The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-19
A NEW GYMNASIUM.
WHAT MR. JOHN WOOD PROPOSES FOE THE &C
coMMoDATIoN OF NEW YORK ATHLETES
THE PLAN ON WHICH NEW BUILDING Is II

THE PLAN ON WHICH NEW BUILDING Is TO
BE BUILT
For the past twenty years Mr.. John Wood, the well
known and professor Of athletics has occu-
pied the building West Twenty. eighth street, where
tho mombers OF the principal boating and athletic
clubs have kept up their trimming aud condition during
the winter months In fact, Woods gymnasium has
become known to and irequcnted by every profess
ing liking for gymnastc exercises. The gymnasium
well calculated to meet all tho requirements the
time whom II first put into operation but such is
tho increase In tho number OF pupils, we'll OF
those who DESTROYS Of becoming is0ples OF health
giving sports and pastmcs OF this kind that has be-
como entirely too small to meet the wants Of day
In view OF this fact Il Is proposed by Mr. Wood TO
erect a building that will DO Of sufficient szs 10
allow Of classification Of the different kinds OF excr
cisc and the separation oil tho different casscs II has
also been urged 10 Mr. Wood by large number oil his
friends and clients that such building is ncnly
needed in New York, and that whca put up Il would
greatly tend to the fostering and increase or the love
for athletics which has been steadily growing among
the youth or this city for the past moro
IL argued too that OF all large cities IN the United
States New York is the only which does possess
agymnaslum Of any pretensions whatever. while all
others have buildings devoted TO this purpose more
than sufficiently largo TO meet the requirements for
years TO come
Tho plan Tor new gymnasium has already been
drawn by Mr. John G. Babcock, an architect who him
self is well known athletic, and therefore calculated to
submitted 10 Mr.. Wood and his trends,
and has been approved Il provides for d
drawings tho basement viii contain = billiard
room a. 2x42 sufficient to give place Tor TOUR tables;
BARRIERS shop, IS 4xi7s, bowling alleys, laundry,
storcroon, cellar Tor storage ROOM swimming bath,
l2x7s another room. 2s.bx36 s, and open court and
ways The first floor VIII contain club room,
17x2i; reading room, 1sx2s; hall 2L6x2o o. vestibue,
sxl0; Doctors reception room, l34xls parlor H. TX
81; bedroom, l5.sxl7; hitting and rowing machine
ROOM 10 4x3s; Turkish bath IN two sections. H.
w10 nndt hc NH ~. hat xy0
shower and plunge bath room. 146x20; two shampoo.
Ing rooms, "a 6x7 II; and number OF private Dress
ng rooms, each AXIS. % also nnumcrable closeR The
second floor rs TO contain
a LADIES' GYMNASIUM
l4x40 schod)room, 44x36 O; hat and cloak room,
kitchcn paro9 Is AXIS; dining room, H. 2x2O and
number OF bedrooms
Tnc third noof is 10 have fencing and boxing room,
20x42 sitting room 1896, and the rest Is 10 DO do
voted to dressing and lockers and plunge aud
shower bath The fourth top floor ! 10 he
the largo gymnasium, 90xS4, around which 10 10 DO
formed walking and running track giving IL y cir.
cuts TO tho milo. The whole arrangement OF Tho dilcr-
sn oors, judging from the drawings already referred
to, VIII be most complete and Will much tend 10 the
comfort Of pupils.
Tho proposed method 10 be adopted TO secure tho
erection Of this building 10 as foiows:-in the nrst
place. 10 proposed 10 receive subscriptions Of 500.
which will cntltle the subscriber 10 hve years mem.
bcrship from tho date o. the opening q
issue shares in tho sum $500 EACH the holder Of each
share DO entitled 10 membership Ia lieu OF interest
until tho principal shall be refunded, each or such
shares 10 be transferable and secured by mortgage
upon the entire property All subscriptions TO be pay
abe only when sum not less than $50. 900 shalt TO
subscribed. OF this sum $4,000 has already been
promised. Mr.. Wood IN his prospectus, says:-"It 10
my design mako the institution strictly moral and
temperate place OF resort by excluding every
TO dissipation, my aim beng to combine In cstab
thmen all the attractive features Of wholesome
alton without the attendant evils which nc
present surround many OF them. Tho existence
OF properly conducted institution Of this
sort would undoubtedly reclaim q largo number OF
young who nightly visit quc6onabio places Of
sort and indulge In excuses 10 the great dctrmcnt Of
their physical and moral welfare II would also
the headquarters during tho winter OF all
dcvctces OF outdoor Sports, while 20 gentlemen OF
leisure would be ever-rendv resource TO while
away an idle hour In profitable rscrealion.n
Among the gentlemen supporting Mr. Wood IN hts
undertaking are Dr.. Austin Flint, Jr Robert Colby,
Charles A. Doremus, II. ". Alexander, r. I. Smelling,
Rev. j. Hall, Rev. Y. @. Houghton. W. ". Aston, Dr.
Bndd. D. Henry Knowison, Dr. Charles Wright
- q Inigs number or oshsra