Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-03-12
NEW Y. M. C.. A.
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tial start for the new building.
A number of new buildings have ap-
peared over the state of Ohio and 1t
is very likely that these will be Wis
tied before any plans are made to-
ward the new project here. Middle
town and Massillon have buildingss
suited for their needs. The plans of
the latter have interested some of
our friends but it is not certain that
the Massillon type would be of suffi-
cient size for Newark.
The old building being used by the
Newark Y. M. C. A. does not look like
the newer buildings being erected. In
comparison with the newer plants the
local building lacks individuality.
However in 1899 when the present
building was completed, there were
not many designs to chose from. The
whole lot purchased was covered with
a building which has tried to serve
the needs Of a growing community.
Conditions have changed greatly dur
ing the last quarter century, and
corresponding change had to be met,
if only in part, by the Y. M. Z. A.
The completing of dormitory rooms
in what was once the balcony of Tay-
lor Hall, and the change of the sec
ond floor into a boys division and
subsequent change of the first floor
for the general and executive offices
of the Y. M. c.. A. are perhaps the
biggest changes that have come dur
ing the period of years.
Whatever might be done to make
the interior appearance brighter OF
course only helps to cheerfully carry
along the program under crowded
conditions. No amount of repairing,
not even a new building on this same
lot. could give adequate space for the
new Y. M. C. A. building that is need
ed for the Newark 'of the near fu-
ture. Newark is growing, and in
planning a new building it is only
wise that a plant be built that will
be useful for at least another quar-
ter Of a century.
The we'll rounded staff has put on
a program that has broken out be-
vond the walls of the building. Gym
nasium classes for younger boys, high
school boys, employed boys, senior
young men, business and professional
men. and ladies and girls, have in
themselves crowded the gymnasium
at the noon hour, after school and
in the evening, yet outside of those
periods twenty teams of basket ball
players have been organized in two
leagues. Manv of these players are
not members of the Y. M. c. A. The
swimming pool is year round attrac-
ton and in the course of years time
totals up in the thousands the num-
ber of individuals who have enjoyed
the fun of the splash and stretching
out in this form of recreation.
Pioneer club and Hi-Y clubs have
enthused the members of the boys di-
vision outside Of the athletic hours.
Out of door programs enlist more
non-members than members. Hikes.
games and camps have centered the
boys attention on those things. City
wide meets and events from kite fly
ing to coasting parties enrolled the
boys from all over town thru winter
as we'll as summer. Even the "knot-
hole gang" led by the physical direc-
tor has made its way to the Twilight
league games to get in on another OF
the Y. NJ. C. AS activities. During
the winter the Saturday Nighters
made up of non-members between the
ages of 10 and 16 have a program
weekly in Taylor Hall and in the
swimming pool just as regular as any