The Portland daily press., 1886-03-31
RowDoIN's GYMNASIUM.
Or. Sargent's Influence In the DeVel
opment of BoWdoin Muscle.

In 1869 Dndley A. Sargent came to Bruns-
wieh as a star performer in Stone & Muir
rays circus, and being young and a good
athlete, the faculty of the college engaged
him as instructor in the gymnasium, then In
the building on Bath street. now used as the
college labratory Sargent never had the ad-
yantages of schooling to any extent, and COM
menced with high school course, taking his
studies at the college, reciting at the high
school, and being very apt scholar finished
the course in two years, at the same time
keeping up the instruction at the college. In
1871 he entered Bowdoin College, graduat-
ing in 1875 with high honOrs, securing the
'6s prize, awarded for the best written and
spoken Grafton in the senior class. Gradu-
ating in 1875 he was retained by the faculty
as Professor Of Gymnastics for few years,
when he accepted the position of Professor
of Gymnastics at the Boston Christian I'M
ion rooms, and short time after was en-
gagged by the Faculty of Harvard College as
Professor, ,at the Heminway Gymnasium,
position that he fills at the present time, and
since his connection with that college has
been the means of introducing his system of
gymnastics in about seventy-ive institutions
Of learning throughout the country, includ-
The old gymnasium and apparatus with
which Prof. Sargent had to work were some
what limited, and it was due to his efforts
more than to the outfit itself that an interest
in athletics was maintained Consequently
when he left the building fell into disuse as
a gymnasium (but it was afterwards used as
a labratoryl and interest in college sports
died out. And it was not until about two
years ago, when Prof. Sargent, In lecture
before the students spoke of the need of
''gym" that the old interest was revived.
A subscription paper, headed by the facul-
ty with $1,000, and $500 each by several inter-
ested friends of the college was started, and
by considerable effort in one year the amount
OF $40, 900 was subscribed, which was thought
a sufficient amount for the building, but the
actual cost will be about $4,000.
The foundation Of this structure was be-
gun the last day of last September, and work
has steadily continued till the present time,
it being one of the most thoroughly con-
structed buildings in the State, and is a
building that the college may well be proud
of. The basement floor Is 50XoO feet IN size,
and here are the bowling alleys, TWO IN num-
ber, 81 feet in length by four feet wide, while
on the east side is found space for base ball
practice, divided from the bowling alley by
wire netting, which is so feet in length by
IL feet wide, and is for the use of pitcher
and catcher, and the windows are Of suth-
eient height to avoid any damage from this
source. On the west side are the Individual
lockers and bath rooms, the latter including
shower bath room 14X8. By ascending the
winding stairs at the south end the appara-
tus room on the second floor is reached.
This room is 50X80 feet in size and the
floor is a splendid one and like the others of
the building, all of the best of birch laid
straight and perfect in every particular. The
space inside the heavy pillars is 20x67 feet,
and in this room is where PIof. Sargent will
put in the apparatus, which will cost $500,
all of which he kindly agreed to furnish free
to the college, and has expressed his readi-
ness to come and put in as soon as they are
ready. 1t will consist of dumb bells Indian
clubs, striking bags, ball pulleys, rowing ma
chimes, vaulting bars, horizontal and parallel
bars, and other necessities for the proper de-
velopment of themuscle. Above this floor is
the running track six feet wide and thirty
laps constitute a mile.
The walls of the building are sixteen in
ches deep, finished in the best style of face
brick, and while it would be supposed that
it would look rough such is not the case.
The arch windows are finished in olive
: green, and the sashes are stained inside,
painted outside black, and the floors and
stairs finished in oil.
This gives brief history of the gymna-
sium of former years, and correct descrip-
tion of the new gymnasium, a building that
Bowdoin College has sadly needed for years.
Prof. Young, as well as the Faculty, are
pleased with the building 1t will certainly
make great difference in the sporting his
tory of the college.