrical companies of
the day. There the Decatur Musical Union, an important
organization in Decatur for many years, presented concerts of
various types. The hall was used for public gatherings and
other events for which a large room was necessary.1
It was told that one time when Abraham Lincoln was defending a case
in court here the trial was moved from the court house to Powers
hall as there was not room for the crowd in the court room. It
was a murder case. Oglesby and Wait were the prosecuting
attorneys and Mr. Lincoln represented the defendant.
MACON HALL Macon hall was Decatur's next big public hall.
It occupied the third floor of two buildings erected by Franklin
Priest and Ben Dodson on Merchant street, at the corner of Lincoln
Square. This hall boasted a sloping floor, and an unusually
fine state. It was the popular amusement house during the
'60s. FIRST OPERA HOUSE The first opera
house in Decatur was built by E. O. Smith in the 200 block on North
Water street, west side, (the entrance is now No. 225) and for yeas
it provided Decatur's entertainment. It was built in 1870, and
was in operation until the Powers Grand Opera House was erected in
1889. A modern stage, private boxes, a balcony, were features
of the new theater. Nationally famous stars of the theatrical
world appeared at Smith's Opera house, among them Joseph Jefferson,
Minnie Madern Fiske, Edwin Booth, Madame Modjeska, Thomas
Keene, and
Lillian Russell.
F. W. HAINES Frank W. Haines, who
had started his career as bill poster for Macon hall, became manager
of Smith's Opera house in 1873, and continued in that position until
it was discontinued when the new Powers Opera house was opened.
Then he became manager for the Powers. Hiram Brown was the first
manager of Smith's Opera house. He was succeeded by Dan W. Brenneman and next came J. Q. A.
Odor. Mr. Haines followed by
Mr. Odor. When it became known that Orlando Powers was willing
to build a new theater in Decatur, but had taken no steps to do so
because he did not want to go into competition with the Smith Opera
house, Mr. Smith sent word to Mr. Powers that he would discontinue
the old opera house if Mr. Powers would build a new one. Mr.
Powers then went ahead wit his plans. After Smith's Opera
house was discontinued as a theater, it was turned into business
houses.
POWERS GRAND OPERA HOUSE The
Powers Opera house had its opening July 9, 1889. Richard J.
Oglesby made a dedicatory address. That theater was as
beautiful and modern as any to be found at the time.2
It occupied the present site of the Hotel Orlando. The theater
had a seating capacity of 1,500. It was used for all big
public gatherings, as well as legitimate plays. In 1895 Fred
Given became manager, and he was succeeded by Thomas Ronan. The
Powers Opera house was burned twice. After the first fire in
1895, the house was rebuilt. The second fire occurred in 1914,
and this time the theater was replaced by a hotel, named Oralando,
in honor of the head of the Powers family, which included two sons,
Charles G. and Howard W. Powers, and a daughter, Mrs. Anabel Tilley.
OTHER THEATERS By this time the amusement situation had
changed. Moving picture shows had entered the field and were
becoming more and more popular. Decatur's first "movie" was a
Nicelodeon, at the northeast corner of William and Water streets,
started in 1906 and run by H. W. Ellis. It was later known as
the Colonial. The city's largest and most beautiful
theater, the Lincoln, was erected by Clarence A. Wait in 1915 -
1916, and first named the Lincoln Square.
THE FIRST 'MOVIE" Within the last
twenty-five years Decatur has had a half dozen new theaters.
Legitimate plays have given way almost entirely to vaudeville and
talking pictures. Theaters in operation today are the Lincoln,
Empress, Avon, Bijou, Alhambra, Crescent and Morrow's.
WOMAN'S CLUB
INSERT PICTURE HERE
SOME OF THE CHARTER MEMERS OF THE WOMAN'S
CLUB
This picture was taken in 1907, on the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of the organization of the Woman's Club. In the
picture are:
Standing left to right - Mrs. Hiram Buck, Mrs. M. F. Metz, Mrs.
Elmira Stoner, Mrs. Jane M. Johns, Mrs. M. C. Wilkin, Mrs. Harry
Crea, Mrs. James F. Holliday, Mrs. Anna McClelland, Miss Maria
Buckingham, Miss Josephine Anderson, Mrs. Laura W. Pahmeyer, Miss
Chloe Murphy, Mrs. W. R. Brisie, Mrs. K. H. Roby, Mrs. S. J.
Bumstead.
Seated - Mrs. S. K. Harwood (Darling), Mrs. Mary E. Haworth, Mrs. R
G. Wells, Mrs. J. N. Randall, Mrs. T. L. Evans, Mrs. D. C.
Corley,
Mrs. Eugenie M. Bacon, Mrs. W. W. Mason, Mrs. J. W. Haworth.
The Decatur Woman's club was organized May 31, 1887, in a meeting
held in the chapel of the First Baptist church. That meeting
was attended by about 150 women who became charter members of the
club. The club was an outgrowth of the Sorosis club, which in
turn had grown from the Hillside club, a group of women living on
East Eldorado street in the vicinity of Jackson, who had been
brought together by Mrs. George D. Haworth. It was Mrs.
Haworth
who was instrumental in organizing the Woman's club.
MRS. MARY HAWORTH The Decatur
organization became a charter member of both the General Federation
of Woman's clubs, which was organized in 1891, and the State
Federation, started in 1895.
FIRST WOMAN'S CLUB For the first
two years the club met in various buildings of the city. In 1889
the club women formed a stock company, under the leadership of Laura
Wikoff (Pahmeyer), and erected a club house at North Park and
Franklin streets. It was one of the first buildings erected by
women for the use of women's clubs in the United States. From 1890
until 1909 the club used quarters in that building. The
building project proved unprofitable, however, and the building was
sold in 1904. The club continued to meet there, however,
renting the first floor room. In 1909 the club moved to the Y.
W. C. A. building where it remained some years, then moved to the
Powers building, and then to the Congregational church, where it
remained until its present quarters were secured. One of the early
pieces of work done by the Women's club was to bring about the
election of a woman to the board of education. Mrs. Isabella
T. Stafford was the first woman to serve in that capacity.
Among the active Women's club members who have served on the board
have been, Mrs. Minnie P. Hostetler, Mrs. Haworth and Mrs. Inez J.
Bender. Mrs. Stafford was one of the organizers of the W. C.
T. U., and served as president. During the years that have passed
since its beginning, the Woman's club has accomplished many things.
It has sponsored educational courses and lectures, sewing classes
for girls and regular study meetings. It has taken part in
civic enterprises an charity work. It was active in war work.
It took over the first sale of Red Cross seals. It urged the
teaching of sewing and cooking in the public schools in a day when
the idea was ridiculed. Two of the local club members served in
state federation offices. Mrs. George R. Bacon was state
federation president in 1902 - 1904, and Mrs. Haworth served a term
as state treasurer. Mrs. Bacon also was state chairman of
correspondence for the General Federation from June, 1898, to
October, 1902.
PRESENT WOMAN'S CLUB BUILDING For
years the club had looked forward to the time when it could have a
home of its own, and that was finally accomplished in 1928 with the
purchase of the house at 308 West Main street from Dawson and
Wickoff. The purchase price was $21,000. W. H. Linn, one of
the founders of Linn & Scruggs, built that house in 1888 and lived
in it some years. After his death it was the home of his son,
W. W. Linn, and daughter, Mrs. M. A. DeForest. W. W. Linn died
in 1904. Mrs. DeForest sold the house in 1922 to Dawson and
Wkioff. THE DECATUR CLUB At a meeting held
May 22, 1883, in the grand jury room of the court house, the Decatur
club was organized. The call to organize was issued by J. E.
Bering, L. L. Haworth, L. L. Burrows, B. K. Durfee, W. H. Linn, S.
J. Bumstead and E. P. Vail. First officers were:
President, C. A. Ewing; vice president, L. L. Burrows, B. K.
Durfee,
W. H. Linn; directors, J. E. Bering, I. A. Buckingham, B. K.
Durfee,
L. L. Haworth, W. C. Johns, R. P. Lytle. The club had 100
charter members. The Decatur club has had a prosperous life, and
has been influential in the social and business life of the city.
It has always occupied quarters at Water and North Park streets,
first on the third floor of the Haworth building, and then on the
fifth floor of the Citizens bank building when that building was
erected. From the beginning of the Decatur club was more than a
social club. Before the organization of the Association of
Commerce, or the Business Men's association before that, it was the
representative business men's organization of the city. It
took the lead in promoting various civic and industrial enterprises.
Organization of the Association of Commerce was brought about by
leaders in the activities of the Decatur club. Many big public
and social projects were launched in gatherings in the Decatur club
rooms. For some years the club considered having a home of its
own, resulting in decision to erect a club house at Prairie avenue
and North Church street. Contract was let in May, 1930, and
work is under way at this writing. The site was purchased for
$50,000, and the building is expected to cost $150,000.
DECATUR COUNTRY CLUB The Decatur Country club has been in
existence since 1899. The idea of forming such a club was
originated by W. W. Linn. One Sunday afternoon in 1899 he and
Lucien Shellabarger and a few others interested met in the
Shellabarger home, and the organization of the club followed.
It was incorporated Sept. 8, 1899. Dr. William Barnes was the
first president, serving for a number of years. Soon after
organization the club leased about 65 acres of land at the south end
of Jasper street, fronting on the river, from D. A. Maffit and a
club house was erected, which was dedicated July 4, 1900. In
1911 the club purchased the land. Years later, after the land
had been taken into the city and taxes and other costs became heavy,
the club decided to move. A new site across the lake was
purchased in 1928, and a beautiful new club house, costing $50,000,
was erected. It was formally opened July 4, 1929. The
former club grounds were sold to a syndicate and developed for
residence property. OTHER CLUBS For some
years the Calumet club flourished in Decatur. It was organized
in the 80's and handsome quarters were fitted up for it in the
Powers Opera house building, erected in 1889. The club did not
long survive the destruction of its headquarters by the fire of
1895, when the opera house burned. In the days when bicycling was
popular the Decatur Wheelmen's club was a well known body. It
was organized Aug. 15, 1895. J. H. Krebs was the first
president. When the bicycling fad waned, the club (in 1901)
was turned into a social organization, known as the Iroquois club
with headquarters on the third floor of the Stine building in
Central Block. The World war took away so many of its members
that it finally disbanded. The Decatur Fishing club was organized
Aug. 24, 1904, and developed attractive club grounds southwest of
Decatur. It is now called the South Side Country club. A
more recent addition to the clubs of the city is the Sunnyside Golf
club, incorporated Oct. 28, 1921. Its beautiful golf course
and club house are located west of Decatur on Route 10.
----------------- 1.
From Christmas, 1863, to Jan. 1, 1864, Tom Thumb, Lavina and Minnie
and Commodore Nutt played an engagement in Powers hall. They
had been billed for a one night stand, but they were snowbound here.
At the conclusion of one performance a collection was taken up,
carried to the stage and spread on the table. With the
exception of one silver quarter the entire collection was shin
plasters. Commodore Nutt held the silver coin aloft, and
yelled "a silver quarter! and I would like to know who the donor
is!"
Following a lecture March 25, 1869, by Colonel Robert
G. Ingersoll on "Progres, Religious, Social and Political",
newspapers of the city were busy printing protests from different
preachers. 2.
Once, when Joseph Jefferson appeared at the Powers opera house, he
came before the curtain and told a little story concerning Decatur.
Years before, when he was a boy, he had been traveling
with his father, who was with a show company. The company was
in Springfield, and expected to appear in Decatur next.
Springfield had just adopted a law taxing traveling actors.
The company had no money to pay a license, being very much
financially embarrassed, and was unable to engage a lawyer.
"A slender young man came up to my father and said he
was a lawyer, and would take my father's part," said Mr. Jefferson.
"Father said he had no money to pay a lawyer. 'That doesn't
matter,' the young man said, 'you are a stranger and are being
persecuted. I'll not stand to see anyone persecuted,' He
took the case and won it, thereby making it possible for them to
appear in Springfield. They made enough money there to pay
their bills and come on to Decatur. The young layer, we
learned afterwards, was Abraham Lincoln."
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*Page 234 was
actually the picture of the
Women's Club
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