Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-12

eanized on April "A, 1875, in the secon
moor OF the building on the southest corne
OF Fourth and Broad streets by the election
of the following officers General Bradley
I. Johnson, president ID W. Luooock'
vice president ; n. Courtney jenkins, trea-
surer aud W. Upshur Bass, secretary. Tne
BOARD OF Governors elected consisted OF Ed
ward Mayo, John ID. Rediord, ID. W. Leigh
Burton, William A. jenkins. Ii, W: Lno-
book, W. upshur Bass, General bradley 4.
johnson, Ira W. Blunt, 8. Sprigg Campbell,
L. A. Hoen, Henry 7. Miller. and 4. court
ney jenkins.
On tue 10th OF December, 1879, the Asso-
citation was Incorporated by the Circuit
Court OF the city of Richmond. the follow
ing names appearing In tine application ;
William A. jenkins, 4. Courtney jenkins
Bradley T. johnson, Henry I. Miller aud
Henry W. Lubbock. Tne original memoer-
ship having been only fourteen, steady IN
erease began, which finally necessttsted a
move to Main street when the Mozart be-
came Joint occupant OF the nal IN
Grant building with the foung Mems
Christian Association. Here the or
chesfra was considerably enlarged, and
here it was that the professional musicians
first received compensation. In ABOUT two
years a rapidly -iucreasing membership
made II necessary for the Association 10
SEEK more commodious quarters, when
movement was made for the acquisition
OF Assembly Hall " on Eighth stree l.,
which from q skating-rfnk, had been
converted into place oil amusement
This having been secured, and several thou
sand dollars expended In repairs. II became
the Mozart Hal, which In after years gave
name 10 Political party. and the Diustedtes
held there gave the Mozart Association =
reputation throughou the entire iengtn ana
breadth Of the country. The large member
ship and ample means OF the Association In
Mozart Hall enabled 10 10 undertake more
ambitious work than II had dared TO face IN
the past and IL was here that the ftrst ste pss
Ian f.f ANA
teur choruses and the production OF operas
under the direction OF Mr.. Charles L. Siegel.
These attractions greatly increased the
popularity OF the Mozart, and after the en-
Ragement OF the Bernsrds 80 large had be-
come It's membership that restriction nad
10 De placed on the admissions on member.
ship cards on "opera nights" IL was about
this time that the construction OF
NEW ACADEMY or MUSIC
Was first seriously contemplated and, re-
ferring 10 the files OF the baton. In the issue
OF february IL, 1850. viii be found undoubt-
ediy the NJ II suggestion IN print for the erec-
tton OF o suitable music hall for the uses oi
the Association. The first organized move
Inent WIS made In this direction when, ~
we read IN the Baton, at a meeting OF the
Board held in October, 1850, committee
from the Board and one from the members
was APPOINTED "in order that by joint
conference some plan may be devised for
building thereon" This joint committee
il seems. failed TO make q report until the
following year, and the next mention OF II
in the Baton r. in the form OF =" notice "
in the issue OF May 10, 1881, announcing
that after the conclusion OF the INST act ol
the opera for that evening the Hon. A. A.
Kelley would explain TO the audience the
plan offered by the Joint Opera-H House
Committee for purchasing lot and build
Ing hall. The plan reported feli throusn
and IN June, 1sS2, al = meeting OF the
Board OF Governors another committee was
appo!uted consisting OF the Hon. WiiltR 10
f. Tanner. MIR. Thomas W. Pemberton. Col
onel Archer Anderson. and Mr.. Thomas
Potts, 10 recommend plan. These gentle
men at inst favored the issuing OF twenty
nye-doilar bonds bearing per cent. inter-
est. redeemable In twenty years. and as the
lot on which the Old building stood had
been leased in April Of that year for ninety
nine years. to leave IL optional TO build on
IN or some other. BY further report made
by rhis same committee In Noyemosz.
IeS2, Il recommended the securing OF " life.
memberships" at 500 each, and In cAse q
sufficient sum should not be yatsed by this
means to issue bonds bearing 8 per cent In
terest for the balance. Circulars emoodylng
the scheme we're sent 10 mem oeB and some
csnysss,ng done ON this basis. but "a q
sufficient amount was not assured the
scheme was finally abandoned.
Here, II may be said. the "cpera- house
trnG iQt n6l - kO<s4 ft1Ar fOI ~ W =. ho~
until June. 1883. that another committee
ON the subject was appointed. THIS con-
sisted OF Messrs. e. r.. Wkitiock. Thomas
William Pemterton, Charles l.. Siegel, A.
BsrgAmin. and John Tyler. and we're In
vested with "plenary powers 10 raise the
money and proceed With the work OF con-
struetiou- This committee proposed pur-
chasing the lot on the corner Of Main and
sixth streets for ele.soo and recemmendec
that the pubiie-spirifed and liberal people
-. -.
buy thls lot" But they wouldn't do it, and
thls scheme failed.
IL VIII TINS be seen thg, during q psrlod
extending over four years comm tttee after
committee had been appointed and nothing
accomplished In the direction Of obtaining
ball. Finally. at a meeting Of the Hoard ol
Governors held December T. 1884 q fsnan-
cial plan 20 build the hall was snbmitted
ana unanimously endorsed and which
out In the elegant and cemmod.oss oaild-
ing eedicafef this evening.
To Colonel Samuel u. Paul, one OF our
leading bu8iness-r rpen, and long faithful
officer Of the Association, undoubtedly be-
longs the hoaor Of orig;nafing and carrying
tie over one year ago. ard assistsd In bis
work OF deyotsen by the " "Eew.Han Bnild-
ing Committee" corolsttxx Of usssxs- A.
BarEamln. 9. L. Htegei, Horace r. Edmond.
and Ex. James q. MeCaw, q building has
q fsn ssd er sss
Aspx,ciafiop, bot of actual pride 20 the city
OF Iflchxnopd and TIE STATE - large.
PRESENT oFFIcRRs or THx AssocrA-
TEex.
The fsllswing are the presssk officers
and Board Of the Mozart Hen. viii
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