Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-02-19
Citizens Will Unite i'm Providing In
stitutiOn for DecOrah.
DEBORAH INSTITUTE BUILDING
NOW EQUIPPED FOR USE
Banquet Last Night Started OFF Move
ment With Much Enthusiasm.
Boy Scouts to be Organized
Saturday.

L y
nization for the boys and young men
of Decorah is now an assured fact. At
the citizens banquet held last night
a large number participated and as
sisted in starting off the institution
with their money and their enthus-
iasm. A sumptuous dinner was serv-
ed by the ladies', after which booster
speeches were made by Mayor III. ].
Green, Editor E. C. Bailey, DR.. A. j.
Swezey, Prof. c. c. Gamertsfelder,
Rev. DR.. NJ. Willett and Scout Master
Rev. G.. S. Lakeland and large num-
ber signed up as members of the gym
nasium.
For some time there has been a
decided expression of the necessity of
some organization or institution in
Decorah that would furnish amuse-
ment, exercise and educational train
ing in the things that every boy needs
to know, but until recently there has
been no united action taken. Rev.
G. S. Lakeland, former Scout Mas
ter, was prevailed upon to present
the matter before the Decorah Com
mercial club and to assume charge of
the movement. Various citizens be-
came interested in the matter, and
soon the proposition to combine the
Boy Scout movement with a public
gymnasium was proposed, and within
a few days this was determined upon,
and about $3.50 worth of equipment
ordered Then the question of
building was settled by the securing
of lease and purchase option on
the former Decorah Institute build
ing, which is quite well located and
constructed for this purpose. The 9TH
er day the gymnasium equipment ar
rived. consisting of trapeze, rings,
flying rings, parallel bars, mattresses,
chest weight, medicine ball, basket
ball, basket ball outfit, spring dumb
bells, boxing gloves, Indian clubs, etc.
The building was ready for the es-
tablishment of gymnasium, which
has already been done The main
room is 50x40 and 20 feet high, and
shower baths will be placed in the
basement. There is also fine reading
room and other convenient rooms. 1t
is admirably constructed for this pure
chase, being well braced with the
heavy oak beams used in building
the frame. An option has been taken
for its purchase at the low price of
$1,000, and no doubt it will be bought
by public subscription.
The fees for the gymnasium are S5
per year, $3 per year for high school
boys not members of the Boy Scouts.
The Boy Scout fee will pay for GYM
nasium service. This fee will be de-
termined by the organization, prob
ably ten cents per week. Boys be-
tween the ages of IL and IS years
will be admitted to the Boy Scout or
ganization, which will be instituted
on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock.
Later junior organization will be
formed, for boys under twelve. and
possibly when these are we'll under
way, Camp Fire Girls organization
may be taken up. Prof. Gamertsfeld-
er viii assist Rev. Lakeland in the
management of the gymnasium.
We believe that this organization
is splendid thing for the boys. and
young men of Decorah, and that it
will not only aid in developing them
physically, mentally and morally, but
will give them military training and
discipline, at the same time teaching
them the many simple things that
men ought to know and be able to do,
which is so often not the case. The
Boy Scout movement has pervaded
the whole world, and has been of in
calculable value, and it may be made
such TO Decorah.
-O-