St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-04-14
st. JOhnSbury Y. M. c. A.
A Splendidly Equipped Association
Doing Grand Work.

A6 NANAd VIVA hs
About two years ago, in a whirlwind
campaign, $27, 900 was pledged by St,
Johnsbury people and a few generous
outsiders to enable the local Young
Mems Christian Association to put it's
house in order. The large amount of
money pledged at that time, in hundreds
of different subscriptions, has nearly all
been paid in. The pledges for the greater
part have been promptly and honorably
met and the small balance now remain
ing is accounted for by the fact that the
hard times temporarily prevented few
persons from paying as promptly as they
otherwise would. Nearly all of these,
however, will be paid by July 1st of this
year.
The many people who were interested
to give so generously to this great work
will doubtless be further interested to
know what was done with their money,
what good has been accomplished.
To begin with all the Y. M. c. A.
property was cleared of debt and the
part of the building not previously
owned by the institution was purchased.
Then the Association building was
entirely remodelled. The gymnasium
was greatly enlarged, improved and
equipped with modern material, New
and up-to-date bath and locker rooms
were added. A first class double bowling
alley was put in. This was one of the
most expensive additions, but it has
proved extremely popular.
The ground floor of the building was
changed but little, except for the addi-
| ton of large room, which is used for
boys room and for meetings and lee
lures, also kitchen and a committee
room.
On the second floor of the old part of
the building is the billiard room, con-
tanning the best billiard and pool tables
in town. This room is large, well light
ed and well ventilated, thus affording low
ers or this sport an opportunity to enjoy
their favorite game under much better
and healthier conditions than exist in
billiard and pool rooms generally.
The second and third floors in the new
part of the building are devoted to dor
mitories, with good bath rooms on each
floor. The men who are using these
rooms are the best advertisement of this
part of the building. Most of them are
members of the association and thus en-
JOY privileges practically equal to living
at modern club in large city. This is
point which many St. Johnsbury men
seem to miss. Here, centrally located,
accessible to all, is big, splendidly equip
ped mems club. What is there lacking
\ Some member of the old Mystic Club
promptly answers, "a smoking room
and card room" There are IA rooms
in the dormitories and any occupant o.
these has the privilege of smoking as
much as he likes in his room and he may
also invite in his friends to smoke witt
him till the air is blue. The reason nj
room is provided in the main part of tht
building for smoking and card playing il
that these things are not considered the
best forms of amusement to offer to the
younger members of the association.
have mentioned only few OF thu
material advantages offered by this in
stitution as they appear to an outsider
and man of the world. The genera
secretary is better able to describe the
religious and educational advantages o
the association and the work which ha:
been accomplished during the past year
The physical director can also tell very
interesting story about his work ant
what it has done for the boys and young
men of the various Y. M. c. A. classes.
Now who is getting the benefit of al
these privileges? The largest number o
members at one time during the past
year was 3O2. There should be at least
500 members. The annual membership
fee emitting to full privileges is $500