Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Rensselaer County
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Rensselaer County seems to have been incorporated twice (or needed to fulfill some kind of legal requirement at a later occasion?): once in 1887, again in 1923. Both times women from the Village of Lansingburgh were involved.
In 1887 Ellen F. Bascom, wife of Henry Clay Bascom, of 150 Second Avenue, Lansingburgh was significant in the county WCTU, serving as an early president of it. Her husband was active with the movement as well, even being considered as a potential Prohibition Party candidate for United States President.
In 1923, the (re-?)founding president of the WCTU in the county was Carolyn Cushing Smith of 158 Second Avenue, a short distance from the Bascom residence in part of that row of homes overlooking what would later be designated the Hudson River Vista.
The first quarterly meeting of the woman’s Christian temperance union of Rensselaer county will be held at Hoosick Falls, in the First Baptist church, to-moprrow. It will be a basket meeting. The morning session will include devotional exercises, led by Mrs. Dr. Tatlock; minutes of organization, read by Mrs. C. E. Delano, secretary; address of welcome, Mrs. Edgar Leonard; response, Mrs. H. C. Bascom; appointment of committees; reports from local unions, and a paper by Mrs. W. H. Groat. At the afternoon session there will be scripture lesson and prayer by Mrs. G. R. Robbins, and papers by Mrs. Fannie H. Eldridge, Mrs. I. D. Van Valkenburgh and Mrs George Sharp. In the evening there will be addresses by Mrs. Lewis E. Gurley and Mrs. H. A. Kenney of Troy.
Troy Daily Times. December 6, 1887: col 7.
—Mrs. H. C. Bascom and Miss Hattie Robinson of Nassau represented this county at the meeting of the national woman’s Christian temperance union, which closed to-day in Boston.
“Personal.” Troy Daily Times. November 17, 1891: col 6.
Despite the storm of yesterday twenty-one members of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union assembled at the home of Mrs. H. Phillip for the weekly meeting, the President, Mrs. E. F. Bascom, presiding. The election of officers resulted in the choice of the following: President, Mrs. E. F. Bascom; First Vice President, Mrs. C. C. Smith; Second Vice President, Mrs. J. W. Gaston; Third Vice President, Mrs. M. A. Taylor; Fourth Vice President, Mrs. E. Hicks; Secretary, Mrs. H. Phillip; Treasurer, Mrs. W. E. Hughes. Mrs. M. A. Taylor, Mrs. R. M. DeFreest, Mrs. H. E. Bartlett, Mrs. J. W. Gaston, Miss Marsh, Mrs. F. A. Ingram, Mrs. Jarvis Roberts and Mrs. Charles Carr were named as delegates to the County Convention, to be held at the State Street Methodist Church September 26. Mrs. Bascom was presented a beautiful clock as an expression of the love and esteem in which she is held by the members of the union. Next Tuesday the meeting will be held with Mrs. H. E. Post, 715 Second Avenue, when there will be appropriate exercises in observation of the birthday of Miss Willard.
“Upper Troy.” Troy Daily Times. September 18, 1901: col 2.
The Rensselaer County Women’s Christian Temperance Union this morning voted to join the National League for Woman’s Service and be represented by Mrs. Harriet L. Doyle. Delegates from Troy, Johnsonville, Poetenkill, Grafton, Averill Park, West Sand Lake and Berlin attended the annual convention to-day. Mrs. Harriet L. Doyle, the President, at the opening of the meeting appointed the following committees: Courtesies, Miss [?] Kelly and Mrs. John Osborne; En-[?], Miss Hester Wheat and Miss [?] Dorr; Press, Mrs. Frank Van [?] and Mrs. Walter Dorr. The an-[?] of the Corresponding Secret-[?] Walter Dorr, showed that two [?] have been organized this [?] Loyal and Johnsonville […] reported doing war […] Cross work. The after-[?] opened with a memorial [?] conducted by Miss J. T. D. Wil-[?] members of the organization [?] during the year were Mrs. [?] Bowman, Mrs. Charles Wood, [?] T. Baker, Mrs. A. Van Steen-[?] Annual reports were submitted by the following Superintendents of Departments: Anti-narcotics, Mrs. Helen Brooks; evangelistic, Mrs. Sarah Gaston; fairs and open-air meetings, Mrs. Charles Streeter; flower mission and relief work, Mrs. J. H. Simons; franchise, Miss Margaret Kling; health and medical temperance, Mrs. A> B. Schauber; press, Mrs. Isabelle Mallory; prison reform, Mrs. Jarvis Roberts; systematic giving, Mrs. H. E. Bartlett; Sabbath School work, Mrs. Wallace Bryce; scientific temperance instruction, Miss Kling; work among colored people, Mrs. James Carlile; soldiers and sailors, Mrs. Francis Ingram; temperance and literature, Mrs. Ellen F. Bascom; social meetings and red-letter day, Mrs. Mary Gain. Mrs. Doyle in her annual address discussed the present conditions in the great reform, the recent Legislature and food bill. The national constitutional prohibition amendment was referred to, and Mrs. Doyle declared this is the most opportune time for the submission of the amendment in view of the fact that Congress has not as yet enacted a war prohibition measure. A letter was read from Major General O’Ryan advocating total abstinence as a measure of efficiency. Mrs. Doyle was appointed delegate to the national convention in Washington, D. C., to be held in the early part of December. Mrs. Mary J. Todd presented the history of the organization, and an encouraging report was submitted by Mrs. William MacLoughlin.
Troy Times. September 11, 1917: col 1. [The newspaper microfilmed had a tear]
Articles of incorporation of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of Rensselaer County were filed in the County CLerk’s office today by A. A. Armitage, attorney for the corporation. It has been chartered “to promote abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, beverages and narcotics through the education of the youth of the county and to support enforcement of the national prohibition law.” The principal office is to be located in this city.
Directors for the first year as named in the certificate include Carolyn C. Smith, 158 Second Avenue; Florence R. Y. Kenyon, 671 Third Avenue; Mary C. Gain, 150 Second Avenue; Hattie B. Robinson, 150 Second Avenue; Marcia C. Hewitt, 760 Fourth Avenue; Harriet E. Kelly, 61 [One Hundred] Fourteenth Street; Anna Adams, 125 Sixth Avenue; Carrie E. Fisk, 117 [One Hundred] Eighth Street, all of this city, and Fannie Coons of Sand Lake. The certificate was approved by Justice Howard.
Troy Times. August 29, 1923: 7 col 4.
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union will meet Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock at the home of Mrs. C. C. Smith, 158 Second Avenue. The subject will be “Child Welfare,” with Mrs. W. W. Dorr in charge. Mrs. A. W. Benson will be the speaker.
“Lansingburgh.” Troy Times. May 10, 1924: 3 col 1.
The Lansingburgh W. C. T. U. met last night at the home of Mrs. Bradley Nichols at 550 Second Avenue. The reports of the delegates to the recent state convention were given by Mrs. Rena Mallery, Miss Luella Walker, Mrs. Harriet Doyle and Mrs. F. R. Y. Kenyon. The songs composed by Mrs. C. C. Smith, President of the Lansingburgh W. C. T. U., have been accepted by the state organization, it was stated last night. Miss Emma Kirkpatrick was awarded a state life membership certificate from the Department of Temperance and Missions for her excellent work done in that department during the year. The next meeting of the union will be held at the home of Mrs. Clyde Millington, 105th Street and Third Avenue, November 10.
“Lansingburgh.” Troy Times. October 27, 1925: 3 col 4.
The Lansingburgh Women’s Christian Temperance Union will hold the final meeting of the year at the home of Mrs. C. C. Smith, 158 Second Avenue, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The fourth quarterly reports of the superintendents of departments will be presented. Current Events will be the subject discussed.
“Lansingburgh.” Troy Times. June 26, 1926: 3 col 1.
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W. C. T. U. Elects Officers for Year […]
W. C. T. U. MEETING.—Mrs. Carolyn C. Smith Reelected President—Plans for Convention.
Mrs. Carolyn C. Smith was reelected President of the Lansingburgh Women’s Christian Temperance Union last evening at their meeting at St. Mark’s Methodist Church. Other officers reelected were: First Vice President, Mrs. Rena Mallery; Second Vice President, Mrs. Cora B. Streeter; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. F. B. Y. Kenyon and Treasurer, Mrs. Emma Kirkpatrick. Mrs. Mae Van Zandt was elected Recording Secretary. Thirty delegates were appointed to the county convention to be held at the United Presbyterian Church of this city, Tuesday, September 28. The convention will be an all day affair and at the evening convocation Dr. C. M. Gordon of Atlantic City will be the speaker. The annual report of the Treasurer, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, was received and the balance was shown to be $1,261.63. The report of Gladys B. Sorenson, Recording Secretary for the last year, showed the Lansingburgh Union standing 80 percent in the efficiency plan. Mrs. Harold S. Metcalfe led the devotional service.
Troy Times. September 22, 1926: 3 col 1.
At noon the song, “A Call,” written by Mrs. C. C. Smith of Lansingburgh, was sung by the assemblage, accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Smith. It was announced 10,000 copies of the song will be put into circulation throughout the state by the kindness of an honorary member. Mrs. Smith was given a vote of thanks for her composition Prayer was rendered by Mrs. Mallery. A solo, “Beautiful Hour of Noontide,” was sung by Mrs. Luella Walker of this city.
Troy Times. September 26, 1926: 15 col 3.
Rev. Henry Hansman, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, has arranged a special temperance service to be held Sunday morning, October 31st. He will take for his sermon “Turning Water into Wine.” A special solo will be sung by Mrs. Irene H. Brown and the congregation will join in singing a song composed for the W. C. T. U. by Mrs. C. C. Smith of Troy. Mrs. Smith is almost totally blind but is very much interested in temperance work and has composed several songs in keeping with the W. C. T. U. work.
“Glass Lake and Sand Lake.” Chatham Courier. October 21, 1926: 6 col 4.