The San Francisco call., 1904-07-16
Special Dispatch to The Call.

f<AA~A@I~O ~ July ilC new Ia eNA
clubhouse in this city will be opened
and dedicated tomorrow afternoon.
The building, which is one of the most
imposing in Vallejo. is four stories
high and occupies a site near the water
front, purchased with the prize money
won in the Spanish American war by
Rear Admiral Bowman H McCalla, at
present commandant of the Mare Is
land Navy Yard.
The cornerstone of the clubhouse
was laid by President Roosevelt on
May Il, 1908 and since then Mrs. Nc
Gala has been the moving spirit in the
great undertaking that is about to be
crowned with complete success. She
interested friends in San Francisco and
in the East in the esta bIishment Of a
clubhouse near the great Pacific Coast
navy yard, somewhat similar to that
erected in Brooklyn, n. Y, by Miss
Helen Gould and which has proved so
popular with the sailors and marines
on duty in and visiting the great me-
tropolis of the Atlantic sea 1ard. Thus
funds were raised and the Ladies' Aux
iliary societies Of Napa, Vallejo and
Oakland ably assisted in helping the
great enterprise along. The assistance
rendered by George F. Hanscom, chief
electrician Of the navy yard, in super
intending the erection and completion
of the new building has been invalu-
able.
Built at a cost of S62. 900, much after
the general style Of the Gould club
house in Brooklyn, the new structure
is provided with a handsome theater,
capable of seating 500 persons, a swim
ming pool, shooting gallery, bowling
alley, library, gymnasium, numerous
bathrooms and showers and a billiard
room. A restaurant, barLer shop and
laundry viii add to the comfort of the
patrons. The dining room is 60X28 feet.
On the third and fourth floors, reached
by an elevator, are seventy-four sep
arate sleeping rooms and a dormitory
containing thirty beds There is
telephone service on each floor
and the system of electric lighting
is complete and elaborate. The interior
finish of the building is elegant. There
is every equipment and comfort of a
first-class club. The object of the club
house is to furnish to the men of the
navy food, accommodation and amuse-
ment for what the service costs
John S. Tichenor, national secretary
of the Naval Young Mems Christian
Association, has arrived here from the
East and viii arrange for the organi-
zation Of a local branch of the associa-
ton which will assume the manage
nent of the new clubhouse. With him
came ]. ]. Squires, from the Seamen's
Clubhouse at Brooklyn, who Will have
the superintendent Of the clubhouse.
A large party of San Franciscans will
be here Saturday forenoon and be
entertained at lunch by Admiral and
Mrs McCalla at Mare Island
The dedication exercises will be held
at the new clubhouse at 3 p. m. The
programme includes music by the Mare
Island Station Band, the dedication
service, conducted by Rt. Rev Bishop
Moreland Of Sacramento, assisted by
Chaplain McAllister of Mare Island and
Chaplain Frazier of the naval station
at Goat Island, singing by a choir, a
short address by Mrs. B. H. McCalla,
vocal solo by Mrs. v. v Harrier, re-
marks by Lieutenant Governor Alden
Anderson and Commander G. B. T.
Moore, presentation to the clubhouse
Of a portrait of the late Rear Admiral
John D. Sloat by Major E. A. Sher-
man Of Monterey, who is secretary of
the Sloat Memorial Association. Rear
Admiral McCalla will then present the
keys of the building to John s. Tiche-
nor, national secretary of the Naval
Young Mems Christian Association.
America" will be sung and a benedic-
ton pronounced.