The times., 1898-12-31
BOUGHT By THE Y. NJ. C. A.
The Coiumbin Athletic Club Lose,
Its Home.

he &iub LoseS
Its Home.
The Young Mems Christian Association
of Washington yesterday purchased the
fine Columbia Athletic Club building. in
G Street, between Seventeenth and Eight
eenth Streets. and also the lots owned by
the club in the same square, two adjoin-
ing the building and two in Eighteenth
Street. The price paid by the Young Mems
Christian Association aggregates about
$4,000, exclusive of taxes due on the prop
erty, amounting to about $1,000.
The property, exclusive of the fine four
story clubhouse, includes lots 26, 81, 2s,
40, So 80 and 60 in square l69 comprising
about $4,000 feet. 1t is believed by the
Young Mems Christian Association that
it has obtained a bargain, as the club was
able a few years ago to borrow on the
property larger sum than this purchase
price. The association will obtain possess
sion Immediately and will make the club
house its new home.
The Columbia Athletic Club has lost its
old place through inability to pay the
mortgage on it, contracted when the club
house was built. Some time ago it became
evident to the officers of the club that
it would be unable TO meet its obligations
and that the only way out of its difficulties
would be TO sell out The holders of the
mortgage bonds. of course. acquiesced in
this, as the interest on the mortgage was
piling up and there seemed no likelihood
that money could be raised in any way to
meet it. The property was, therefore,
advertised for sale a few weeks ago by
the trustees of the mortgage, Messrs. a. T.
Britton and G. W. F. Swartzell.
The sale took place yesterday afternoon
at Ais o'clock. and the big transaction
was begun and concluded in less than
quarter of an hour.
Charles c. Duncanson was the auction
eer. There was present S. W. Woodward.
president of the Young Mems Christian
Association; John Z. Larner, vice presi-,
dent of the association; Messrs. Brittoh'
and Swartzell the trustees; Messrs. Fitch
and Brown, of the firm of Fox Fitch &
Brown, rear estate brokers, representing
the bondholders; C. ]. Bell, president of
the American Security and Trust Com
pany; c. L. Baumgras, the real estate
broker, and other real estate men, as well
as several members of the Columbia Ath-
letic Club.
Mr.. Larner made the offers for the
Young Mems Christian Association and
had the pleasure of being announced
in short order as the successful bidder
There we're two other bidders-Mr. Bell,
who would have liked to obtain the prop
erty for an investment, and Mr.. Brown,
for the bondholders.
The outcome of the sale will be a sur
prise to great many people, members
OF the Columbia Athletic Club and Others
1t has been thought generally that the
bondholders would bid in the property
themselves and that the club would be al
lowed TO remain in possession of the build
ing as tenant. This seemed the only
likely course, as the building is unsuited
for any purpose other than club house
and could not have been sold even for the
sum realized except for the use of a club.
The appearance of NJ. Woodward and Mr.
Larner. of the Y. NJ. C. A., as determine;
bidders surprised even some of the in
terested parties. although it had been ru-
mored during the last few days that they
might make an effort TO secure it.
There is much congratulation and gen.
eral holiday happiness in the Young Mems
Christian Association over the Christmas
present that it has purchased for itself.
The club house is an almost ideal home
for the association. 1t was built, with al
most lavish expenditure of money, ex-
pressly as a young mems club and has
every possible requirement for the needs
OF the association, except an auditorium
The gymnasium is the finest in the city.
and the athletic association has made its
gymnasium one of its chief attractions to
young men from the beginning. The many
handsome apartments in the building are
suitable in every way for office and class
rooms and reception parlors. 1t is the in
tention of the officers of the association to
erect an auditorium on one of the vacant
lots purchased yesterday with the build
ing. The building is near the centre of
the city and accessible by all the street Car
lines. 1t is near the departments and the
business streets.
The Y. NJ. c. A. has been without any
thing like an adequate home since its
building in New York Avenue was burned
out few years ago. 1t has been actively
planning and raising money for a new
building for two years. and it is probable
that large and expensive structure would