WORK OF W. C. T. U. AND "Y."
Great Temperance Organizations Have Had Long and Successful Careers in City.
Following is the eighteenth in a series of articles on the history of local societies:
The Woman's Christian Temperance union, a society that has done much for the promulgation of the total abstinence movement, has long been organized in Altoona and has had an effective career in this city. Some of the best known women in the city are enrolled in its ranks and it has always been considered one of the community's most treasured organizations. There are two branches of the association in Altoona: The Altoona W. C. T. U. and the Young Women's Christian Temperance union.
The Altoona Women's Christian Temperance union was organized in the Mountain City in the fall of 1879, at a meeting held in the old First Lutheran church, Eleventh avenue near Fourteenth street. Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer, of Philadelphia, was in charge of the organization and the society started off with promise. The officers were elected were: President, Mrs. Martha A. Dysart; vice president, Mrs. Nancy J. Walker; secretary, Mrs. George W. Kessler; treasurer, Mrs. Mary A. Kitt. From the enthusiasm evident at the first meeting it was clear that the members intended to make their society a power for good in the community.
The first president of the society is still in its ranks, and so far as is known is the only lady living who joined the society the night it was organized. She is Mrs. Martha A. Dysart, of 1110 Twelfth avenue, who has always taken a great interest in the association.
The society has grown until it now has fifty members in the Altoona Women's Christian Temperance union, and fifteen in the young women's branch. The present officers of the Altoona W. C. T. U. are: President, Mrs. Sarah Bradley; vice president, Mrs. Annie Kerr; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Annie Kreuzpointner; recording secretary, Mrs. Catherine Kelly; treasurer, Mrs. H. D. Betz. The officers of the young Women's branch are: President, Miss Mabel Clare; vice president, Miss Mame McBurney; secretary, Miss Emma Gilliford; treasurer, Miss Ora Stahl.
The Women's Christian Temperance union is organized for the purpose of assisting in the promotion of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors and of the abolition of the liquor traffic by every wise and expedient means. The association has always been looked up to as one of the leading temperance associations of the country and has had great influence in the fight against the rum traffic. It is widespread and has the support of leading women of every community in which it is located.
The local union is an auxiliary to the Pennsylvania Women's Christian Temperance union and the work is carried on under six [sic] heads or divisions: Organization, preventative, educational, social and legal.
The society has shown itself wide-awake for social welfare not only in fighting intemperance but also in other lines. It was instrumental in having seats placed in the local stores for clerks, who formerly had to stand while not engaged in making sales. The W. C. T. U.'s work in this respect won great approbation from the public.
In its fight for temperance the union has been effective in securing scientific temperance instruction in the public schools. The children, by being shown the evil results that accrue from drinking, have a feeling of revulsion to the habit put into them.
Three public drinking fountains have been erected by the union and presented to the city. The union feels that at times a man who would take intoxicating liquors will abstain when he can get water. The drinking fountains undoubtedly have worked for the good of the community. The W. C. T. U. was mainly Instrumental in erecting the beautiful fountain placed in Lakemont park, not far from the theatre, last May. This fountain is one of the latest sanitary bubbling type, and refreshed thousands of people last summer.
The W. C. T. U. will continue to grow this city, for its work is of a kind that must go on. It has had an excellent career in the past, but there is a broad field for work and the demands of the future insure a bright outlook for the association.
Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, December 7, 1911, page 4