The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-27
PLANS FOR CLUB
MEET APPROVAL
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS EyI-
DENCE OF SUPPORT.
Anonymous Donors Offer of s., 900 Cap
ital and 1000 a Year Towards Main
tenance Of Institution for Men and
Boys Is Regarded as Nucleus Of Great
Organization.

Public interest in the proposed club
for men and boys, to be operated un-
der the auspices of Unity House, is
being shown in several ways. A most
satisfactory form Of evidence is the re-
ceipt OF voluntary contributions, sup
and ST 900 year towards maintenance
Of the institution.
Altho the offer was made by an
anonymous donor, the time seems to
have been ripe for broaching of such
a scheme. 1t has been publicly in
dorsed by Mayor David P. Jones, by
Judge E. F. Waite Of the municipal
court, and such representative bust
ness man as former Senator W. =.
Washburn.
The club plan is not venturing on an
tended similar ventures in other cities
OF the metropolitan class that not the
slightest hesitancy is felt by the pro-
moters Of the Minneapolis institution.
In fact, it is stated that the mysterious
person who took the Initiative did SO
with firm belief that he had found
the solution of the trouble of taking
care Of men during idle hours. He
studied the subject thoroly and used as
the basis of his plan the successful clubs
in other cities.
One Of the institutions inspected was
Gordon House, 1856 West Seventeenth
settlement, neighborhood house, nor a
charitable institution, but an industrial
organization It is as much Of club
as the Metropolitan in Washington, the
Minneapolis club in Minneapolis, and
the Minnesota, club in st.; Paul Mem;
bers come and go as they choose and
only house rules, like those of any gen
tleman 8 club, prevail.
Gordon House was founded in 1901
by the late Theodore Greeley White
He was the first "headworker.' - His
This furnished the nucleus for his latel
venture. The new building was fin
ished in January, 1904. The house
with it's athletic, educational and clut
facilities, belongs to the neighborh hood
It is independent of any particular
church., but desirous of cooperating
Interest on the money left by thu
founder does not meet expenses and tn!
membership fees are materially effec
tive in reducing the difference. Mel
boys at work $3.50, school boys So
Lockers cost ST. year, bowling cent
a game, pool cents for three games
| basketball game admission 10 cents, ad
mitting lady and gentleman .
The house is a six-stOry building witt
outdoor gymnasium on the roof TIL
basement or ground floor has bowlin,
alleys, poolroom, room for cards an
table games and restaurant. The frs
floor contains the office, library, thre
club and classrooms. The next floor ha
six handicraft shops and a lecture hal
The fourth floor is fixed for residents
where the headwofker and assistant
live. The fifth floor is the gymnasium
| which can be turned into a theater.
Athletics are controlled by the Coz
don Athletic association Four =larg
clubs are features of the house. Tn
Theodore Greeley White club is tn
men s section, with the basement g
| quarters. The Theodore Roosevelt clu
is the section of boys from l 8to 2.
with headquarters in the rear of the l
brary. The Chelsea club is compose
of boys under eighteen, and the boys
club Of school boys.
/ Several special clubs are conducted
such as the Debating society, tn
| Dramatic society, the Tramping clul
the Bowling club, the Handicraft guilt
An educational department furnishe
instruction in several lines.