The times., 1897-08-15

through the well-lighted and CHEEKY gym
OF the Columbia Athletic Club, or OF the
Carroll Institute, or OF the Washington
Athletic Club, all filled with the iightest
possible and most highly finished apparatus
and Implements with everywhere thrown
the mats necessary for tumbling and
wrestling and wliat-nots. Surrounding
all these are the endless rows of light
wooden dumbbells and clubs for individual
or class exercise.
One OF dy'sablestassistants and pupils,
as well as one of the most accomplished
gymnasts and acrobats of that period and
of tits day, for that matter, and true
example OF the old and of the new schools
Of gymnastic-, is Mr. Thomas B. Nolan the
subject of an accompanying cut.
He was one OF the first members Of the
old Brady gymnasium in $50, and in S67 ,
when Brady sold out and the Washington
Gymnastic Association was formed. Mr..
Nolan was elected treasurer Of the new en-
terprise and the following year was made
vice president and held that office until
1877, when the gymnasium and its APP
paratus were sold to Messrs. odlum and
Davis, the former being the popular 'R0b"
Odlum, who afterward had a natatorium
and later on met an untimely death in his
effort to take the jump from the Brooklyn
bridge.
In 1889 Mr. Nolan became member OF
the Columbia Athletic Club, and has been
an active wearer or the Winged Arrow"
ever since He is q splendid example OF
the sturdy, strong, athletic man, well pre-
served. and as active and as well devel
oped now as when at Brady's all gymnastic
exhi ibitions were gi ven under his di-
rection. with his narne down for several
numbers on the card; when his feats of
strength We're the wonder of the assembled
spectators; when be put up with ease 10
arms length above the head a dumb-bell
weighing 100 pounds swinging Indian
clubs weighing thirty-two pounds each;
lifting a ,5O0-pound weight on health
lift; climbing peg pole with back to pole.
and other difficult feats requiring great
strength.
Associated with Mr Nolan in the gym
nasium property, then known as the Wash
ington Gymnastic Association, were such
wellknown gentlemen as the following,
many OF whom nave long since passed on
TO the Great Beyond The officers and
directors at the beginning were: C. II.
Townsend, president; L P. jacobson, vice
president; Thomas b Nolan, treasurer;
George W. EVANS, secretary; directors, Gen.
j G. Kelton, Major George K. Leet, L. {.
Boggs, j. N. Birkbaad, Frank Myers, VIII.
lam C. Myers. Joseph r Rose, r. J. Walker,
Albert Noerr and Joseph S. Miller, tr.
When, in 1866, Brady decided to close
out the gymnasium he had worked SO hard
TO build up, and which was then recognized
as one OF the most complete in the country,
number OF gentlemen, including those
just mentioned above, took an active iu-
terest in keeping 1t intact, formed a stock
company, and books for the sale OF shares
were opened at the following places, and
two of the financial Institutions are still
with US: Riggs & Co r. w. Pearson, at
Jay Coke g. Co.'S. bank; Lewis johnson
s. Co., Rittenhouse, Fowler & Co, bankers
Capt. W. M. New, Treasury Department..
Philip and Solomon and Hudson Taylor's
boot store. .andF. and j. Rives. Congressional
Globe office.
After some little effort, as the stock
was not all taken up, a committee of
members was formed, in March, 1867, and
In short time the stock was all subscribed
for, and tie property passed into the hands
of the washington Gymnastic Associa-
ton, which began its career with the Off
GERS and directors above named, and was
blessed with more or less successful ex-
istence. doiES a greatamountofgood in pro
viding fihe opportunityto to many to secure
healthy bodily development and necessary
exercise. Among those on the subscription
committee having the stock In charge W ere
in additionto someof aforementioned above
James E. Bell. city postoffice; G. M. D.
Randall, G. Eaton Creecy, Treasury De-
partment; Henry W. Berthrong, and who
does not remember the great catcher the
idol of all the "kids' at that timer; II. +.
Grugan. Wallace McKendry, H C. Darragh.
Third Auditors; o. s. Moulton, A. G. o.;
william Atwood and George w. Barter,
@. NJ. G.. office.
Among the subscribers to the stock W ere
many Army and Navy officers ON duty in