The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-03-24
Young Mems Christian Association.
Detailed Description of the New Home
Now Rapidly Approaching Completion
The Largest Gymnasium in the State
Building will be Opened Early in April


The new home of the Montpelier Young
Mems Christian Association, on which work
has steadily progressed since last October,
is rapidly approaching completion, and will
be formally opened early in April. A rep
resentative of the WATCHMAN went through
the building this week. accompanied by @.
III. More, the President, for the purpose Of
giving it's readers an idea Of the work that
has been done.
The old stairway near the main entrance
has been removed, as has the partition at
the right, throwing the main hallway and
room at the right into one, to be used as the
office OF the Secretary. At the lower end Of
this room Is the main stairway, leading to
the art gallery and library. The rooms
formerly occupied by the art gallery will be
used as parlors and reception rooms, and
the room at the left for game room. AT
the rear is q kitchen, pantry and lavatories,
Next beyond Is the gymnasium dressing
room, fitted with one hundred thirty-four
lockers, each with separate key. A certain
number Of these will be reserved for the
ladies' classes. 1t may be said in passing,
that on certain days OF each week, the
ladies will have exclusive use Of the gym
nasium, bathrooms, and dressing-room.
To the left OF the dressing room Is broad
stairway leading down to the bath room,
which is Immediately in front Of the gym
nasium. This bath room will be finished
with cement floor, slate wainscotting, and
fitted with three shower and one tub bath
The entrance to the main floor of the gym
nasium is at the foot OF the stairway just
mentioned. The gymnasium is sixty by
forty-five feet, with walls nineteen feet
high, and is the largest in the state 1t has
gallery eight feet wide, which, with the
building is absolutely fire.proof The cell.
ing Is Of iron and cement The iron beams
supporting the roof are two feet thick, and
the cement finish forms series of arches OF
flesh-colored tint, very pleasing % the eye
The gymnasium will be equipped with all
modern appliances.
The entire building Is wired for electric
lights. One hundred and sixty incandes-
cent burners will be required. The plumb
ing and putting in Of heating apparatus
throughout the building has been done
by Peck Brothers, which Is a guarantee OF
thoroughness and excellence.
Turning to the left OF the main stairway
the room of the Montpelier Public Library
ia reached through double doors. On this
floor changes corresponding with the first
floor have been made, making the library
room admirably adapted to the purposes for
which it is intended.
At the right Of the upper hall are three
rooms for janitor, water closets, and still
farther back a cloak room for the use OF
patrons Of the art gallery. In addition to
eight large sky lights in this gallery, the
ceiling will be covered with glass, making a
subdued light. The roof is supported by
iron rafters and Orders, and the room is
heated by six radiators. The room is the
same size as the gymnasium beneath it, and
is fifteen feet high from floor to glass CELL
ing. The pictures will be protected by a
railing, and will be covered with curtains
when the room is used for entertainments
or lectures.
The pictures will not be in position when
the building is opened the first week in
April, but will be in place as soon after that
time as possible. Walter Thorpe, of Hol-
yoke, Mass, the new secretary, and Francis
st. Lawrence Of Rutland, the physical d.
rector, will report for duty about April l.
The cost OF the new building, Including
the changes made in the interior Of the first
structure together with the original pur-
chase price, amounts to nearly $40, 900. All
OF this, except about 1000 in "extras" has
been very generously loaned by Prof. John
W. Burgess, to whom the members Of the
Young Mems Christian Association feel
very grateful. The permanent establish
ment CT such an institution, bringing to-
gether under one roof, a gymnasium, an art
gallery, and a library, as we'll as rooms for
religious and social gatherings,l willlno
doubt be highly appreciated by all good
men and women. The religious, moral, So
cial, intellectual, aesthetic, and physical BEN
efits to be derived there are beyond measure.