Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-28
Railroad Y. NJ. G.. A.
Sort of Family Club;
Recreation Rendezvous

superintendent ~. W. d. penn Oh tnc
Railroad Y. NJ. c. A.. in this city has
been here but n few months but al
ready the big institution has taken al
most new lease of life until his
skilled direction. 1t Is ono OF the most
Interesting places in Waterville now.
and one of the most comfortable and
homelikc
In the office. where on winter nights
logs blaze IN the open fireplace. you
will always find a gathering of railroad
men. Music billiards in the adjoining
room and various other forms of rec
reatlon make it seem n sort OF family
oiuh---ns, indeed. II Is.
incidentally, Supt. Benn, who has
been practical restaurant man In the
course of his varied career. issues u
sharp challenge to the high cost OF
living. In the restaurant Just on the
main office. food of good quality and
commendahle quantity Is served at
prices that would make an ordinary
patron gasp and that recall the happy
days Of n dozen years ngo. On Sun.
day, for instance, there arc chicken.
ham. beef. green peas. mashed pota-
toes and some dessert like orange pud-
ding. This restaurant is not exclusive
~ for railroad men although they form
the majority of patrons. Just as they
are In majority everywhere throughout
the building. Many students have
formed tho habit of dropping In. as
have travellers from the trains. There
are new curtains. new silvcr--and the
Mattresses. Mrs. Cyr and Miss Beatrice
Tracey. add to the popularity. In the
evening Bill Hasscn swings the pie
and milk and sandwiches over the
counter to the late corners. Bill Is the
night man, and there never was n more
popular night man around any Y. NJ.
{. 4.
A personality conducted trip through
The building is rather fascinating. In
the basement. to begin Mt the begin
ming. are the newly renovated bowling
alleys, There are none better now in
Natervillc, for considerable money was
expended. and bowling as n result Is
becoming popular once more. a cup
is offered for competing teams--clerks.
engineers. flremen and trainmen.
On tho first floor are two billiard
rooms; the reading room. attractive in
lis dark mission furniture, where are
always the latest papers and maya
s'ncs: the big and homelike office. a
smaller office for Secretary Rem. the
atningroom and n modern barber shop.
w SNNptu anu tUlTu HVVTS are oSNVA~
"a TO sleeping rooms: and what first
in,prcsses stranger Is that many OF
these rooms are namcd-not numbered.
out named. Neat doorplates tell the
individual or organizations whose gen.
erous donations made possible the orig
maj furnishings and equipment. Thus
one room is dedicated to the Order or
Halfway Traii.men: another to the
iaptlst mems class: n third to j. w.
ihilbrick. aud so no-not forgetting
mat railroad man OF beloved memory.
Col Frederic l.. Boothby. Specifically.
mere are SIS rooms: and at the present
time every one Is occupied. They are
spotlessly clean and modestly attrac-
i've A considerable. number-and II Is
another of those odd little features
mat attract the notice Of the stranger
have iron double deck" cots. the
upper cot being reached by a stepladder
,hat in the daytime by an ingenious
mechanical contrivance can be convert
"a into chair. The entire effect not
appropriately suggests a Pullman
Sleeping car,
There are six showers. three in the
'ascment. two on the second floor and
one on the third: and incidentally they
are the only showers in any public in
sutution in Waterville. Throughout
me Dig building are many modest COM
'orts and conveniences.
Secretary Benn came to this city a
lew months ago from the Grand Trunk
I. NJ c. A. in East Deering. and prior
90 that he was with the Grand Trunk
4. NJ. c. A. in Port Huron. Mich. All
phases of activity in the Waterville
institution seem to have leapcd into
renewed life and interest under his d.
rection. There is no more popular
gathering spot now in the city. The
BOARD OF management is composed OF
archie Towle. engineer. chairman; Eu-
gene Winslow. fireman: Ernest Finne.
more. foreman of the Maine Central
blacksmith shop: David Staples. engi-
heer; "Jeff" c. Smith,, Y. NJ. c. A. State
secretary: President Philbrools. of the
Materville Iron Works: Judge Charles
W. Atchley and w. III. Bowden.