Clubs and Organizations: Part Two

Gayle Faulkner Kosalko April 2020

The many clubs and organizations that took root in Whiting just show how important it is for people with a like purpose to band together, be it their heritage, religion, entertainment values, or the early need for some form of intellectual pursuit in Whiting’s early rough and tumble days.

Again, as you read about this, the second collection of clubs and organizations here, one has to remember that when these early clubs were formed, there was no radio or television. Home entertaining consisted of playing cards or singing around the family piano, especially if a new piece of sheet music had come out.

What we consider the modern bicycle came about in 1885 and became a popular social activity for groups. The bicycle was particularly important to young ladies as it gave them a chance to travel away from home on their own. Soon the bloomer was invented so ladies could ride comfortably and modestly. Now in 1894 the young women of Whiting wanted to organize a bicycle club. Their only regulation was that the ladies had to wear bloomers! But one major problem they faced was the lack of pavement in the sandy streets. According to the newspaper of the day “With improved streets, a full fledged club would appear.” Seen here are a group of Sunday riders behind what is today the Elks Club on Pennsylvania Avenue.

As always when a new ethnic group made their home in Whiting, one of the first things to do was organize themselves. In 1895 the First Hungarian Brotherhood Society of Whiting was formed. The society was formed to benefit and “take care of its members” should the need arise. Many of the officers’ names are still familiar ones in Whiting today. Its president was Steve Wayo, VP was Frank Vargo, secretary Julius Toth and John Nagy as its treasurer. Their hopes were that eventually their organization would be one of the strongest Magyar orders in the U.S.

But in the meantime, the members particularly enjoyed music and dancing at the Frankowski’s Hall on White Oak Avenue where sometimes as many as 500 people would attend!

Later in 1926 a Ladies Hungarian Social Club would be formed.

While ethnic organizations were popular with the common working folk, organizations like The Magazine Club seemed to have the most prominent of Whiting citizenry as its members. Formed in 1898, their events were always detailed in the Whiting paper. Its main purpose was to be a social literary gathering with most meetings held in different private homes. For example, its closing banquet of the year was held on John Street, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Mattern (he owned one of the city’s first pharmacies.) Even their menu was reported by the paper. It included veal loaf, escalloped potatoes, beetroot pickles, egg salad, and ice cream for dessert. Dinner was followed by card playing at the Charles D. Davidson home. (He being a successful Whiting real estate man). Other prominent members were the Readings, the Gavits, the Turners, the Beaubiens and the Grays.

Ten years later the Slovaks organized their own Slavish Literary Club which met a Frankowski’s Hall. An example of the entertainment for a meeting was when Slovak Joseph Chilla gave an eloquent talk on education and American Citizenship.

And while the Magazine Club members were “literally” enjoying each others company, the young folk in Whiting were looking for a chance to dance. There were many as most of the organizations in town held dances at Frankowski’s, Mettier’s or Goebel’s Opera House. An actual club was formed in 1909 called The Good Time Club which held seasonal dances for their members. It was said that the club’s special efforts guaranteed “their dance to eclipse all former affairs of its kind.”

Now before the Good Time Club, there was the H.E. Pleasure Club which wasn’t as hedonistic as its name implies. Organized in 1894, it was one of the very first social clubs in Whiting which held dances with music provided by local musicians.

According to the newspapers “the HEPC have always furnished well managed entertainment for their guests. Perhaps this is the secret of their success.”

Carl Schurke’s grandfather Louis and father Adolph played their concertinas at the club dances. From family discussions about the club, Carl said “It was just like your Elks or other clubs. It was a sportsman club too with boxing and different things like that and many get-togethers with music.”

And while members of most of the clubs came together for companionship and entertainment, one club stands out for many of its important projects. In 1925 citizens of Robertsdale banded together to begin the Fourth Ward Progressive Club. West Park School was their home and they would often hold fund raising dances there. The Fourth Ward’s main purpose was to obtain civic improvements for the district. For example, the club persuaded Hammond to appropriate funds to dig a well that would provide school children as well as its residents with better drinking water. Because of the club, NY Central built a waiting room for the train and later on their agenda was to have a park for Robertsdale children built.

Sports and gaming had their own clubs as well. One such club was the Sheffield Gun Club formed in 1906. According to one written history, the club was organized for the “purpose of slaughtering ducks” as well as keeping a camp and blind open during the season on Lake George.

While there were and are even today, many groups too numerous to write about in detail, there are a few that there is little information on but sound intriguing.

Such was the Suicide Club founded in 1895. Even more interesting was this clever comment about them written in the paper….”The Suicide Club has committed suicide and has been resurrected as the Kokomo Club.” Or who were the members of the Grass Widowers Club which began in 1903. And what was the purpose of the Cotillion Club, the Larkin Club or the St. Nick’s Club. Unfortunately not much has been written about these organizations.

Probably one of the most interesting groups is the Old Settlers Club begun in 1926. One of the requirements to join was that you had to have lived in Whiting by 1906. They too enjoyed holding dances, dinners, and card playing but more importantly at meetings, early pioneers such as Henry S. Davidson would share their stories about Whiting’s early history. How wonderful it would be if we had the secretary’s note from their meetings today as first person narrative.

There were truly a variety of clubs throughout the years, each with their own purpose for being, but the bonding together of these early citizens has been one of the basic building blocks to form a community like Whiting and Robertsdale. the CC. Some 40 members were present at this meeting which opened with a pot luck dinner. Dancing and bunco followed. Henry Eggers, chairman of entertainment, had charge of the program. Club is aiming to raise its membership to 100 by their next meeting according to Henry Beaubien, president of organization. Members Joseph Graves, O.E. Meek, Mr. Harry Marshall and Mrs. Bessie Twilt.

Old Settlers Club is an organization composed of persons who have lived in Whiting for more than 20 years.

OFFICERS Mrs. Richard Schaaf, Mr. H. E. Beaubien, Mrs. Cora Eaton, W.E. Putnam, Henry E. Davison, at the last meeting by laws were read and adopted and committee appointed to prepare good old-fashioned good time, sometimes called an indoor picnic.

It is hoped by a number of the Old Folks that if people who are eligible for members hip in the club will come to this party and get acquainted over again with many old friends that they will meet it will help swell the ranks and make it the biggest and best club of its kind in this party of country.