Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-04-29
History Of
ApolloClub
Is Reviewed

IA - ~
c,nce the publication OF an ar.
.',a &c concerning the origin and
srovth ns,v of the Apollo club printed
sIO", recent edition Of the Oregon
y a.zine it would seem there has
suan p'a1 considerable discussion OF
pee pssr matter by members of the
y, 'n' aing organization. The follow
slns Y ! r.eume of the history Of the
ins laststy has been prepared by the
limbs s,ub's secretary and is herewith
given: .,.,aa "orioin of
~ Anollo Club" published in q
~, .uv magizine recently, appar-
lvv Wv contained number Of mis-
,asdipg . and incorrect statements
.slstive ,sas to the founding Of this
salem mems singing organization.
pa Iacal musicians, who are familiar
,Jtb n the activities of the Apollo
,nh since its inception, assume
.sat M the writer.of the article had
saan s1 misinformed regarding the
.setc about how, when and where
,he club was started. Set forth by
,be writer of the story were the
statements that the nucleus OF the
Anollo club consisted Of a quar-
tet the inspiration for which was
gained by four young men who sat
Slowing smoke one winter night,
IN the year 1914, in a vocal studio
q the oregon building; that this
auartet afterwards developed into
an aorpheus Male Chorus" among
the "raw recruits of which were
Walter Jenks, John Todd and
frank Hughes; that the first ac-
eomnanist for the quartet was Ber
nice Clark East, then Dorothy
pearee. and later, Ruth Bedford.
In refutation of the article, Albert
II Gflle, secretary-treasurer OF
The Apollo club, has supplied from
minutes of the clubs meetings
authentic data pertaining to the
beginning of the chorus, and a
brief resume of it's subsequent act
ivities.
Minutes of the first meeting
are dated February "a, 1913, and
state that number of men in
terested in the formation OF a
mems singing club, met at the
home of John w. Todd, on Belle
yue street, where an organization
was perfected. The next meeting
Of the club was held in the Hub
bard building on the evening OF
March 6, 1918. Frank G. Decke-
bach was the first presiding Off
Ger, with the title of vice presi-
dent, it being the sense Of the
members that there should be a
virtual head of the organization,
with the title of honorary presi-
dent. A constitution adopted at a
subsequent meeting defined the
duties of this officer as follows:
1T shall be the duty of the hon
orary president to sponsor the
activities of the club and to en-
list in its behalf such patronage,
support and good will as are COM
mensurate with his prestige and
Influence"
W. T. jerks was chosen as the
clubs first secretary-treasurer.
John W, Todd was elected honor
ary conductor and Miss Bernice
Clark was secured as accompan-
ist The first concert was given at
the Grand theatre on June 26,
1918. The chorus for this concert
contained sixteen voices as fol-
lows:
First tenors, ]. Frank Hughes,
Frank Dewitt, H. G. Slower, j.
D. Humphreys, ]. w. Todd.
Second tenors, Albert R. Mil
Ter, Horace N. Aldrich, H. w.
'Bross, W. 7. jerks, Ivan G. Mar
tin.
First basses, R. r. Jones, D.
Langenburg, Albert H. Gille.
Second basses, c. H. Stevenson,
Edward Boas, F. G. Deckebach.
Mrs. Lulu Dahl Miller, contral-
10, was the soloist at this concert,
which was considered as the clubs
iirst public season. For each sea-
son following, two concerts have
been given, with the exception of
me current season, at the begin
nlng of which it was decided to
give three concerts.
In the second season the first
concert was given on Feb. Z, 1919,
AZ the Grand theatre. There were
sS singers in the chorus and Mrs.
Ninlfred Lugrin Fahey, soprano,
was the soloist. The second con-
cert was sung on June 6, 1919,
WIN 81 voices in the chorus and
loist
For the third season the first
Suncert e. was given in the armory.
rnefe were 81 singers and John
nand, tenor, was the soloist. For
.uis season Miss Dorothy Pearce
lau replaced Miss Bernice Clark
=. = aeeompanist, on account of
y, ',iSs Clark's removal from the
I''E The second concert of the
Jason = was given on May 26 and
at the Grand theatre. W voie-
n. = composed the chorus, and Mrs.
"inltred Lugrin Fahey, soprano,
'auB return onoaoav,,o1f nc CO