125th Anniversary of Construction of The Farmer’s Union Hall

2023 marks the 125th anniversary of the construction of The Farmers’ Union Hall

The following information was compiled from articles in the Montgomery Transcript, the newspaper of the time.

The Worcester Alumni Association agreed to help the Farmers’ Union to construct a Hall for the organization.  It had been meeting at Center Point Hall, part of the Center Point Hotel. When there was a conflict in dates, the meetings would be moved to local homes. According to reports in the Montgomery Transcript, there was much discussion on the funding for the project. Members of the Farmer’s Union felt that the funding of a hall would not be a problem. At a previously held meeting of the Worcester Alumni Association, their membership stated that if the Farmers’ Union Club did not build the much-needed hall, they (The Alumni Association) probably would. (December 31, 1897.)

So many members of the Framers Union spoke in favor of building a space where ideas could be freely exchanged. John H. Schultz stated while he believed it would be an advantage from a financial standpoint, he favored a new hall for moral reasons, which he frankly stated. “What if we raised the standards of agriculture by this organization, if we lower the moral standard of the community? We bring our sons to this place of meeting at a hotel, and is the influence good?” He said there was a matter of expense. He believed in five years’ time, the amount of money the members spent at the hotel could pay for a new hall. A committee of 5 was elected to canvas all the members.

January 7, 1898- The annual meeting of the Farmer’s Union Club was held and there were 75 members in attendance. They reported an annual budget.  The union purchased agricultural equipment, seed, etc. in bulk as a unit, and members purchased from that savings. There were committees for post and rail, coal, feed, machinery, fertilizer, clover seed, timothy seed and other committees that did not report. The sum of $17,927.42 was purchased.  The balance in the treasury was $187.54.  Those members that benefited from the club were expected to subscribe to support for a new hall.

February 11, 1898- Several sites were being considered for the hall. Plans and estimates were being prepared by carpenter Elwood Geyer and Benj. Nyce of Worcester for a brick and frame and stone structure. Subscriptions of $1,000 – $1,500 had already been secured, and the entire membership has not been canvassed.

February 25, 1898- The land had been purchased from David Burket, surveyed by George Weber, staked for the building and prepared for digging the foundation.

March 4,1898- The building committee stated the lot had been staked off 138’ frontage and 157 deep and contain half acre of land. “The hall is to be 40 by 70 feet, two stories high, with a skeleton cornice.  The upper story will be frame and the lower story either of brick or stone. Entrance will be through a large door fronting the public road and from the entrance a flight of wide stairs will lead up to the hall room.  On either side of the stairway, committee rooms will be portioned off, which when needed, can be thrown into the main hall room.  At the north end of the room there will be expended a stage, 5 feet high and 16 feet wide and 40 feet long with small rooms on both ends. Under the stage will be a room 16 feet by 40 feet, which is to be used for the weekly meetings of the club and entrance to this room will be from a side door. From this room there will be a stairway leading to the stage.  The first story will be devoted to stabling horses and will contain room for about 48 head.  Ample provisions will be made for heating, lighting, and ventilation.”

June 3, 1898- Millwork awarded to B.F. Frederick, West Point.  Foundation work given to Mason, Jacob H. Stern, of Skippack.

July 22, 1898- The girders and joists are in place, done by carpenters and members of the club.

It is to be noted that the Farmer’s club met every Monday, but from the Montgomery Transcript, there were few meetings recorded in July and August, no doubt due to the farmers summer schedules.

September 30- The carpenters are through for the present and the plasters are at work. Henry M. Oberholtzer was awarded the contract and Mr. Hill of North Wales is putting in the cement steps. Chairs have been ordered from T.H. Diehl of Allentown, representing a Wisconsin firm. Three hundred folding chairs of birch with wire racks beneath to hold men’s hats. Burket and Leister have the contract to paint the hall.

October 21, 1898 -The secretary has reported that the insurance firm, Coleman, Boyertown and Wonsettler of Norristown, has donated a five-year insurance policy to the hall. The policy is in the Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Co., Philadelphia.

November 4, 1898 -Since it was decided not to put folding doors at the entrance of the Ante-rooms, the architect drew a plan of an ornament that will greatly improve the appearance of the entrance of these rooms.

December 16, 1898- The new hall is nearly ready for occupancy.  The steam heating plant is finished, the chairs are on the ground and hitching posts are planted. It has been decided not to dedicate until after the FARMERS INSTITUTE in January.

January 6, 1899- Worcester first Institute was largely attended, in the new hall.  The speakers, what they said: “Worcester’s first farmers Institute under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture was held Wednesday and yesterday and a grand success it was.  The new hall was well filled at the opening session and packed with interested farmers and their wives and daughters at the evening session, and let it be said right here that this institute would never have been held at Center Point had it not been for those farmers who all went down deep into their pockets and furnished the cash to erect the magnificent new hall in which the sessions of the institute were held.  The wives and daughters contributed in no small measure to the success of the institute, not only by their presence, but also by the tasteful arrangement of bunting above and in the rear of the stage.  The members and friends of the Worcester Farmer’s Union Club are to be congratulated for their enterprise in providing such accommodation and comfortable meeting place and every speaker from a distance had words of praise and congratulation for the push and energy of the community of evidence by the completion of the hall.