CENTERVILLE YOUNG MEN'S CLUB EMBRACES ATHLETES OF DESERVED REPUTATION

# CENTERVILLEButte: companies, unions & placesCentervilleThe hillside neighbourhood between uptown Butte and Walkerville, built among the mine yards and home to many Irish and Cornish mining families.More in Key terms → YOUNG MEN'S CLUB EMBRACES ATHLETES OF DESERVED REPUTATION *The Butte Daily Post, Friday, December 16, 1910, p. 30. (Page header "THE BUTTE INTER MOUNTAIN".) Photograph captioned above "CENTERVILLE YOUNG MEN'S CLUB IN TOGS." and below "GROUP OF MEMBERS OF C. Y. M. C. OUTSIDE THEIR GYMNASIUM." Read from the clipping image by claude-sonnet-5-5; proofed by claude-opus-5-5, 4 Oct 2026.* To Miss Anna M. Sullivan belongs the credit for organizing one of the best young men's clubs in the state. Mainly through her efforts, with the assistance of John K. O'Rourke, a group of young men of Centerville met at the Hibernia hallIrish societiesHibernia HallThe meeting hall of Butte’s Hibernians and a venue for other Irish societies; meeting notices name it again and again.More in Key terms →, early in October, 1908. Miss Sullivan called the meeting to order and acted as temporary chairman, in which capacity she continued for some time instructing the boys to handle the affairs of the club in an able manner. At the meeting the idea of organizing a permanent club for the purpose of bettering the conditions, socially and physically, of young men of Centerville and vicinity was discussed. There were about a dozen young men present and each pledged to do his level best to interest more young men in the idea of forming and permanently organizing a young men's club. ## A Second Meeting. The next meeting was called for October 23 at Hibernia hall. At this meeting were 40 young men, thus showing that the idea met with favor. Temporary organization was effected and committees were appointed to draft a constitution and bylaws, which were adopted at the next meeting held October 30, when permanent organization was perfected, the club named the Centerville Young Men's Club, and the following officers elected for the ensuing six months: President. Mike P. Kelly; vice president, John L. Sullivan; recording secretary, Mike Lynch; treasurer, John [Knuckey?]; financial secretary, Albert Emerson; assistant secretary, Tim Harrington; marshal, John Houlihan. J. K. O'Rourke, who was present, addressed the boys and promised to do all in his power to help them. A committee was appointed to look for favorable quarters for the club and instructed to report at the next meeting. A second committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions, which amount, together with the monthly dues, enabled the club to start a treasury. November 6, which was the date of next meeting, the committee appointed to secure club quarters, reported favorably on the Green Mountain compressor room, which was not in use at the time. ## Interest Brennan and Gillie. The same committee was reappointed with instructions to discuss the matter with James Brennan, superintendent of Mountain Con and Green Mountain mines. Mr. Brennan, who is a staunch supporter of any movement for the betterment of the young men, heartily endorsed the movement, promised his everlasting support, and referred the committee with his recommendation to John Gillie, general superintendent of the AmalgamatedButte: companies, unions & placesAnaconda Copper Mining CompanyMarcus Daly’s Anaconda company, taken into the Standard Oil-backed Amalgamated Copper trust in 1899. In 1910 Anaconda absorbed the trust’s other Butte companies and W. A. Clark’s mines, giving it most of the Butte hill. In Montana it was simply "the Company".More in Key terms → Copper company. The committee was received by Mr. Gillie and he promised to look into the matter, which appealed to him, and made a later appointment with the committee. In the meantime Mr. Gillie acquainted himself with the conditions facing the boys, and through the recommendations of Miss Sullivan, Mr. Brennan, and other well known residents of Centerville, he decided to use his influence to help the young men. So when the committee called on Mr. Gillie for the second time, he informed them that the company officials had decided to donate the use of the Mountain Con compressor room for their pleasure and enjoyment. The Mountain Con compressor room was donated in preference to the Green Mountain compressor room, owing to its proximity to the residence district. Since the compressor plant had been closed down, this building was used as a store room for old machinery, which the company officials ordered moved to the Belmont mine. Mr. Gillie asked the boys as to what way they would wish the inside remodeled, and the present gymnasium, which is one of the finest in the northwest, is the result, ## Club Takes Possession. The club took possession of the building in December, 1908, but a formal opening of the gymnasium was not held until March of the following year. Under the careful eye of President Kelly and other members who had previous experience in gymnastic work, the boys became proficient in the use of the gymnasium apparatus. At the time of the opening in March, 1909, a large number of neat exhibitions were put on in public. ## An Appreciative Bunch. The object of this entertainment was to show the public that the young men appreciated the favors bestowed. On this occasion the gymnasium was neatly decorated and was crowded to its utmost capacity. The entertainment was of a high class character, consisting of speechmaking by some of the most prominent citizens of Butte, and musical and athletic numbers by members and friends. The next regular election was held in June, 1909, and the following officers were elected: President, John J. Foley; vice president, John L. Sullivan; recording secretary, John Burke; financial secretary, Tim Harrington; assistant secretary, Emmett McGrath; treasurer, Frank Sullivan; marshal, Dan Sullivan. During this administration the club continued to progress and held many enjoyable social gatherings. The election held in December, 1909, resulted in the following being elected: President, John Burke; vice president, J. D. Murphy, Jr.; recording secretary, Emmett McGrath; financial secretary, James Brennan, Jr.; assistant secretary, Frank Leahey; treasurer, Frank Sullivan; marshal, Tom Davis. During this administration there was noted an increase in membership an dthe club flourished in every way. ## Present Officers. The present officers of the club are: President, John J. Burke; vice president, Otis Lee; recording secretary, Emmett McGrath; financial secretary, Frank Leahey; assistant secretary, Con Kelly; treasurer, Frank Sullivan; marshal, Mike Fitzpatrick. The club at the present time is in a very prosperous condition and has a very large treasury. ## The Gymnasium. The floor space amounts to 3,850 square feet, the building being 55 feet wide, 70 feet long and 18 feet high. The floor is built of matched Oregon fir and has been oiled with the best floor oil obtainable in order to make it more durable. The gymnasium is well lighted, having 14 large windows and 20 32-candle power electric lamps. In the west part of the building a handball court is partitioned off, measuring 20x45 feet. The northwest part of the building contains a change and locker room, 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. In this room are 70 lockers, 3 feet high, 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep, also two shower baths of the latest model, having an unlimited supply of hot and cold water. The balance of space, consisting of the gymnasium proper, is divided into two portions: The north portion contains the stationary apparatus, which consists of two hard wood punching bag platforms, strengthened by iron braces; a set of horizontal bars; a vaulting horse; a pair of parallel bars; two chest weight machines; a row of traveling rings, five in number; one set of acrobatic rings used in connection with the horizontal bars; two 6x21 feet floor mats used for tumbling and wrestling purposes; three dozen pair Indian clubs in various sizes; three dozen pair dumbbells, of which one dozen pair are of wood and used for form exercise, the remainder are of iron and weigh from one to five pounds. In this portion also are two lockers, one of which is used for keeping gloves, punching bags and bladders, handballs, medicine balls, basketballs, and other paraphernalia used in track work. In the other locker are kept the club books, gymnasium suits and club stationery. Adjoining this locker is a neat writing desk. The other portion is set aside for basketball and boxing, basketball taking preference in season. The club boasts of having the best basketball field in the city. The interior of the building is painted a light green, the exterior a bright red with a white border, red and white being the club colors. Above the door is a neat sign bearing the club's name. ## The Club. The progress of this club has been remarkable. From a handful of members it has grown so that it now boasts of 175 on the roll. The social features of the club have been commented upon most favorably, and its dances and entertainments are looked forward to eagerly. The regular meeting of the club is held every Tuesday evening and is always well attended. The gymnasium can be turned into a meeting hall simply by taking the spectators' benches from their positions along the walls and placing them in front of the president's platform, which occupies a prominent place in the gymnasium. At the meetings are brought up questions and topics which pertain to the good and welfare of the club, and to be sure, some lively discussions and debates are held. As most of the members are at work in the day time, evening finds the gymnasium filled. Members working nights exercise in the afternoon. In the evenings are held boxing bouts, basketball games and handball matches, and regular classes and drills. Visitors are always welcome and receive courteous treatment, and when leaving have always expressed themselves as satisfied. While at work in the gymnasium the members wear the regular club gymnasium suit, which consists of a red and white jersey, bearing the club's initials, and red pants, with a white stripe. These suits, 125 in number, are the generous donation of Mr. C. J. Kelly of the Hennessy companyButte: companies, unions & placesHennessy’sfounded 1886The D. J. Hennessy Mercantile Company, Butte’s leading department store. Its 1898 building at Granite and Main also housed the Anaconda company’s offices on the top floor.More in Key terms →, who had these suits made to order especially for the club. They are club property, and considered a very valuable asset. A suit can be secured by a member upon the deposit of $1 as a guarantee to the club against the loss of the suit. ## Athletic Record. The club engages in all forms of sport and has always made a very creditable showing. The first team put in the field under the club's name was the baseball team of 1909. Out of 25 games played, the club lost but four. Of the four games lost, the club afterward turned the tables on two of the teams holding victories against them, by defeating the Courthouse and Broadway teams. This season, 1910, ended with the club claiming the amateur championship of the state, having defeated every team of note in the state, and finished the season of 21 games with but three defeats, two of which were later reversed by defeating the Five W's and Meaderville teams. The third defeat was administered by the semi-professional team of Anaconda, which finished the season in high-class form, carrying off the championship of the City league. Prospects look bright for the season 1911. The only football team the club had was in the fall of 1909. This team, which was light and composed of green material, made a fine showing against the heavy Anaconda team, and played the high school champions to a standstill. Last winter the club entered a team in the City basketball league. Considering the fact that the boys had no coach, and were new to the game, the grit they (Continued on Page Thirty-One)