John Fechter, general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association of Oakland, is doing splendid work in this connection, the various activities being well organized and the work systematically conducted so that the best possible results are obtained. Mr. Fechter is a native of Alma, Kansas, born October 23, 1874, and is a son of John and Hannah Fechter. The father was a native of Baden, Germany, born in December, 1832. He was educated in that land and later engaged in the tailoring business. He was a youth of nineteen when he crossed the Atlantic to New York city, where he was employed at tailoring, but subsequently he attended the Rochester Baptist Theological Seminary. He afterward went to Kansas, where he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers, traveling over the state as a minister of the Baptist church and preaching at various places. He next went to Salem, Oregon, and later to Sacramento, California, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring on the 1st of March, 1911.
John Fechter is indebted to the public and high schools for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed. He pursued his studies in Pasadena, California, and in Salem, Oregon, until fifteen years of age when he made his start in the business world as an employe in a dry-goods store in Salem, Oregon, where he remained until 1895. During that time he became a charter member of the Salem Young Men's Christian Association, thus entering upon a connection which has led him to his present position. He afterward went to Sacramento, where he entered the service of the Weinstock- Lubin Company, dealers in dry goods, as salesman and buyer, continuing with that house for three years. He next went to Chicago, where he entered the Young Men's Christian Association College, and was graduated with the class of 1900. His deep interest in and preparation for the work qualified him for the position of general secretary, to which position he was called in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association at Salem, Oregon, where he remained until 1905, when he became secretary at Fresno, California. In 1910 he came to Oakland as assistant secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association and so continued until November, 1912, when he became general secretary. Under his direction the work has been well organized and is advancing rapidly and substantially. The association occupies a splendid building, seven stories in height, most tastefully furnished and fitted out for the purpose intended. A two-story addition to the already spacious building was completed in November, 1913, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars, the gift of Wallace M. Alexander, president of the association. The education department endeavors to accomodate itself to the needs of employed men and boys and occupies the greater part of the third floor with fifteen regular recitation rooms and a large study hall, well lighted and well furnished. Tablet armchaIrs are used in the regular classrooms. Drawing desks, commercial desks, and new visible typewriters have been added for the various departments. There is a course especially suited to the needs of the boys of Oakland who do not speak English, giving brief but thorough instruction in the use of words, pronunciation and sentence building, paragraphing and letter writing. In addition to this instruction, free talks are given on civic, good citizenship, laws of health and sanitation. In the commercial school, the courses include stenography and bookkeeping. There are also courses in English and music, mechanical drawing, plan reading and estimating, building construction, electricity and chemistry. If ten people desire instruction in any branch, a class is organized and teachers are selected with direct reference to their qualifications, theoretical and practical.
The social department of the association is equally well organized and in the rooms boys and men may find congenial, elevating companionship, with every facility for entertainment in the line of games, literature and motion pictures. There are four regulation bowling alleys, seven billiard and pool tables, and various other games. Four floors of the building are devoted to the dormitory, which has 180 rooms, providing accomodation for two hundred and fifty men, and all the rooms are furnished in an attractive and comfortable manner with steam heat, hot and cold water and private telephone service. There is also a cafeteria, where meals are furnished at moderate prices, and one of the most attractive features of the building is its natatorium, the floor graded in depth from four to eight feet. There is a splendidly equipped gymnasium, ball teams, fencing classes, etc. Never forgetting for an instant that this work has its root in the spirit of true religion, there are classes in Bible study, and Sunday afternoon meetings. All of this is under the direction of Mr. Fechter, who is thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the work, recognizing the opportunities and planning to meet the needs of the association in the most practical way. He believes in studying the individual member and giving the assistance most desired, and his geniality, sympathy and deep understanding, as well as training, have thoroughly equipped him for the position.
On the 25th of March, 1903, in Salem, Oregon, Mr. Fechter married Miss Frances L. Lane, and they have three children--Lane, Frances and Gordon, all attending the public schools. Mr. Fechter is a member of the Rotary Club and of the Public Welfare Club. He also belongs to the Chamber of Commerce--associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests, the trend of his thought and the breadth of his view. In politics he is a progressive republican and in religious faith a Baptist. In all of his work and activities he transcends, however, any spirit of denominationalism, reaching to the greater heights that are above the barriers of creed and dogma.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 7/03/2008, Pages 396-398
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
This Web page is sponsored on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by Richard S. Wilson. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.