New Britain herald., 1922-02-10
LOCAL 7ABS' SOCIETY RANKS WITH
 LARGEST OF ITS KIND w THE U S
Organizations History is Tale of Successful Campaign in
 Interests of Total Abstinence.

,day conducts the printing huaness that bears his name. So that nothing
 might ne done that would stinc in-
 terest In the new born organization, Mir. Kehoc accepted the chair only on
 cond!tion that i, would be temporary.
 the idea being to give Inc new mcm-
 bers thai were 10 come ir an oppor
 tunity to All offices. Edward Maloney. a prominent Waterbury newspaper
 man, wal named vice president and
 Michael Maloncy was named financial secretary under these same conditions. 1 The first meeting after the organiza-
 ton found 65 members in attendance. Subsequent meetings found long lists of applicants for membership and in tshort time the organization YVES a thriving one. The members proceeded
 to ballot for staff of permanent of | ficers and the office of president was rendered to Mir kehoe. He accepted the honor Of being it's first president, Quarters Arc Changed.
 | About that time a smaller organi2a tion of young men had banded to- gether under the name of the New Britain Literary Institute" The club had rooms in the Opera House build | ing now known as the Palace theater building It's membership having | dwindled and interest being at low ebb. the Literary club found it advis- able to go out of eN,jtence.
 The Tabs found it's increased mem bership to result in cramped quarters in the school basement and began 10 look around for more sizahle quar- ters Arrangements were made to take over the Literary club rooms, This was the first step on the road toward the erection of Y. NJ. T, A X B society building.
 The organization continued to grow in numbers and strength and it was soon felt advisable to make another change More room was available in Hanna's block, which was later to be the k. of C. home.
 Ruy New Building.
 These rooms were taken over and occupied for several years. Later club rooms were rented in the Lee block on Lafayette street. In 1894 the building committee purchased on be- half of the society three lots on Ja fayette street extending from the cor ner of Beaver street westerly to and including what is known as the Sulli van property.
 In the same year the work of erect ing a T. A. B. home was undertaken. A brick structure, at that time one of the finest in the city, was planned. Contracts were let and the idea that had been foremost in the minds of the Tabs for nearly 5 years took form.
 The building afforded ample room for the membership of the organiza- tion for 10 years. In 1907, however, Il it was decided to extend the building southerly to distance some. 5 feet from the street and have the entrance on the Lafayette street side Up to this time the main entrance was on Beaver street.
 Extension Made. v Considerable more room was pro vided through the remodeling Of the l building to it's present size. A spa cious meeting room and dance hall, one of the largest in the city, was | made possible. Here the social events l of the society are still conducted. Ever | cognzant of it's obligations to aid in charitable movements. the society has given freely of the use of it's hall to the church societies who conduct pub lie affairs to raise funds for charitable purposes. |
 The card and pool rooms were eN- tended. The former was equipped in + l most up-to-d date fashion and three of the best pool tables obtainable II were placed in the billiard parlor. Up Il Q this day the equipment has been kept up to the very best by frequent II 'eplacements II
 Educational Opportunities. II
 So that educational opportunities night not be neglected, d complete H ibrary of authors of prominence as we'll as live fiction was included. H Magazines and newspapers by the H score arc subscribed to to keep the members posted on current topics. II
 A commodous parlor was also pro II iided. This room was equipped with II comfortable chairs with expense no lj object and is one of the finest rooms II n the building. IL is sometimes used II IS committee meeting Toom. H
 In the basement of the building, H acilities for athletic training and eX- III rcise rooms were placed at the dis ,osal of the members These rooms III re r,iphtly tbp Srpop of activities in