The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-27
ST. JOHNS
new GYM.
Building For the Institute Is
Nearing Compile
ton.
COMMODlOUS AND MODERN
There Will Be Facilities for
All of the Many
Glasses.

Judging from the present state of the
new gymnasium and reading room now
in the course of construction for the In
stitute of st. Johns Episcopal Church,
on Summit avenue, that building should
be ready for occupancy within ten days
The erection of the structure on the site
occupied by the former gymnasium, a
much smaller and Inadequate building,
is the result of the surprising growth OF
the Institute. This branch of the church
has, within two years, prospered in such
a manner as to prove most valuable
adjunct to the mother church. This sa-
lient point is fully realized by the pas
tor, the Rev. E. L. Stoddard, Phi. D.,
who has always looked out for the in
terests of his young people.
Every possible comfort and convenience
has been provided for the young people
in the past, in proportion to the amount
of space occupied by the classes. OF
late, however, the quarters were far too
small The accommodations were any
thing but encouraging to a fiourishlng
organization, such as the Institute, as
the gymnasium was old and uninviting
and the quarters were crowded and dingy
The pastor set about to remedy the ex-
listing deficiencies. His first move was to
contract for a new and more comnodious
structure, one large enough to hold all cf
his classes and to prove satisfactory to
the members. This branch Of the work
was attended to. The old building came
down speedily. Then work on the pres
emit gymnasium was started and since the
carpenters began their task the structure
has been erected with rapidity
The building is two stories high,of wood,
and it extends from the choir room and
infant class at the rear of the lecture
room to Clifton place. 1t is larger in
every respect than the old building. A
sldb-cellar will be built in which heater
will be erected This will warm the entire
gymnasium, the choir room and the infant
class.
The first floor will be of hard maple
wood. double flooring. The gymnasium
for the boys and girls classes will be lo1
Gated here. This floor will stand the
hardest kind of usage. The dancing ciass
will use this floor. Ample space has been
provided for the beginners In one cor
ner the shower baths are to be placed
along with lockers.
The second floor will be divided into two
rooms A large light, airy rom, running
from north to south across the entire
building. and situated in the eastern end
of the building, will be used for pool and
pi,llares. This will be fitted up hand
scmely, The adjoining room viii be the
reading room. Lockers will be distributed
around the biggest part of the room A
door will lead from this ro@n to the choir
room. The roof is arched and pine wood
is being used on the interior. Handsome
ground glass will be used for the windows
on the lower floor.
The biggest part of the gymnasium
work has been abandoned since the new
building has been going up. Glasses meet
in>the various rooms in the church build
ing. but the members are not allowed the
liberty accorded to them in the gym
nasium. The dancing class has been post
poned this year, because of lack of space.
Many of the institute classes met at
private houses to transact business
There are many applicants for admission
to the institute and it never was in better
shape than at present The report of last
year showed a much larger membership
than statistics of preceding years. New
branches of work are to be taken up and
the Institutes influence broadened as
much as possible The work will be pur-
sued again in earnest when the new build
ing is ready for occupancy. 1t is probable
that some event of pleasure will mark
the opening of the new gymnasium.