The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-28
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB OPEN.
lis Rooms in the Exchange
Building Filled Last Night.

a Description of the Clubs New Home
Strong Speeches by President Wood
rum, Secretary Helper, Colonel Pope,
Colonel Garner and others--To he the
Organizer of Plans for the Develop
inent of Roanoke.
The Commercial Club was formally
opened last night. The doors of the
club rooms were thrown aiar and pub
lie reception given. During the even
ing large number of Roanol<e's most
prominent citizens called and assured
Secretary Helper of their most hearty
support to the club. On account of the
rain a much smaller number of visitors
was out than would have been the case
If the weather had been favorable, but
Judging from the enthusiasm shown by
those in attendance, the Commercial
Club will prosper.
The rooms of the club arc on the Sc
cond floor of the Exchange building and
are very handsomely fitted up. with
large mirrors, plush chairs and brussels
carpets. Everything has been done look
ing to the comfort of members and visi-
tors. To the left as one enters the re-
ccption room is Il large hat-rack of oak
with large mirror in the center and
in each corner is Il table containing sta
tionary and writing material for the
convenience of members. In the center
OF the room is Il long table and on this
are all the large dailics and trade
papers. On this also is kept the register
upon which each guest inscribes his
name. The room was made attractive
by several bouquets of beautiful cut
flowers. The next room adjoining the
reception room is the sccretary's office.
This is very neatly furnished with two
desks, one for the secretary, and the
other for his assistant The floor is
covered with brussels like the rccep-
ton room. A telephone has been placed
in the Office. There is a small room ad-
joinging that of the secretary in which
committees can meet and in which any
private business can he transacted. If
person meets a friend on the street.
and wants to have confidential chat
this is just the place for it.
About two months ago, through the
untiring efforts of Hinton Helper. an
organization of the Commercial Club
was effected, and the following officers
were elected: President, II. IL. Wood
rum; vice-president, C. O'Leary: score
tary, Hinton Helper; board of directors,
Joseph III. Sands, p. l.. Terry, James S.
Simmons, e. III. Stewart, K. III. Wood
rum, III. S. Trout, j. NJ Gambill. DR..
Joseph A. Gale and Hinton Helper.
Mr.. Helper, who was charter mem
Der of the Louisville Commercial Club,
was thoroughly familiar with the man
ncr in which such n club should be con-
Quoted and entered upon the work de-
termined to make it a success. Ills
previous knowledge of such matters
served him in good stead now and the
opening last night shows how well he
has labored.
floor of the Exchange building was
rented and mon put to work tearing out
partitions and remodcling the rooms.
and it was Friday night when they were
completed and furnished. Tho Club
now has quarters that are in every way
snlted to its needs and il is indeed IL
pleasure to spend Il few minutes in one
OF the easy chairs.
The membership numbers about
eighty of the leading men of the city.
and from indications last night it will be
doubled shortly. 1t is the intention of
Secretary Helper to make this a club in
every respect similar to the AIanufac-
turcrs' Club of Philadelphia. It's aims,
are to promote the material prosperity of
Southwest Virginia and to build up Roa-
nollc.
Invitations were sent out to number
OF newspapers to be present at the re-
ception, and num erous congratulatorv
letters were received by the secretary.
The Manufacturers Record. Iron Age.
Tradcsman, Charlotte Chronicle. and
several other outside papers, as we'll as
all the local papers, had representatives
on hand.
Among those wko were present be-
sides the officers of the club were Col.
y. Pope, Judge S. w. lIowerton, DIR. J :.
d. Kirk, George w. Ramsey, George c..
McCahan, w. H. Mackay, Il. l.. Garner
Walter Murphy, A. ID. Rice. Ed L..
Stone, James a. .Jamison, j. II. Win
gate, Il. II. Wingfield, c. c. Taliaferro.
DIR. T.. A. Parsons, Robert L. Scott. III.
|. Nicholas NJ. Ii. Clayton. j. T.. Wing
field, Roy Il. Smith, E. NJ. Dawson,
Eston Randolph, Major Pardee, of the
Baltimore Manufacturers Record. and
many others.
President Woodrnm opened the ball
with q sensible, business-like speech on
the scope and objects of the club, pre-
dieting that it would soon be able to oc-
cupy an entire floor in the new Terry
building about to be erected.
Secretary Hinton Helper followed
with happy sketch of the clubs incep-