The San Francisco call., 1908-08-20
CONTRACT LET FOR
YOUTHS DIRECTORY
Modern Building to Cost $780,
900 for Housing Hundreds
of Little Boys

The city's clearing house for boys
Father Crowley's big home in the Mis-
sion for all the little fellows who
start life with a handicap-passed an
other milestone on its eventful, uphill
road yesterday, when the contracts for
new Youths Directory were signed
This means that in eight or nine
months more q building as handsome
and as comfortable as the one that
was destroyed by fire in April, 1906,
viii be erected, and that the constant
stream Of little helpless lads from all
over the city will be going up the big
steps again, to find work and friends,
and dinners and help and companion
ship inside
Not that the work was interrupted
for more than a few weeks when the
fire swept away the great building-the
dOrmitory with its 100 little iron beds,
the refectory, the gymnasium, the IL
brary and the gardens. Temporary
buildings, unlined and unpainted. were
erected on the old site. the scattered
little occupants We're gathered from
far and wide. beds were improvised
everywhere, and as fast as possible the
old routine of chapel bell and school
hours, bath night and study hour was
re-established. Instead of learning a
Latin verb when he was to be punished.
Danny or Thomas or Dick was set to
cleaning bricks, with the result that
there is an amazing pile of them with
which to start the new home. If the
refectory. with its upholstered walls,
was pretty cold in winter. the bows
knew that the projects quarters We're
Just the same and were the more will
ing TO be dismissed to the dormitory,
with its delicious prospect of warm
blankets and pillows. Still the years
since the fire have been trying ones.
and the prospect of getting back to
orderly corridors, wide rooms. shaded
gardens. the old cool dim chapel and
the big. silent schoolrooms. is delight
ful to them all-eVen to these rough
headed. rioting boys. who have taken
the ups and downs Of their tragic lit
tie lives quite as a matter of course.
NEW HOME ON NEW SITE
The new home will stand on a site
two blocks west Of the old directory,
on the southwest corner of Church
and Nineteenth streets. The property
overlooks Mission park and is suf-
fciently elevated to give the building
itself a superb view. At the back an
immense playground will&be laid out,
With courts for various games, flower
beds and lawns. The front elevation
viii be about 20 feet above the street,
and the building will be four stories
IN itself, so that the familiar -Direc-
tory clock, which will be set as be-
fore in a tower. will again be visible
all over the Mission Every possible
need OF boys has been thought of in
planning this building, which will cost
close to 100000 Saturday night with
it's trying and inevitable episode of
soap. towels and hot water, has been
provided for by a number Of splendid
showers. baths and dressing rooms.
There Is a large indoors recreation
hall designed TO resist the onslaughts
Of Piutes on raid, and so probably
proof against the gentle sports of 40
or 50 u year ol6s); there is a large
kitchen. perfectly equipped laundry,l
chapels, studies, reception rooms. Of
fees, libraries. lockers and pantries.
This is the third building built for the
same Institution in the last 20 years.
and nothing has been omitted that
time has proved to be needed
As Judge Lindsey might say. There
amt no bad kids" in this particular in
stitution. If a boy is really unman-
ageable he is handed over 10 some
other guardian. Father Crowley's
boys. as one looks at their honest,
merry, freckled little faces, might be
the very same little lads who will
rush isto the homes OF the Western
addition this afternoon and fling their
books down and hunt for their skates
They are a little more serious, perhaps,
but tilat is because they can't quite for
get that there We're other days be-
tore these days of wholesome work
and play-days Of debts and illnesses
and overwork. of hunger and darkness
sometimes. or sin almost always-in
short. Of ali the things that make the
YOUTHS Directory one of the great
needs in city fun Of boys