New-York tribune., 1906-10-17
WILLOUGHBY HOUSE OPENS.
Mr.. Lows $4,000 Gift to Young Women
Missionaries.

The new $4,000 Wtlloughby House at No 81
Lawrence street, Brooklyn, the gift of William
G. Low, of Remsen street, that borough, was
formally opened yesterday, or, rather. the open
ing began yesterday. For. what with the gen
eral housewarming and the separate parties for
the boys and the children and the neghbor-
hood, Willoughby House will be in a state of
festivity pretty nearly all the week.
Mr.. Low. who is a half-brother OF ex-Mayor
Seth Low. has. with Mrs. Low, long been in
terested in this Settlement and the courageous
way in which the little band of young women
from the Hill section. who started il six years
ago. conducted and enlarged II. Every year
they had what they called finance campaign,
when everybody connected with the concern
started out to raise the running expenses of the
coming year. They gave up week to it
They never ran in debt. Last year it was de-
cided that $1,000 would be needed for the COM
ing twelve months, and the girls started out to
raise it Mrs. Low then gave generous check.
As the money came in slowly, the young women
took TO meeting for a few minutes Of prayer
each morning before separating on their mis-
sion. 1t was after one of these prayer meetings
that word came from Mr. Low that he had
something to say to them"
Mr. Lows first idea was to purchase the
property next door TO the old Settlement house,
at No. 30 Lawrence street, and erect new
gymnasium. He afterward concluded to erect
an entire new building. The handsome brick
and marble fireproof building at No 81 is the
result of HIS munifcence. The furnishings
the gift of Mrs ]. A. Wisner.
and basement and occupies a lot % by 1O7
feet. The main floor is occupied by a spacious
foyer, with an imposing fireplace and Mission
furniture, making an uncommonly attractive
general reception room. AT the back. running
the full width of the house, is the library, with
low bookshalves containing a bout five hundred
volumes. A series OF windows looks down into
the airy. sunlit gymnasium. with which the
library communicates by a door and a narrow
stairway
On the second and third floors are large rooms
for the kindergarten and for the class and club
work. All the house is given up to Settlement
work except the top story, which is beautifully
fitted up as a home for the resident workers A
specially constructed stone stairway leads from
the main floor 10 the roof, which has a tiled
flooring, and with its wide view, embracing City
Hall and the shopping district in direction
and Fort Greene Park in the other. is well
adapted to a roof garden.
NEW WORK FOR MEN
With their entrance into the new Willoughby
House. the workers will institute new work
among the men of the neighborhood.
Originally" said Miss Anna r. Van Mort the
head resident worker, the work was not
planned TO include men or boys. But they kept
opening the front door and throwing some fell
low in crying. Put his name down. so, though
We had equipment to cope with them, we
couldn't turn them away We fitted ND a car
penteTs' shop IN the cellar and formed a self
government and city history club for them
We expected fifteen. We had hundred. I
the inadequacy of our facilities were among the
factors that determined Mr.. Low upon making
his splendid gift.
Now. with our shower baths and gymnasium,
We expect to form mems club and the library
Will be kept open nights as a mems reading
room. AS for the boys Of the neighborhood,
their hopes have been centred the gym
nasium from the start and the laying of every
brick has been watched with the keenest in
terest When asked boy who lives some
distance away how he came 20 know about the
gymnasium. he looked up and said. Why there
haint a feller anywhere round here but knows
about that WilloUghby House gym"
Although Willoughby House is non-sectarian
and makes no attempt at proselytizing. it is
affiliated with the New York State Young
Womens Christian Association and conducts re-
ligious work as a prominent part of it's actiV-
ties. There is a weekly Gospel meeting at which
Old Testament stories told and illustrated
with the stereopticon, and there is a Bible class
for girls, the members of which come direct from
their factories and shops to a simple supper
at the Settlement house, after which they study
the women Of the Old Testament or some such
helpful subject They call it the Supper Table
Bible Glass.
Miss Julia Logan is the president: Miss E ].
Ogg, vice president; Miss Alice TuthiI record
ing secretary; Miss Emily G. Kisey. correspond
ing secretary; Miss A. j. Jones. treasurer