Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

Niles. owner of the building and President of the Grand
Opera House Company. Rent was $22.50 per month.
On October 6. 1910. the club formally adopted the
name of ‘TheThree-Quarters club‘ and presented the
official symbol and monogram which represents the
two Greek letters standing for profit and pleasure. The
3/4 was added to complete the symbol. Letterheads
were printed and gold stick-pins were made for the
members. using the simple but meaningful symbol.
Spoons were also made. and a set of teaspoons was the
traditional wedding gift to any member who entered
into matrimony.
Regular business meetings were held on the third
quarter of the moon at 8:30 P.M. Each meeting
included: ialpayment of bills; (b) voting on applications
of candidates; and (c) any other business.
All dues had to be paid in advance. on or before the
flrst day of each month at 8:30 o'clock p.m.. under
penalty of suspension or expulsion. subject to the
following restrictions: 1.) A member may be re-instated
at the end of the first week. by payment of a 25 cent
flne and the regular dues; and 2.) At the end of the
second week. by payment of a 50 cent flne and regular
dues. All members not paying any special assesement.
as voted on by the club. were fined and dropped from
membership. Any members not re-instating in
compliance was dropped from membership and asked
to immediately tender his key to the secretary. A
member expelled for non-payment of dues could be reinstated
only at the end of six months time. No member
would be re-instated from the total suspension or
expulsion more than once. A formal vote was taken
and recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which a
member was expelled for any cause.
Any member could be removed for cause by threequarters
vote ofall the members at the regular meeting.
following the filing of compalnt with the secreta.ry. He
would. however. be notifled to appear at such meetings.
with full rights to explain his actions. and have a free
and impartial trial before the club.
All applications for membership were received and
an investigating committee appointed.and were voted
upon at the regular business meetings. (Article I2 of
the Constitution stated: Two black-balls shall be
necessary to bar any applicant from membership.
Some of the violations considered ‘black-balls‘ were
public intoxication. legal violations. moral violations.
dishonest activities. or any ungentlemanly conduct at
any time).
The club was incorporated May 2. I917. A piano and
pool table were purchased for the club rooms for the
entertainment of the members. and special dinners and
social evenings were well attended. Initiation
ceremonies were memorable events. and were
sometimes partly shared by the public. In one instance.
a prospective member was instructed to roll a peanut
across Main Street in front of the Opera House. using
his nose for the ‘roller’. Another time. a new member
was instructed to sit atop a huge sign on Main Street
until given permission to climb down. which was the
most part ofone day.
After meetings. the members often enjoyed lunch at
the Opera House Cafe. The Vendome or the Gillen
House. The club also sponsored many picnics in the
area and held many dances at the K of P Hall. Benefit
stage shows were also regular events.
The following was reported in the Anamosa Eureka
December 28. I916: The Three-Quarters Club Minstrel
will occur Tuesday evening. January 2. This will be a
novel and down-to-the-minute show. introducing
songs. jokes and novelties along the lines of traveling
minstrels. Seats will go on sale at Beam's dress store
tomorrow. and there will be a big free street parade at
7:30 the night of the show. The cast includes 35 artists
who will be interlocutor. The cast and program follows:
End Men — Chas. Tyler. Will Fisher, Dean Lawrence.
Don Comstock. Clyde Barker. Jack Edwards. C.A. Craig
and Harry Platt.
Chorus — Fred Althen. L. Berry. Earl Fife. Ray
Farragher. E. Fisher. Ben Harrison. Ralph Harrison. Al
Koglin. Ray Mills. Chester Miller. John Johannson. Fay
Merrill. Armour Gould. Howard Greene. Hubert
Metcalf. Fay Shankiand. Ja. Hassell. F.L. Webster. N.
Scherlinger. A.C. Robinson. F.E. Carrier. Doc
Finnegan. J. A. Corwin. John Foarde. Duncan Wason.
Ernie McDaniel. George Zeuch. Roy Joslin.
Part I: Opening Songs — ‘Carry Me Back To Old
Virginia‘. 'Witmark Overture‘ by Entire Company:
‘It's Not Your Nationality‘ by Ben Harrison; ‘Queen Of
The South Sea Isles‘ by Earl Boyer: ‘I Love Dixie‘ by
Harry Platt; ‘Turn Back the Universe and Give Me
Yesterday‘ by A.C. Robinson; ‘If You Have Got A Little
Bit. Hang On To It‘ by Jack Edwards; ‘Come to
Nashville. Tennessee‘ by Clyde Barker: ‘There's a Little
Bit of Bad in Every Good Little Girl‘ by Don Comstock:
‘Oh How She Could Yacki Wicki Wacki Woo‘ by Howard
Greene; ‘The Angels Ragtime Ball‘ by Chas. Tyler; ‘And
They Called it Dixie Land’ by C.A. Craig.
Second Part: The olio will open with a cross flre act
with plenty of comedy that will be worth your time by
Chas. Tyler and Hubert Metcalf. The second number
will be a musical act by the famous players. Clyde
Barker and John Foarde.
The Bum Army. including the entire cast. will give
you an idea how American soldiers mobilize. and at the
same time. you will have to tie yourself in a seat for
laughter.
Buck and wing dancing by Mr. McCullough and
Johnnie Johannsen.
The final act will be the Dark Town Fire Brigade. In
this act you will see Mr. Dean Lawrence. the noted
comedian. in the character of the new fire chief.
All music in this show accompanied by Donnelly's
Big Orchestra.
Some of the Three-Quarters Club boys. Thefirst two
in the back row are unidentified. but following them
are Ernest Corwin and "Chub" Miller; front row.
Oscar Miller. Avert Corwin. and (unidentified). (Photo
submitted by Philomene Corwin)
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