A HISTORICAL REFLECTION
OF
THE ASTORIA BENEFICIAL CLUB, INC.
By Eugene C. Harden
April 28, 2005
Revised March 18, 2010
In the United States, historians record 1880-1914 as the era of great industrial expansion, a time when the country made great strides in economic developments. As the wheels of industry turned, job opportunities and wages increased, reflecting an age of prosperity. The Negro enjoyed much of this prosperity, but yet perhaps not his proportional share. While economic prosperity is one important factor in the advancement of a nation, there are other factors of equal importance to be considered: such as social, political, and cultural. These are the factors that shape the spirit of man and mold the destiny of a nation.
Being denied the enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural heritages of the land, the Negro pursued what seemed to be a more realistic course. Hence, the beginning of many great Negro organizations, institutions, and causes----the Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows, Tuskegee Institution, the Urban League, the NAACP, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and yes, the Astoria Beneficial Club.
On August 8, 1901, twenty-two intelligent young men, full of inspiration, ambition and zeal, met at the residence of Christopher French Foster, 1009 North Fourth Street, and organized the Astoria Beneficial Club.
Officers elected at that historical meeting were Clifton G. Cabell, President; Urbane T. Bass, Vice-President; Christopher F. Foster, Secretary; Matthew J. Harris, Assistant Secretary; Ottoway L. Sampson, Treasurer; Marshall McCray, Sergeant-at-arms; and Ira E. Nash, Chaplain.
The alert thinking C. F. Foster suggested Astoria as the name of the club. It has been said that the name Astoria came from the word “aster” which means star.
The first installation of its officers was at Price’s Hall, with a dance and banquet, December 31, 1901. The speaker was Captain Benjamin A. Graves. The menu consisted of turkey, ham, cheese, pickle and celery, bread, hot chocolate, ice cream and cake, bananas, apples and oranges. This menu, with the addition of beautiful palms for decoration and other banquet necessities, including hall rent cost the Club $29.14. Moses Johnson’s orchestra furnished music for a fee of $6.00. A total cost for the whole installation affair was $35.14.
During the late twenties, the Club offered scholarships to ranking students of Armstrong High School, and students of the Virginia Union University who made the highest average of any Richmond pupil during the first two years of college. Miss Roberta Randolph and Miss Ada V. Foster were among the first who were successful in receiving $100.00 scholarships each.
In the 1930’s, Astoria was active in community projects such as NAACP, Red Circle stores, Community Hospital, and Capital Trade Association. The club cooperated with Letter Carriers in running a moonlight boat excursion. A membership campaign brought in 50 new members.
In the 1940’s, the club joined with the NAACP in the fight against lynching, was active in efforts to get Negroes on City pay rolls, expressed concern about the Jackson Ward Project as planned by the Housing Authority, supported teachers in the fight for equalization of pay, was active in efforts to get Negro policemen on city pay rolls, and entered the fight to repeal segregation laws.
In the 1950’s, Astoria secured life membership in the NAACP, obtained a list with the names of 5,000 Negro citizens who had paid poll taxes and were once qualified voters, but became delinquent. Club members made personal contact with those persons seeking to make them eligible voters. Poll taxes were enacted in the south as a prerequisite for voting and disenfranchised many African Americans and poor whites. The poll tax to vote was $1.50. The Astoria Beneficial Club paid its members poll taxes. Because of Evelyn T. Butts, who took the matter to court, and her attorney Joseph A. Jordan along with Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall, poll taxes were eliminated in March 1966.The 50th Anniversary was held at Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church on October 28, 1951. The speaker was Dr. Mordecai Johnson, president of Howard University. The Club was granted its Certificate of Incorporation in November 1956. The Awards and Presentations Program was initiated in 1957, citing businesses, community workers, and club members for outstanding contributions. The Astoria Wives Club was organized in 1959.
The Astoria Past President’s Council was organized in January 1960. The Annual Scholarship Fund was created in 1969. During a regular meeting of April 1972, Astorian Carroll Anderson presented a proposal to erect a statue of Bill “Bo Jangles” Robinson. The statue, cast in aluminum, was dedicated on June 30, 1973, at the corners of Adams and Leigh Streets. The sculptor was John Temple Witt, a Professor of Art at Randolph Macon College.
In May 1987, the Club participated in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Downtown Trolley System. Also in 1987, Astoria partnered with Richmond Renaissance, The Jaycees and the Richmond Arts Council to raise funds for the James River Discovery program. This project was the “Buy a Brick Campaign”. Personalized bricks were sold for $25.00 each. The bricks are laid along the Canal Walk and on Brown’s Island. In May 1988 the Headsman Statue, costing $17,500, was erected and dedicated on Brown’s Island. The sculptor was Paul DiPasquale. In May 1989, almost exactly one year after it was unveiled, the 10foot fiberglass statue was stolen. On October 6, 1989, the statue was found in a quarry in Hanover County, riddled with bullet holes. No conclusive leads have been found to date. A new statue, valued at almost $35,000, cast in bronze, was unveiled in November 1992.
The Parental Assistance Leadership Service (PALS) was inaugurated in 1989. The objective of this program is to encourage youth and parents to become self-sustaining and respectful citizens. In 1991, Astoria adopted Fairfield Court Elementary School. Club Members volunteer as Room Fathers and Lunch Buddies and occasionally go on school trips with students.
On July 26, 1997, the club sponsored a “Fishing Trip to Morehead City, NC, aboard the 69 foot Carolina Princess. Two buses left from Azalea Mall on Friday evening and returned Sunday morning. Aside from a few seasick fishermen, some fish were caught and a good time was had by all.
In 2001, the club celebrated its 100th Anniversary with an elaborate eight- month series of programs that included exhibits, forums, youth activities, musical presentations, and church services. The theme of the Centennial Event was “Celebrating a Rich Past: Making a Difference in the Future”.
The C. F. Foster Scholarship Foundation, a subsidiary organization of Astoria, was granted its Certificate of Incorporation in November 2002. It was granted 501(C)3 tax exemption status by the IRS in December 2002. The Foundation awards annual scholarships to deserving high school students in the greater Richmond area.
In 2009, the club website was created and is maintained by Past President Alan J. Foster, Sr. Club information and newsletters can be seen on www.Astoriabeneficialclub.weebly.com.
Astoria today, continues to be involved in activities that are true to the ideals of the founding fathers of the club, and that are explicitly reflective of the club objective, which is “to inspire its members to a higher religious, moral, intellectual, civic, and social standing, and to relieve its distressed members”.
.
Being denied the enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural heritages of the land, the Negro pursued what seemed to be a more realistic course. Hence, the beginning of many great Negro organizations, institutions, and causes----the Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows, Tuskegee Institution, the Urban League, the NAACP, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, and yes, the Astoria Beneficial Club.
On August 8, 1901, twenty-two intelligent young men, full of inspiration, ambition and zeal, met at the residence of Christopher French Foster, 1009 North Fourth Street, and organized the Astoria Beneficial Club.
Officers elected at that historical meeting were Clifton G. Cabell, President; Urbane T. Bass, Vice-President; Christopher F. Foster, Secretary; Matthew J. Harris, Assistant Secretary; Ottoway L. Sampson, Treasurer; Marshall McCray, Sergeant-at-arms; and Ira E. Nash, Chaplain.
The alert thinking C. F. Foster suggested Astoria as the name of the club. It has been said that the name Astoria came from the word “aster” which means star.
The first installation of its officers was at Price’s Hall, with a dance and banquet, December 31, 1901. The speaker was Captain Benjamin A. Graves. The menu consisted of turkey, ham, cheese, pickle and celery, bread, hot chocolate, ice cream and cake, bananas, apples and oranges. This menu, with the addition of beautiful palms for decoration and other banquet necessities, including hall rent cost the Club $29.14. Moses Johnson’s orchestra furnished music for a fee of $6.00. A total cost for the whole installation affair was $35.14.
During the late twenties, the Club offered scholarships to ranking students of Armstrong High School, and students of the Virginia Union University who made the highest average of any Richmond pupil during the first two years of college. Miss Roberta Randolph and Miss Ada V. Foster were among the first who were successful in receiving $100.00 scholarships each.
In the 1930’s, Astoria was active in community projects such as NAACP, Red Circle stores, Community Hospital, and Capital Trade Association. The club cooperated with Letter Carriers in running a moonlight boat excursion. A membership campaign brought in 50 new members.
In the 1940’s, the club joined with the NAACP in the fight against lynching, was active in efforts to get Negroes on City pay rolls, expressed concern about the Jackson Ward Project as planned by the Housing Authority, supported teachers in the fight for equalization of pay, was active in efforts to get Negro policemen on city pay rolls, and entered the fight to repeal segregation laws.
In the 1950’s, Astoria secured life membership in the NAACP, obtained a list with the names of 5,000 Negro citizens who had paid poll taxes and were once qualified voters, but became delinquent. Club members made personal contact with those persons seeking to make them eligible voters. Poll taxes were enacted in the south as a prerequisite for voting and disenfranchised many African Americans and poor whites. The poll tax to vote was $1.50. The Astoria Beneficial Club paid its members poll taxes. Because of Evelyn T. Butts, who took the matter to court, and her attorney Joseph A. Jordan along with Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall, poll taxes were eliminated in March 1966.The 50th Anniversary was held at Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church on October 28, 1951. The speaker was Dr. Mordecai Johnson, president of Howard University. The Club was granted its Certificate of Incorporation in November 1956. The Awards and Presentations Program was initiated in 1957, citing businesses, community workers, and club members for outstanding contributions. The Astoria Wives Club was organized in 1959.
The Astoria Past President’s Council was organized in January 1960. The Annual Scholarship Fund was created in 1969. During a regular meeting of April 1972, Astorian Carroll Anderson presented a proposal to erect a statue of Bill “Bo Jangles” Robinson. The statue, cast in aluminum, was dedicated on June 30, 1973, at the corners of Adams and Leigh Streets. The sculptor was John Temple Witt, a Professor of Art at Randolph Macon College.
In May 1987, the Club participated in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Downtown Trolley System. Also in 1987, Astoria partnered with Richmond Renaissance, The Jaycees and the Richmond Arts Council to raise funds for the James River Discovery program. This project was the “Buy a Brick Campaign”. Personalized bricks were sold for $25.00 each. The bricks are laid along the Canal Walk and on Brown’s Island. In May 1988 the Headsman Statue, costing $17,500, was erected and dedicated on Brown’s Island. The sculptor was Paul DiPasquale. In May 1989, almost exactly one year after it was unveiled, the 10foot fiberglass statue was stolen. On October 6, 1989, the statue was found in a quarry in Hanover County, riddled with bullet holes. No conclusive leads have been found to date. A new statue, valued at almost $35,000, cast in bronze, was unveiled in November 1992.
The Parental Assistance Leadership Service (PALS) was inaugurated in 1989. The objective of this program is to encourage youth and parents to become self-sustaining and respectful citizens. In 1991, Astoria adopted Fairfield Court Elementary School. Club Members volunteer as Room Fathers and Lunch Buddies and occasionally go on school trips with students.
On July 26, 1997, the club sponsored a “Fishing Trip to Morehead City, NC, aboard the 69 foot Carolina Princess. Two buses left from Azalea Mall on Friday evening and returned Sunday morning. Aside from a few seasick fishermen, some fish were caught and a good time was had by all.
In 2001, the club celebrated its 100th Anniversary with an elaborate eight- month series of programs that included exhibits, forums, youth activities, musical presentations, and church services. The theme of the Centennial Event was “Celebrating a Rich Past: Making a Difference in the Future”.
The C. F. Foster Scholarship Foundation, a subsidiary organization of Astoria, was granted its Certificate of Incorporation in November 2002. It was granted 501(C)3 tax exemption status by the IRS in December 2002. The Foundation awards annual scholarships to deserving high school students in the greater Richmond area.
In 2009, the club website was created and is maintained by Past President Alan J. Foster, Sr. Club information and newsletters can be seen on www.Astoriabeneficialclub.weebly.com.
Astoria today, continues to be involved in activities that are true to the ideals of the founding fathers of the club, and that are explicitly reflective of the club objective, which is “to inspire its members to a higher religious, moral, intellectual, civic, and social standing, and to relieve its distressed members”.
.
