The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-19

Many of the members are old gymnasium
men, and some of the recruits are show.
ing marked proficiency in their work.
With few months practice, Roanoke
will have an athletic club that will BIO
able to give good account of itself.
The gymnasium, which is one of the
handsomest and most complete in the
South, occupies two floors of the Rob-
ertson street wing OF the old Bridge.
water Carriage Works building. The
gymnasium proper is on the second
floor and is 45x65}6 feet The ceiling Is
Is feet, with space cut for travelling
rings that has heighth Of % feet. The
walls and floors are ceiled with the best
heart pine, with hard oil finish.
The apparatus was purchased from
the Narragansett Machine Company, of
Providence, r. l., and Is the best made.
The outfit is very complete and COM
prlses about everything that is needed
in gymnasium. Around the walls are
placed the chest weights, quarter circle,
in dian clubs, dumb bells and wrist ma
chimes, while on the floor are the par
allel bars, horizontal bar. vaulting
horse, jump stand, batteau board, hitch
and kick, homo trainer and medicine
ball, the latter being one or the finest
things in gymnasium. The office for
the board of governors is also on this
floor, being 12MXl6 feet. 1t is nicely
furnished and aods very much to the at
trac tiveness OF the room.
Upstairs are located the dressing
room and running track. The latter
measures 26 laps to the mile and is
much used by the members. In the
dressing room are rs lockers, with room
for about 80 more. At the rapid rate
which the lockers are being taken, tho
new ones will have to be built. There
are three large bath rooms with tubs
and room in which are located three
shower and three shampoo baths. These
are undoubtedly the finest shower baths
In Virginia, and have already become
very popular with the members. A
large skylight furnishes light and air
to the dressing room, while one of the
latest improved heaters supplies hot
water. This floor is also finished in
the best heart pine and hard oil.
In the open space are the travelling
rings, climbing rope and ladder. The
rings are five in number. and are So
curely 5olted through an eight inch
joist. The club has already developed
several expert travellers, and more arc
on the way The entire structure is fin
lshed up in the most workmanlike man.
ner, and was done under the personal
supervision of the architect, j. C.
Nesbit.
The history of the club is an interest
ing one, and shows what energy and
push can do. The matter of forming an
atheletic club, while really an old one
here. did not take definite shape until
last March, when me 7ting OF the pro-
motors OF the scheme was hold in tho
law office of Penn e Cooke Nothing of
Importance was accomplished at the
first meeting nor at the second one,
which was also held at tho same place.
The organization Of the club occurred
in April at meeting held in the hall
OF the Y. M. G. A. Officers were elect
cd, including a board of governors, q
constitution adopted and tho board given
full authorityto secure building and
fit it up
The board held several meetings,
when 1t was found that the plan of or.
ganlzation was not correct, and it was
decided to organize stock com pany
This was accordingly done and O charter
was granted by Judge Dupuy. Tho par
share and found ready takers at that
price.
The officers for the first year are as
follows
President, Frederick Brooks; first
vice-president ]. c. Cassell; second vice
president, j. c. Davenport; secretary
and treasurer, Lawrence Davis. Board
of governors. Frederick Brooks, II A.
Colman, ). II. Coleman,Jr., j. S Eagan,
j.. j. Carmalt, DR.. Lawrence, r. Look
abill, M. Il. Turner and A. w. Hancock.
AT the first meeting OF the board the
work of securing gymnasium and APP
paratus was given in charge of two com
mittees, building com mittee and an
apparatus committee. The former was
composed of Messrs. Brooks, S. III. Cole
man,Jr., and Turner
After looking the ground over care
fully. they selected the Bridgewater
Carriage Works building, and signed
contract with the Home Building and
Conveyance Company, the owners Of the
building, to have the same fitted up in
q proper manner. agreeing to take
tive years lease upon the same. The
apparatus committee was composed of
ID. a. Colmar, Eagan, Carmalt, Turner
and Lookabill. A list OF the apparatus
was made out and bids received from all
the leading athletic firms in this sec
ton OF the country. That of the Mar
ragansett Machine Company being the
lowest, it was accepted and the order
placed with them.
Later on committee of construction,
consisting of Messrs. Eagan, II. A. Col
man and Brooks, was appointed, and
the building was finished under their
supervision,
The club will give reception to its
friends in short time, whom the house
will be handsomely decorated. Arrange