The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-25
PENN'S NEW GYM
READY FOR WORK
As Magnificent as Any in
the World.
Or ENGLISH RENAISSANCE
Cast in Rather Severe Mold to Typify
Its Use-Houses All the
Teams

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splendid new gymnasium now stands
practically completed. closing in the
west end of Franklin Field and COM
pleting as beautiful and imposing a
meeting place for skill and Drawn as
there is in the world today
1t was turned over formally TO the
gymnasium committee by the builders
last week, with the entire new Franklin
Field. As soon as the transfer took
place, the athletic machinery Of the
Red and Blue commenced moving into
its new home
The old brick office that has stood
at the corner of Thirty-third and Spruce
Streets since Franklin Field was opened
ten years ago, will be torn down, and
John Fry and his staff of clerks and his
books will take up their residence to-
gether in an elegant new Office III the
gym
The unsightly frame shack in which
the teams have dressed, washed and
been rubbed down since the stands were
built. viii also become kindling wood,
and from then on the Quaker football
and baseball players will roll out onto
the field from the gymnasium door
They VIII have their lockers I'm the
basement and viii not only dress in the
new building. but will train there in the
winter and early spring.
Brick and Sandstone.
Following the scheme of the later
university buildings. the new structure
is of brick. trimmed with sandstone. its
English renaissance cast i'm slightly
more severe mold than the dormitories
or Medical Han. Being devoted TO
strength, the lines of the gym give
that impression from the start The
main hall stretches across the west end
Of the field and is flanked at either end
with transverse three-storied halls, on
each of which rises a square. massive
tower. The whole effect is massive and
We'll completes the sweeping curve Of
the grand stands. To either end of the
stands tEa gymnasium is connected with
an arch, and through these arches are
the main entrances TO the field. Heavy
iron gates close them when games are
in progress.
The effect from the outside is beau
tiful one The new structure sits well
back from Thirty-third Street on a ter
race Of green. At the Spruce and Chan
cellor Streets corners the sweep in tow
ard the stands makes a square plot OF
green that has already been sodded on
the north end and Will be similarly
cleaned up at the southern corner when
the old office is torn down and the
training shack removed.
All Students Profit
This splendid. latest. and most up-to-
date of college gymnasiums will not
only be the center of the athletic activi-
ties of the University. but will be the
pivotal point for the physical culture
of the whole student body. irrespective
of teams and crews
Under the direction OF DR. r. TAFT Nc
Kenzie the eminent exponent of physi-
cal culture. there viii be a regular and
settled system by means Of which all
the students Of Penn may develop their
bodies under the latest ans. most scien-
tific guidance. For some Of the students
work in the gymnasium viii be compul-
sOry.
DR.. KcKenize. the new director. last
Friday held a preliminary conference
with Provost Harrison. Nice-prOvOst Ed
gar F. Smith. ar . Charles 5. w. Pack
ard and Randall Morgan OF the board Of
trustees OF the university. While moth
ing was decided at this meeting a pre-
liminary plan was drawn up and sent 70
The deans or the various departments Of
the university Later a definite scheme
Of work Will be decided upon and lald
down
II is extremely likely that all men in
the first two years of the college course
viii be Obliged to attend work I'm the
gymnasium as viii. I'm all probability
n
age IN all departments. For the re-
mainder of the students the work viii
likely be voluntary.
Ten Years Of Effort.
The present gymnasium building at
Penn is the result Of a long and uphill
fight by a devoted band of men who
have worked during the last ten years
20 raise the money necessary to give
PENIS athletics. which have won her
such renown. a fitting and commodious
home il cost more than half million
dollars 20 do this. but now IL IS done
and done well.
For years the gymnastic team Of the
university has been forced To seek the
various clubs and turnyereins Of the
city for a place to train and practice
for the contests which they have waged
with Yale. Harvard and Princeton. all
OF whom possessed large and up-tO-date
gymnagiums.
Now not only viii the gymnasium
team have a home, but every athletic
organizat iOp in the university viii have
SITS needs looked after and in the various
rooms aud apartments OF the big build
ing there VIII be the most modern and
scientific apparatus for physical develop