 | Saratoga in 1901 |  |
A CHRISTIAN ACT.
Congress Hall, Aug. 13.
The great subject of discussion for the last week, has been
the projected purchase of Morrissey's club-house by a number
of Christian gentlemen, who desire to convert it into a Free
Library and Reading Room for the Young Men's Christian
Association. The chief movers in this philanthropy have been
Dr. Ting, Mr. B. F. Beekman, Mr. John R. Cecil, Mr. Abiel
Heywood, Mr. Charles Wall, and Mr. Peter Gilsey. (They were
in correspondence with Mr. Hugh J. Hastings, I have since
learned).
Mr. Beekman and Major Selover had an interview with Mr.
Morrissey on Saturday, relative to the sale of his club-house.
Mr. M— admitted that his grounds and buildings had cost
him about $190,000, but he said he would not sell them for less
than $500,000. This demand rather dampened the ardor of
Mr. Beekman, who reported the result of his interview to Colonel
Boody, Henry Polhemus, and N. H. Decker. The latter said
he was in favor of purchasing the club-house at any price, and
that he would sign as much as Mr. Bissel. Mr. Bissell said he
would sign as much as Mr. Hastings, and Mr. Hastings said he
would sign as much as Mr. Beekman. Mr. Groves said he would
sign more than any other gentleman. Mr. Weeks, Mr. John
Cecil, and many other gentlemen also said they would sign as
that he immediately signed his name for $5,500.
The following paper was signed very generally yesterday. It
explains itself.
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Saratoga, August 12.—In pursuance to a resolution adopted
at a meeting held at Congress Hall, August 5th, for the purpose
of raising a fund for the purchase of the building known as
“Morrissey's Club House,” and to convert such building into a
“Free Library and Literary Club,” B. F. Beekman in the chair,
the following subscription list is circulated.
Henry D. Polhemus, Secretary.
We, the undersigned subscribers, do hereby agree to pay the
sums set opposite our names for the purpose of purchasing said
club-house, and to turn it into a Free Library and Literary Club,
to be used by the guests and residents of Saratoga, without distinction
as to religious or political belief, believing that we thereby
contribute to raise the moral tone of the community at large, and
place in Saratoga a Christian monument whose influence will
extend throughout the country.
| George M. Groves | $11,000 |
| A. Boody | 8,000 |
| B. F. Beekman | 5,500 |
| E. A. Hammond | 9,000 |
| J. A. Bridgeland | 5,500 |
| Henry D. Polhemus | 4,500 |
| Wm. Hunter | 5,000 |
| Major Selover | 5,000 |
| Wm. H. Chapman | 4,500 |
| Col. Rush Hawkins | 5,000 |
| Peter Gilsey | 6,000 |
| Jas H. Breslin | 4,500 |
| J. Coddington | 4,000 |
| Thomas Kerr | 4,500 |
| S. G. Courtney | 5,000 |
| H. B. Claflin | 2,500 |
| N. H. Decker | 6,000 |
| C. C. Hastings | 4,000 |
| Jas Dater | 4,500 |
| C. H. Rice | 5,000 |
| C. H. Barnard | 4,500 |
| W. J. Schenck | 4,500 |
| Edwin Brooks | 5,500 |
| Charles Wall | 5,500 |
| Fisher Johnson | 4,500 |
| George H. Bissell | 6,000 |
| Sheriff O'Brien | 5,000 |
| John R. Cecil | 6,000 |
| George Cecil | 4,500 |
| George Quintard | 5,000 |
| C. V. Caldwell | 5,500 |
| C. H. Rice | 4,000 |
| R. W. King | 5,000 |
| H. S. Clements | 5,000 |
| F. S. Davis | 6,000 |
| G. D. Pitzipio | 4,500 |
| A. T. Stewart | 2,500 |
| D. L. Pette | 5,000 |
| Geo W. Landon | 5,500 |
| Thos S. Dakin | 5,000 |
| Richard Suydam | 2,000 |
| Total, | $176,000 |
FUN.
Yesterday they let the water from the new water-works into
the water mains. It was a great day for Saratoga. Waterspouts
were in every direction. An angry Geyser seemed to
spout from every corner.
To the casual observer, there seemed to be a sort of water
revolution in the under-strata of this quiet village. No earthquake
or extraordinary convulsion of nature had been noticed,
but all over town—in the highways, on street corners, and everywhere,
the ground would become moist, quake a little, and then
would burst forth a full-fledged “spouting spring.” The bowels
of the earth became suddenly loosened, and many superstitious
persons, who believe Saratoga to be only separated by a thin
crust from the infernal regions, began to pack up for the White
Mountains.
AWFUL PROFANITY.
“What's the matter down below?” I asked of Mr. Marvin.
Not that Mr. Marvin has anything in particular to do with these
down-below affairs, but because he is a sort of High Sheriff or
Burgomaster of Saratoga.
Mr. Marvin assured me the infernal regions were all right;
that Congress Spring had not sprung a subterranean leak; but
that the town authorities had just led the water into the mains
from the new reservoir.
“We're testing their strength,” said Mr. M—.
“Where do you get the water for the reservoir?”
“Why, we dam Greenfield Creek, and this is the very water
which they dammed—”
“Sh—!” exclaimed Dr. Swope of Trinity Chapel, “please
don't be so profane, my friend! for,” continued the Dr., “while I
am glad Saratoga has a creek worth a dam—I mean.......” Here
M. Beekman came along with his subscription paper, and the
crowd dispersed.
| Saratoga in 1901 | |