St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-03-26
For the Young Men
Another Munifcent Gift to ST.
JOhnsbury.
THE NEW Y. M. C. A. Bull DING.
A Sketch of the Building
And a History of the Associa-
ton.

The elegant and imposing edlfice
which has been growing for the past
two years near the head of Eastern
avenue, directly opposite the soldiers
monument, is so nearly completed that
the association for which it was built
expect to occupy it in two or three
weeks. This beautiful building-Or SO
much of it as was intended for the
purpose, i is the muniticent gift of
Professor Henry Fairbanks to the St.
JOhnsbury Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION. This last benefactiOA will
occupy a place in value side by side
with the Academy and AthenRum-
structures which testify in their edu-
eating aud refining influences to the
thoughtful liberality of a family whose
name is so closely identified with every
good work and worthy object in our
town, and whose reputation for Chris
tian benevOlence is worldwide.
Until some five years ago the work
of the young mems association had
been carried on without much system.
The association had neither commOdi-
Gus nor convenient rooms. While val
liable work had been done in the out
lying districts, no especial attention
had been given the boys and young
men of the village. 1t was about this
time that Mr.. Fairbanks, long active
in Y. NJ. G. A. work, began anXiously
to cast about for better means and
methods to attract this large class of
persons. Having this end in view, by
careful watching he soon became con-
WINGED that the best available location
for suitable rooms for this desirable
work, was on one side of the triangle
made by the post office, athen9um and
town hall.
Having fixed upon the location some
three years ago, Mr.. Fairbanks pur-
chased the lot OF which the new build
ing now stands. A year later the fOun-
datiOn was laid-a work which con-
sumed n whole seasOn-and in the
spring of 1884 work was begun on the
superstructure and has been continu-
GUS ever since.
RICH MATERIAL-BROADLY PLANNED
FINELY FINISHED.
The basement and trimmings of this
edifcs are of the best LongmeadOw
sand stone, the finest brown stone now
known for building purposes. The
walls above the basement are rich
colored pressed brick, made at Hook
sett, y. II. The roof is of red slate
with copper finishings.
The central tower rises about one
hundred feet. The whole length of
the front is 81 feet, the depth of the
building averaging about forty five
| feet.
The bull ling was made larger than
required for the use of the association,
because the land required for one just
| large enough could not be secured
without buying two lots, and it would
have been impossible to design a small
er building that would look well in
| JDdJ pidCCs lcoJ Vi CHt
east side of the whole building is sep
arated by a fire wall running com
plstely through, and this part is to be
leased the floor at the street level
being finished for store, the second
floor being the town clerks and other
offices, and three floors above making
as many convenient tenements.
The west section of the entire build
ing from the fire wall, being 81 feet o
the whole length on the street, is de
voted exclusively to the uses of tn,
association. The basement, lS fee
high, is a convenient gymnasium, 3:
by 81 feet en- the floor, with a CALLER,
across one end, and behind this larg,
room are the furnaces and coal rooms
on the lower level, and in the half-story
at the level of the gymnasium CALLER.
are a lavatory, bathroom, dressing
! room, closets, etc. IN the next stOr