Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17

fore it was evident that the building was
inadequate for the work of the association
and at meeting of the board of managers
held February e, 1882, President J. G. Ames
Charles Lyman, c. E. Foster, E. B. Bar
mum and T. A. Harding were appointed a
special committee to submit plans and es-
Inmates for new building to be owned ex-
clusively by the association. The first step
taken was to look for an eligible site A
great many locations were visited but moth
ing suitable to it's wants were found until
learned through a friend that the property
l4O9 New York avenue could probably be
purchased. 1t was at that time occupied
as a club house, managed by John Cham
berlin. I found the property was owned
by the American Life Insurance Company
Of Philadelphia and Mr.. Samuel Cross was
the Washington agent of the company.
L at once saw Mr.. Cross and he agreed to
sell the property to the association on the
following terms: Upon the payment of
$1,000 an option would be given for six
months, at the end of which time 5000
must be paid, when title would be passed
and possession given, the balance to be
paid on or before ten years. This infor-
nation was Immediately communicated to
the committee and a special meeting of the
board of managers was held March 6, 1882,
at which time it was voted to accept the
terms named by Mr. Cross and the 81 coo
necessary to secure the option was raised
at once, the greater portion being sub
scribed by members of the board. The day
following deposit of 81 600 was made with
Mr. Cross At the next meeting of the
board of managers a building committee
was appointed and the work of soliciting
subscriptions began Immediately.
Notwithstanding the prophecies of many,
that such large amount could not be Sc
cured, the committee, backed by the entire
membership, kept steadily at the work and
early in June, 1882 it was announced that
subscriptions to the amount of $4,000 had
been secured. This was the amount named
to make subscriptions binding. Wednes-
day. September 6, 1882 one day previous to
the expiration of the option given by Mr..
Cross the treasurer of the association in
the absence of DR.. E. M. Gallaudet treas
urer of the building fund.- paid to Mr. Cross
certified check of 5000, which, with the
$1,000 deposit made March Z, constituted
the first payment under the contract
THE board of managers met for the first
time in the new building September -,
1882. October 16 the association moved in
to the New York avenue building and Oc-
tober Is the building was formally opened
to the public by a reception to the men,
bers and their friends. The need of a
gymnasium was soon felt after entering
into the new building and the ground in
the rear of the structure, fifty-six feet wide
and eighty feet deep, was utilized by the
association in the erection Of gymnasium
building, costing 5000.
1.-The addition of the gymnasium enabled
| the association to enlarge the scope of it's
work and thus reach the young men in a
fourfold way through the spiritual the edu-
cational, the social and the physical de-
partments When entering the New York
| avenue building the membership numbered
less than 800 and in little over three years
the number increased until it reached over
1000.
lone Of the reasons for my accepting the
call to Washington was the possibility of
helping towards securing a building for
the association. 1 believed the people of
this city would be ready to furnish the as
ISOLATION a home similar to those provided
In other cities when a need Of such a
mil 6iner we cd 70 hon Nha
proves that 1 was right in my estimate.
MY term of service as general secretary
continued to November 1886, at which time
l resigned to engage in business.
Il look back with great pleasure to the
years of work given to the Washington
Young Mems Christian Association.
THE property on New York avenue pur-
chased in 1852 for $32, 600 was recently sold
for over 100000"
John B. Larner.
ct first recall my connection with the
association as early as 1874, when its en-
tire work was confined to a small part of
the second floor of the Y. NJ. c. A. building
then known Lincoln Hall, at the north
east corner of 9th and d streets. 1 remem-
Der very well the small hall at the head of
the 9th street stairway, in which prayer
meetings were held every evening" and fire.
quently I attended these meetings, which
were presided over by Mr.. George A. Hall,
at that time general secretary, or by some
Other MEMBER OF the aSSOc1atl
after the association left the Lincoln
Hall building it resided in temporary homes
for several years.
THE first move toward securing perma-
nent quarters was the purchase of the
| club house on New York avenue. This new
| building served home for the associa-
| ton for a number of years. Many and fire.
quent were the consultations held from
| time to time by the managers for the pur-
pose of devising ways and means to erect
| larger and more commodious structure on
that location, or to effect a sale thereof
with view of locating in another section
| of the city. This building each year became
| more and more unsuitable for the work and
| needs Of the association.
Then came another disaster, which was
but a blessing in disguise, when the build
| ing New York avenue was very nearly
| destroyed by fire. This was reconstructed
out of the proceeds of the insurance the
property and contributions which were
| made by generous friends and the work was
| resumed. The conferences of the managers
| continued without abatement; committees
| were appointed. plans were drawn for
| new structure on the New York avenue
| site, and it was almost determined that
| these plans would be consummated when
| it came to the attention of Mr.. S. w. Wood
1 ward that the Columbia Athletic Club -Wf$
| about to be disbanded and its building on
| G street between 18th and 18th streets sold
| under a deed of trust. Mr.. Woodward did
not lose any time in calling together those
| who were closely associated with him in
| the work. and on the day of the sale it
/ was finally determined that bid should
| be made on behalf of the association at the
| public sale. This was the most important
move that has ever been made in associa-
| ton matters in this District, and the pur-
| chase of the property at that time put new
/ life and energy in the work, and the re-
i suits which have now been attained have
I fully justified the wisdom of our valued and
| much esteemed president In this undertake
/ ing which at the time seemed of so great
| a magnitude. surrounded with many UNI
/ certainties and misgivings, as to be i'm
/ possible of consummation.
] 1.-THE work Of the association under our