The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-26
ST. PETERS LYCEUn
Growth Of One Of the Fore
most Catholic Clubs in
the State.
BIG FAIR IN PREPARATION.
Twelve Years of Hard Work
Soon to be Crowned With
success--Among the
Churches.
BIG FAIR IN PREPARATION.

ST. Peters Lyceum, which was organ
lied IN 1856. under the direction of the
Rev. Father McAtee, with headquarters
at No. 1e5 Grand street, is today one
of the foremost lyceunls in the city.
Since its birth. twelve years ago, 1t has
risen daily in membership, and today it's
narne is known from one end of the
State to the other. When it was first
organized by Father McAtee, who was
then rector OF ST. Peters Church, the
rooms occupied were very small, but as
the membership roll began to increase
new quarters were needed to accommo-
date the youngn men. The rector then
hired a two story house adjoining ST.
Peters College, on Grand street, which
was used for a number of years, but after
this time rooins We're again hired at No.
SO Montgomery street, and the Lyeeum,
when they hired the last named quarters.
formed a baseball team. This rapidly be-
came the talk Of the people not only in
this city but those throughout New Jer-
sey, Brooklyn and New York, where they
met and defeated all baseball teams that
they met on the diamond.
The next thing the club became popular
for was the receptions that were held I'M
der their auspices. There was also a
number Of athletes connected with tie.
Lyceum and today the present clubhouse
which is situated in the rear Of the
church between the college and facing on
York street, is adorned with soma very
handsome prizes which was won by Its
members. The new quarters which also
became too small, will be abandoned by
the first Of next year, and after years OF
hard labor by the Rev. Fathers narpes
and Hariin, assisted by the members,
they viii enter their new Lyceum and
hal which viii without a doubt be one ef
the finest in the State. The new build
ing viii nave a frontage of one hundred
feet on York street, and will extend eigh-
fy feet south, it is built of red brick set
in red mortar, n set off with terra cot
ia trimmings. The first floor of the
building is bdilt OF Nova Scotia granite.
The new hall viii be used for all aea-
demic exercises of the college and the
parochial school. A large stage for the
dramatic ~socities of the lyceusa and col
lege will be fitted up at the extreme
south end of the building, and will be
arranged after the style OF that in the
Academy of Music. It viii be on the
main flor OF the building. The hall will
be surmounted by a glass dome and I'M
derneath it will be a system Of electric
lights.
From the for to the dome the height
will be forty feet. an da gallery with a
seating capacity of three hundred viii
extend around the hail. The gallery will
be supported by brackets, which Will
hang from the roof. and in this way no
pillows will be used. thus affofding q
clear view to every one on the floor. This
hall, when completed, will be capable Of
seating about eleven hundred people, and
will be one of the largest in the city.
The flor below the hail and school viii.
be fitted up with four bowling alleys,
billiard and pool dooms, shower baths
and meeting rooms for the Young Mems
Lyceum. The Rev. Fathers Harpes and
Iiarlin nave also made arrangements for
a parish library and reading room. a
place viii also be set apart IN the build
ing for meeting rooms of the different
societies connected with the church. The
class rooms will be ventilated III the most
approved style, and the lighting through
out the buildings win be by electricity,
and the sanitary arrangements will be
the very best.
The building when completed will cost
in the n~eighborhood of $780, GEO., and the
debt will be paid from entertainments Piv-
en- by the different societies of the church.
The hrst event to be given in the new
hall will be a monster fair given by The
ladies of the parish, which will be held
for one week, and receipts go towards
the debt of the building.