The San Francisco call., 1896-06-12

but rich enough to attract attention. To-
day, after half century of generous use,
that voice is still rich and sweet, but mel
lowed and made richer and sweeter with
years.
The possessor of the childish voice that
caused staid Ohioan Presbyterians to won
der SO long ago was Miss Margaret Kroh,
known to the past generation and a half
as Mrs. Blake-Alverson. Tomorrow this
lady will be rendered a Jubilee reception
by her pupils at her home on Broadway.
Thousands of people who have heard
Mrs. Blake-Alverson sing in the long past
will be surprised to learn that, although so
years of age, she is still alive and singing,
and as animated as ever. When Is years
old she came to California and landed in
Stockton in the winter of 1852.
During the early years of pioneer days
she sang in the Presbyterian, Methodist
and Baptist churches, and finally in the
Episcopal church, all in Stockton. In
those days the Slough City's spiritual
welfare was attended to by Rev. Charles
Wood and Rector John Hager, names now
almost forgotten. From Stockton the
youthful singer, then 19, went to Benicia
and sang in DR.. Woodbridge's choir for
time, after which she returned to Stock
ton, where at the age of q she married
George Blake.
A year later Mrs. Blake went to Boston
and sang in the old Bull6nch and Sailor
churches. When the war broke out Mrs.
Blake was singer in the Dedham choir
of DR.. Burgess Congregational church.
All through the war the choir was made
distinguished by raising money for the
soldiers and sending to the front all neces-
sary things for their comfort.
The choir was one of five under the
direction of Edwin Bruce, celebrated
-,
concert was given full houses and Golfers
were the result. Several times the choirs
united in Fremont Temple and Mrs.
Blake was always to the front on account
of her beautiful voice.
Mrs. Blake returned to California in
1862 and sung successively in the First
Presbyterian Church, st. Johns Presby-
street, Trinity Church, st. Mary's on Cali
fornia and Dupont. In 1868 she went to
Santa Cruz and sang in several churches
there for seven years. While there Mrs.
Blake assisted in buying the first fire
engine owned by the town. She donated
her talent, and as result $50 was raised,
which helped to purchase the engine now
in use. After her return to San Francisco
Mrs. Blake devoted herself entirely to
music, and not festival of any kind was
given at which she did not sing.
Her voice has been heard in every
church, theater or hall built during the
last twenty seven years in California.
She sang in the California Theater on July
4, when Seward was in the boxes, and also
at Union-square Hall for King Kalakaua.
For over sixteen years she sang in various
churches and synagogues, and in 1887 Mrs.
Blake went to San Bernardino and sang
in Episcopal and Catholic churches.
In San Bernardino County the we'll
known singer figured in politics. ALI
| through Harrison's campaign she. was
engaged to sing for the Republican League
and carried the whole county for Harrison,
and at the same time swept every Demo
crat out OF Office for the first time IN the
political history of the county. So great
was the victory that the newspapers
printed the news in carmine.
For over six years Mrs. Blake-Alverson
has been singing in Oakland, and her
voice has been for all the half century OF
her professional career at the disposal of
every charity and worthy call. At pres
ent she is the musical director of the First
| Lutheran Church.
Although 60 years old, Mrs. Blake
Alverson is still an active worker, but she
says that nothing ever gave her more
! pleasure than to sing in Fremont Temple
over thirty years ago for the benefit OF the
Union soldiers.