New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-24
TO CELEBhATE ITS CENTENNIAL.
GOOD WORK DONE ny THE GENERAL SOCIETY or
MECuANICS AND TKADESMHN.

MECHANICS AND TRADESMHN.
The Centennial of the General Society OF
Mechanics ana Tradesmen will he celebrated on the
evening of. November II in stcnway Hall. General
Stewart H. ford will deliver the Grafton and there
will also be a pocr: The Committee OF Arrangements Is
COMPOSED OF Justice william H. Grdney, chairman; :. ~
Briggs secretary; Douglas Taylor. q. H. RobinsoL W.
o. Munroe. Gilbert j. Burnett. Charles T. Galloway John
H. Waydell, president OF tho society; Robert Rnter.
David Jardnc aud stephen W. Wright On the previous
evening there will he dinner at DelmoacoS, at which
there will responses four tjass 10y prominent gen
temen.
This sOrety though little known To the general public
was organized ut the public house OF Walter IIeycr
Bowling Green for tine purpose OF promoting am
encouraging tho trades ana manufactures OF tii' city,
prOyi lag a free school for the children OF mechanics
aud relieving destitute ncmher7 or Their Widows anu
orphans lac requisite fOg membership was ANA IL so
remans that the applicant should have IelrnoI a lhir
Az Initiation fee al so has been the ony payment
necessary. The Society started win los pcr"ohS m
Apprentice Library " was established which has
grown to 7O0OD volumes. The annnli income of inr
society IA over $50 300. Of which $1,000 II iald ont III
pensions to the widows and children OF deceased he
bcrS. The society has never received or sought any
requests donations bat derives IT. income n0ey ir"h
In Nav ~ the society bought the plot Of land at tho
northwest corner Of Robinson 81. NOV Park Place ana
Broldway. from ex Mayor Richard Nartk p4ymG
therefor 1900. and built thereon Mechanics lIa AT
Jauuary t. 8O3. ThiS building. ornamcntcd with the
Hand ana Hammer" the emblem 81 the society rtpoh
until 1870. when the security Insurance Company
having leased the ground. put up tine present iron bhd
iug. After failure % tIe Insurance c"ulahy me
society purchased the bil linz from thr Assignee ana
now receives a large rental from H. Il also owns large
nmucr Of the shares OF the Mechanics Bank. az no ~
Wall st. the charter for which, being the MN gIahed
10y tine LEGISLATURE ~ this state IL obtained In 1910 on
November -. 1921. the society opened school az nos
10 ana ~ Chambers ST., having leased the lana ana
bult thereon the building which II nlN standing IN
February 1-.}3 tie Boy High school In Crosby 81,
near GrauIst hoIcht for 10000, with the l1nd'
and In the October following the school ana library were
rcmuX ed there. The school continued uhiIt l1'7.
when the public school system wa, c'thh,ird ana "
free hand drawing. mechanical ana architectural
designing. and drafting ftou objects 81 nue art: -
The lot 40 i12 Broadway WAS subsequently huught
an the society remained there until January. lN'7'
when u removed Kuln,On Hall AT No j. lnsi TX
tccutu ST.. having purchased that properly Tor 5''op
The prcsrnt membership uf tho society l. about h'"
roll las upon n the of over 3OO many "l
whom been uf great tcputc In their day IN -,
free lectures estabshri III the ht on me
crosby. property; they aJo now given In ~tcIhWa)
Hall The fret lecture THIS year Will be on December
10 There are six IN all, and the lecturers VIII hr
Richard s. Proctor. Mrs Mary ~ Livrrmorc. Professor
G. T. Chandler. DR.. scldcn H. Talcott. j. W. 'hufchiIs
mi