Black History Month: The Philomathean Quartette at Cold Spring

Music played a part in creating the ambiance of a pleasure resort at Cold Spring.  Local bands often accompanied excursion parties, entertaining them on the train ride and furnishing music for dancing and enjoyment while at Cold Spring.  Bands and orchestras were hired for special events, such as informal hops and elegant dances, holidays and celebrations, and visits by dignitaries.  Sometimes talented guests would provide evening musical entertainment, both instrumental and vocal, in the hotel parlor.  At times the Cold Spring Resort even had its own in-house entertainment.

During the summer of 1884, visitors to Cold Spring were pleasurably entertained by the musical renditions of the Philomathean Quartette, whose members resided at the resort throughout the warm summer months.  A newspaper article at the end of the summer reported:  “The Philomathean Quartette…made a great hit at Cold Springs by rendering some of their choice selections” (The State Journal, August 30, 1884).  The Philomathean Quartette consisted of Daniel Bratton, Edward Cunningham, John H. Murray, and Augustus “Stoney” Stewart, all members of the African-American Philomathean Club of Harrisburg.

The Philomathean Club of Harrisburg:  A “Local Item” in the December 15, 1883 issue of The State Journal, an African-American newspaper published in Harrisburg, notes:  “The Philomatheans are becoming quite popular.”  Yet little information could be found on this club.  It was probably like other Philomathean organizations of the time.  Philomathean means “lover of learning,” and Philomathean clubs or societies were usually organized to promote mutual improvement through the study of literature, music and the arts.  In the 1880’s through the 1920’s, it seems the aim of these organizations was to keep abreast with current topics, especially the problems of the day, as well as to enjoy the social aspects of club life.  They offered a varied program of literary readings, musical programs, presentations of civic importance, travelogues, and outings to theater presentations and concerts.  (Most of the modern Philomathean groups seem to be literary and debate societies associated with colleges and schools.)  Two other members of the Harrisburg club were mentioned in The State Journal, Doc Abel and Taylor Howard.  It is unknown whether both men and women belonged to this organization.

While at Cold Spring that summer, the four musicians of the Philomathean Quartette were probably employed in other positions as well.  A Harrisburg Telegraph article (July 31, 1888) relates how the guests at Cold Spring were entertained “by enjoyable music by the little orchestra of waiters, interspersed with amusing plantation songs and dances.”  Several articles from the 1880’s show having a house band made up of talented members of the kitchen staff was not uncommon in the better hotels, including the Lochiel Hotel and the United States Hotel in Harrisburg.  It may be the reason the Philomathean Quartette came to Cold Spring.  John Murray was head waiter at the Lochiel Hotel, which was owned by George W. Hunter, who also was one of the co-owners of the Cold Spring Hotel during the 1880’s.  Some of Murray’s relatives, as well as Augustus Stewart’s, also were employed at the Lochiel Hotel.  So perhaps all four men were employed as waiters while at Cold Spring, or worked in some of the other positions necessary for running a popular summer resort.

Information gleaned from newspaper articles and other sources reveals the following about the four members of the Philomathean Quartette around the time of their employment at Cold Spring:

Augustus Stewart was 22 years old and married Mollie Robinson during the year following his summer at Cold Spring.  He was employed as a stable hand for several years (his father was a hostler and coachman, a position Augustus would eventually hold for nearly 20 years).  Little was found about Augustus around 1884; however, both he and his wife were active in many African-American civic, fraternal and social organizations in the early 1900’s.  They were included among the more prominent men and women of Harrisburg.

John H. Murray was 29 years old, married (to Sarah Matilda Thompson in 1881), and may have had a child.  He was head waiter at the Lochiel Hotel, a member of  the African-American Young Republicans Club (its first president when organized in 1878), an officer of the Brotherly Love Lodge, No. 896, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Excelsior Cornet Band.

Records suggest Edward Cunningham was about 28 years old and married.  He was “a teacher of stringed instruments” and, as a member of the Hod Carriers’Association, was most likely employed as a hod carrier.  A hod carrier is “a laborer employed in carrying supplies to bricklayers, stonemasons, cement finishers, or plasterers on the job” (Merriam-Webster.com).  He is simply listed as a laborer in the Harrisburg city directories from 1884 to 1897.  Edward was a member of the Olympic (Baseball) Club of Harrisburg and a member of the Brotherly Love Lodge, No. 896, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

Daniel Bratton (or Brotton; it’s spelled both ways in the newspapers) remains a mystery.  Nothing could be found on him other than he was referred to as “Prof. Bratton,” and he was the leader of the Philomathean Glee Club when it was first organized by the Philomathean Club in early 1884.  He could not be located in the 1880 census or any available city directory.

It is hoped new sources will be found that will shed more light on the Philomathean Club of Harrisburg and the Philomathean Quartette.

Ad showing a local orchestra to accompany an excursion
 to Cold Spring sponsored by a local band
Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, PA) - September 15, 1883

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