Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-19
THE Y. M. G. A. BUILDING.
PROGRESS OF WORK UPON THE I'M.
POSING STRUCTURE.
Description of the interior of the Build
ing-A Glance at the work and Infiu-
ence of the Y. NJ. q. A.-Needs ofthe
Association.

f.. Hale in a recent number of his maga-
zine, concerning the common wealth en-
joyed by the people of the CITY of Boston,
he showed that each one had an important
amount of property belonging to him as
one of the citizens of that city. This, of
course, is true of every American commu-
nifty of any size. The commonwealth en-
iOyed by our own citizens, as invested in
our city improvements, public buildings,
and public and benevolent institutions of
various kinds is large. 1t would be an
interesting matter to have this fully set
forth, that we might know just how much
each one III our community was worth as
one of the citizens, and therefore one of
the proprietors Of our common property.
No addition to the common wealth of
this community has been made in many
years which eXcites so much general in.
terest as that represented by the building
of the Young Mems Christian association.
The building is now SO far toward compile
tion that we can all point TO it with pride,
and feel that it is an honor to our town to
possess a building of such large dimen-
sons, beauty of architecture and general
adaptablity to its designed purpose.
1t is easy to see already what different
impression strangers and visitors to our
city are going to have of the place from
that which they formerly had when the
old Strong building with its air of the last
century was there. When that old eye
sore was the first thing 70 cStch the eye of
stranger, 1t Is no wonder that they
thought Burlington Rip Van Wrinkle
kind of Il community that had not been
fairly awakened for many Years I: but with
the present beautiful structure of the as
sociation completed, the first thought OF Il
visitor will be that the place is one of en-
terprse and life 1t is worth good deal
to community to have such an impress
sion made on those that visit the place. 1t
means an increased value TO the whole
property of the town, because it means
that people will be more ready to invest
their means here, will be more likely to
seek place of enterprise and business life
for home than one that appears to have
gone to seed. This fact ought to give ev-
cry person that owns property in our city
an interest in the enterprise, and a will
lingness to contribute to It's promotion.
The real value of such work rs is done
by good, live Yonug Mems Christian as
soclatlon, with such facilities as the Bur
lington association will have in their new
building, is beginning to be appreciated
by the people generally. 1t is no small
thing in a community like this that such
an organization should exist. Its aim Is
to benefit young men III every possible
way. Considering that character is the
great thing i'll life, it first aims to make
young men of strong moral and religious
character, and at the same time to do eV-
erythng possible to benefit them in the
line OF educational and physical Interests.
A visit to the association building IN Its
present condition will give one good idea
OF the facilities which the organization
here will have. Every one has noticed
that there are Two handsome entrances
the prime pal one on College str eet the
other on Church street. From either en-
trance the visitor can gain admittance to
the rooms of the association, and TO the
offices located III the building. Going up
the broad stairway from the College street
entrance, AT the top one finds the door
way to the reception room. This Will be
Il handsome and commodlous room in
which Will be located the office of the
general secretary, and lrolu which all
parts of the building used tor association
work can be reached. Turning to the
right from the reception room one goes
through wide doors 10 the reading room,
situated at the northwest corner, with
large widows looking cut on the park,
and others on College street. No better
location for such room could be imagin-
ed it is delightful in every particular.
One feature OF 1t Is handsome fireplace,
which Will give homellke and cheerful
aspect to the room
Turning back, and through the recep-
tion room, one enters a handsome parOr
by wide folding doors. This iS lighted by
large bay window looking out on the
park, and will be provided with hand
some fireplace IN one corner OF the room.
This, when properly furnished, will make
AS pleasant place to meet ones trlandS
as could be desired. South OF this and
connected by wide doors, and also reached
l,xv. all ha ttsN,,r
doorways from the Church street entrance
is the small hall or assembly room. This
Will be used for the ordinary meetings,
and will prove very convenient for the
purpose for which it Is designed. Next to
this and reached also by the hallway from
the reception room, Is Il room set apart for
the use of the boys bralch, which viii,
n doubt, be one that VIII add much To
the interest already felt in that vigorous
young organization. Another room in
connection with this will be used as a
kitchen, and will be IN the care of the La
dies Auxiliary.
Stairways from the reception room lead
up 10 the third story, one to the Class
rooms, which will be located on the Col
lege street side, and one 10 the DIRE sslng
room OF the gymnasium, This will he
provided with all the modern improve
meuts and facilities, consisting Of tub,
shower and sponge baths, wash basins,
ers, the use of Que of which wll he given
20 every member of the gymnasium class.
From the third floor another staircase
viii lead to the gymnasium IN the fourth
story. The association intends TO have
one OF the finest gymueslums TO be found
in the country. The room will be VerS
large one, nearly 80 by 80 teet in dimen
SONS, aud 20 feet III hei- e, giving ample
room for all the improved apparatus used
in the best gymnaslums. A running track
raised 10 feet from the floor viii give AM
pie opportunity for that valuable exercise,
II is asy 10 see that the ASSOCIATION has
gwen all ne, diul attention to the physical
de parl menL Of It's work, That this viii |
be apprec,aicd by our young men there
Can bG n1 uoott
one OF tne uesl features Of the building,
ANA one that no doubt Will be most highly
esteemed hy our people, Is the delightful
tall winch occupies ne Third and fourth
stories On tue LnlucL strvet side, IL wlll
ne paGued Oy an easy ti'i!nt OF stairs from
Inc College street entrance, aud All nave
"A seating capacity 0, about y. The floor
IL made on an incline similar 20 the upera
house, SO that every seat III the hall will