The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-07
Popular Topeka Musical Organ
ization Will Branch Out.
Planning to Build a CommO-
diOus Club House.
HAVE CONCERT HALL
That Will Be Included In New
Building.
Society Which Is a Monument
to Maj 4. j. Anderson.

new club house in the not distant
future is one of the fond hopes of the
Modoc club. When the club was char
tered provision was placed in the
charter to allow the club to own a club
house when it got ready for one, but up
to the present time no effort has ever
been made to erect one. The club will
be 20 years old next year, and it IS
now hoped to celebrate it's twenty
fifth year by the erection Of a club
house.
I'VE want to make it a pretty nice
sort OF house when we do build" said
Major Anderson, who was the founder
of the club, in speaking of the project
today Our idea is to put it out on
some of the street car lines, far enough
out that we viii have plenty of room,
but still easy of access. 1t will prob
ably cost $4,000 or $1,000.
We win fix up the basement so that
a steward and his family can live in
it. Then We will have parlors and
library and reception room, like any
we'll regulated club. We will have some
one for steward who can fix up a nice
luncheon whenever any or all of the
members want it, or when we want to
entertain our friends And last, but
not least, we will have a concert hall,
nicely furnished, and capable of seat
ing about 200 guests. We want to build
it about next year"
The treasury of the club is rather
fiat just now, but the members do not
anticipate any great difficulty in get
ting the money when they want 1t. The
club has always sung for all sorts of
gatherings without money and without
price whenever asked to do so, and has
given an occasional entertainment of
its own to fill the treasury whenever
the members have wanted to go to a
national Grand Army encampment, as
they nearly always do, but the Modoc
club is not a money making institution.
WhanoUpr tho MOdnQG a on
tertainment Topeka people know that
they will be well entertained, and the
club never wants for an audience.
The Modoc club is known from one
end of the country to the other. It has
attended nearly every national en-
campment since 1888, and has therefore
sung in the majority of the great cities
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The club was organized and given it's
name in 1876. A number of the mem
berS had been singing together previous
to that time, but they had no special
appellation. At an entertainment given
after the centennial in 1876 they were to
appear in series of comic songs, under
the leadership of Major Anderson, and
a name was wanted.
The Modoc Indians, who had been
devastating southern oregon and north
ern California for several years. had just
been defeated and the leaders of the
band captured. The captives had just
been brought to Fort Ieavenworth for
safe keeping, and the whole country
was talking about the Modocs.
What shall we call you on the pro-
gramme?" was asked.
call US the Modocs," said Major
Anderson, and "Modocs'' it has been
ever since.
AS a starter towards building their
club house the Modocs contemplate
giving a unique entertainment in the
auditorium late next fall. It will be
miniature street fair, and will be a
''take-Off" on the craze that struck
Kansas towns last fall and which will
probably be repeated next fall. An en-
tertainment of some kind will be kept
in progress on the stage all the time,
while the inevitable booths" ''parades'
and Midway will occupy the floor of
the house.