Kentucky Company Builds $30,000 Annex
Mammoth Life And Accident Insurance Company Making Remarkable Progress
HIGH MARK REACHED BY COLORED ARCHITECT
"IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATH.
The Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Company is an institution founded, promoted, and existing by the efforts of the Colored men and women of the State of Kentucky, and as such has for its purpose the uniting of the interests of its people.
It was born, so to speak, in the morning of adversity, and yet wafted upon wings of confidence and success. It has, at all times, used for its motto, United We Stand, Divided we Fall. This motto will live as long as the State of Kentucky lives, and we believe that ere the last of our race shall pass to the Great Judgment Seat, the Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Company will still exist. It shall still live in the minds and souls of the people and it shall always live up to its principle: To make conditions better not only for the promoters but for the race at large.
For five years those who have been at the head of the institution have given their [illegible] energy and [illegible] better, and [illegible] [illegible] [every?] hamlet and in every city [in the?] State of Kentucky it is possible to find some one who knows something of the Mammoth Insurance Company, and have received benefits from the same. Everywhere, conditions among our people, by reason of this gigantic institution, are being made better.
Everywhere in Kentucky the name is a watch-word, and we believe, the time will soon come when its benefits and blessings shall be felt in every nook and corner of this great republic of ours, and we might say, even the cold, bleak regions of the Northeastern States and the sunny climes of Southern shores, or from the rolling tides of the Atlantic even to the golden gates of the West; in every home and in every place where the black boys and girls live and move.
In 1915 a charter was granted and on the 12th day of July policies were issued and in five years time there has been written more than 80,000 of our people alone in the State of Kentucky. In its employ there are more than 200 of our own people who are earning an honest and honorable living. Alone in its home office there are employed more than forty people, and each one is a man of our own race.
In 1917, the Board of Directors saw the growing demand of a Home Office and in the spirit of humanity and humanity's cause, they remodeled and erected a beautiful office building at 422-24 South Sixth street, which they believed would take care of the conditinos for at least a period of ten years; however, in the year 1920, just two years after the completion of its present building, it was surprising to know that the office forces were without space and it would be necessary, in order to cope with the growing demands to enlarge its quarters. Therefore this matter was discussed in its regular policy holders meeting and the Board of Directors was directed, at this meeting, to plan and to devise the means whereby [the?] offices might be made larger. After some considerable time a plan was worked out and today the Mammoth Insurance Company is increasing its office space by over three hundred feet of floor space in order that its growing conditions may be met. The addition to the building, which is now in progress, will, when completed, cost more than $30,000, and at the same time it will be equipped with all modern conveniences necessary for office space of an insurance company.
The Board of Directors of the Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Co., does not take the credit to itself, but gives the credit where the credit belongs, that is, the confidence of the people and the unity of the race. It ought to add more confidence when you think that every young lady who is employed in the offices of the Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Co. is the product of our own schools. Then too, it ought to be inspiring on the part of the young men and young women who are now striving to complete their education that at least some of them may be able to find profitable employment with their own business institution. It is a pleasure to visit the office of the Mamoth Life and Accident Insurance Company and to see the young women at their several vocations, among which you will find stenographers, book-keepers and clerks, and each one attending to his own business, as in any other well regulated office. The doors of the Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Company are always open to our people, and regardless as to whether they hold policies or connected with the company in any other way, it is theirs and we trust that all of our people will come to the office and by their personal appearance lend encouragement to the young men and women who are connected with it.
[Photo]
MR. H. E. HALL.
Kentucky's foremost insurance man, President of the Mammoth Life and Accident Insurance Co., who, with the able assistance of Attorney W. H. Wright, the peerless financier, is opening the door of opportunity wider and wider for the boy and girl of the race in Kentucky and elsewhere.
It is a wonderful thing when any Negro institution can in five years time say without fear of contradiction that it has in its employ more than 200 of its race, and that its real estate holding can only be counted in numbers of $75,000.00.
This is your company it gives employment to your people, it collects money from you, the benefits derived belong to you, therefore we ask that you use your influence and the influence of your friends to make your company what it ought to be.
In speaking of the new annex to the building to a friend a few days ago, and showing him the plans that had been prepared, he admired them and thought only of one thing, that is, that they were prepared by some person other than a Negro. However, as we walked out of the door we introduced him to the General Contractor and Architect, and by way of relieving him of his false impression we sugegsted that this was the man who drew the plans and was the Contractor. This friend replied that he had no idea that there was a Negro in all the world who could draw a plan or make a blue-print, and that there was not one who could handle a building of such magnitude, and therefore we were glad to introduce him to the architect and the contractor, in the person of Mr. Samuel Plato, a young man who finished from State University, of our own State and who has gone out into the world competing with the best arhitects in the world. His work speaks for [itself?] from Michigan to Alabama, [and?] not only the private individual, [churches?] and corporations, but in a [Southern?] State in the city of Decatur, Ala., the post-office that was erected there in the years 1918, 19, 20, is the work of Samuel Plato, approved not by his friends but by his enemies approved by the government of the United States; hence we are glad to say that we have as our Contractor and our Architect, one of our own race who stands out in his chosen profession. We have no doubt that when the addition to the Mamomth Life Insurance Company is completed, that it will be worthy of the commendation of all of its policy holders and of the race in general. Come and see.
[Drawing of building facade]
Home Office of The American Mutual Savings [Bank?]. The Mutual Savings and Realty Association and The Mammoth Realty Co. To [be?] ready for occupancy in ninety days.
[Illegible] years ago there [illegible] shall stretch forth her hand." How many times have you seen this pictured upon the pages of newspapers or heard the expression from the lips of orators and knew not its meaning, but as we see it today even in America, Ethopia is stretching forth her hand. When we speak of Ethopia the first thought that comes to our minds is that it refers to the men and women of the dark races and in America especially, to the Negro.
In 1917, a seed was sown and when it grew from the moist places in which it was planted ere it had reached that point that its flowers were about to give forth sweet fragrance, a name was given and that name was the Mutual Savings and Realty Association, and ever since 1917, this flower has grown more beautiful in grandeur and sweet in its aroma. This flower has been planted in the heart and in the soul of thousands of men and women and the blessings and cheer that it has brought forth has lifted the spirit of humanity and made it possible for men to sing the sweet songs of independence. The Mutual Savings and Realty Association is not only inspiring our people to save, but on the other hand it is doing material good; making their home conditions better, their church life better and removing the fear and trembling thoughts of men who are not engaged in private business.
In the world of construction the Mutual Savings and Realty Association today has now under way more than $80,000.00 worth of buildings and every cent of this money was derived from those who are members of the Association and constant savers. Among some of the buildings that the Mutual Savings and Realty Association has purchased and reconstructed are the Bates Memorial C. M. E. Church, its new banking building at 608 W. Walnut St., its store at 1212-14 W. Walnut St., its shoe store at 1020 W. Walnut St., two pieces of property on Chestnut St., within the last ten days at a cost of $10,000.00. Plans have been drawn, contract has been let and the dirt is now being removed from 608 W. Walnut Street where the American Mutual Savings Bank, the Mutual [Savings?] and Realty Association and the [Mammoth?] Realty [Company will have?] their offices. This only [means?] more work and more places of employment of the young men and women who are finishing from our schools of learning along lines of ability and intellect. As soon as our building is completed the doors of the American Mutual Savings Bank will be opened and as it has been said that this building will be a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
The Mutual Savings and Realty Association and the Mammoth Realty Company has found it necessary to have their own architect and contractor and for that reason the Board of Directors and promoters of these institutions felt themselves highly honored and complimented in securing the services of Mr. Samuel Plato, an Architect and Contractor of no mean ability.
From this date these corporations shall be in a position at all times to render to their patrons most efficient service in that their plans for building and the completion of the same may be done in this office. We shall be able to handle everything from a common cottage to the finest mansion which human ingenuity can invent. We do not know whether to congratulate ourselves or to congratulate Mr. Plato as we believe it is six on one side and one-half dozen on the other side. We are in a position to take care of all of your wants. Our three institutions have a combined backing of more than $300,000.00. Resources are unlimited, our fields of labor are unexplored, our time, our money, and our all are yours. Whatever may be your want it matters not how small, we shall be able to care for you. If it be large we shall handle it in the same manner and way as we [handle?] the most minute. We are in the business for our people. We are building a race and the petty jealousies and envy that may be in the hearts and souls of many can play no part in our action. We serve our enemies the same as we serve our friends. The one prayer that we pray is the prayer prayed by the most perfect of men when humanity had pierced his side and nailed him to a cross and were rolling dice for his garments, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Line Tightly Drawn at Stweard's Dry Good Company - That the lines are drawn tight a Steward's dry goods store, Fourth and Walnut Sts., was further demonstrated last week when two well known race teachers, made fro the ladies' rest room after making a few purchases They were saved from further humiliation and embarrassment by a Colored maid who stopped them before they reached the room, telling them that Colored women were not allowed. Though these ladies were ignorant of the fact that this store has made it plain on several occasions that Colored patronage is not wanted if Colored women expect the service and conveniences that all women patrons are entitled to, there are hundreds of members of the race who know this fact and who know that Continued on page 8
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