New Britain herald., 1927-03-01
Agitation for New Y.MC.A.
Stirred Up As Board Dimes
Directors Taken Through
Building and Shown
Lack of Space and
Modern COnveniences.

weighed in the balance last evening
and found wanting. Tried by Il jury
OF members and directors it was
found to be totally Inadequate AN
Gent to the point OF being decrepit,
unattractlve, out OF date and in some
departments not even so per cent of-
ticicntly equipped to produce the
service ana convenienccs demanded
by It's present membership.
Built 40 years ago. when the city
had less than 1900 people, it stands
today in the business center OF q.
metropolitan community of more
than Sn,000 persons, charged by its
members OF being in much the same
position as a wornout whcelbarrow
with a rusty wheel and shaky
handles would be 70 man whose
business called for lotion truck.
This verdict was the result of n din
ner held in the association rooms. A
selected group Of active members
entertained the directors as their
guests and then escorted them
drought the building, pointing ont
its many defects.
To the directors themselves, al
though they said they realized that
a new building was needed, the de-
mand for improvements came as
shock. t. was brought home forcibly
that the place where they played as
boys, no longer fills the needs of Il
thriving community. a Y. NJ. c. A.
building, erected for q small town
cannot be adapted to the demands
Of a large city, they were told.
Probably mono was more gratified
at the whole affair than General Sec
rotary Clarence II. Barnes. who has
worked for a new building for a
long time. The Y. NJ. c. a. is moro
than home to him. 1t is his pet, his
child. his hobby. He has grown as
the mbcrship has grown: from the
secretary OF the boys department he
has come into the active leadership
OF the association. He has seen Its
activities broaden and widen, new
activities taken and new members
enter the lists.
The meeting last night was in
charge of Frank b. Rau. one Of the
active members, substituting for
Howard Y. Stearns. who was con-
fined to his home with illness.
Mr.. Rau spoke Of the growth OF
the religious work In the Y. He
pointed out that Catholics. Jews
and Protestants alike find it their
community home. He said that it is
the religious, educational and
rccreational center of the COM
muni,y. He told of the Y. NJ. G. A.
Bible class which meets every
Thursday evening for supper. lie
pointed out that many gymnasium
activities are lost to the 'Y' be-
cause of lack of gym space and
facilities.
down every day because there is
not enough ROOM" he said.
1.-The swimming pool Is made
Quatc in size and lacks a filtering
system" he added.
Walter II. Hart a director stated
that the directors realized the pres
emit building is inadequate. He said
the building was almost 40 years
old and it was easily conceivable
that it was not adequate for mod
crn purposes. He pointed out that
hotels and apartment houses as old
as the Y. NJ. c. A. building are
being torn down every day and new
ones built In their places.
ut is not adequate TO carry on
the work Il normal Y. NJ. c. a.
should be doing" he added.
He regretted the fact that in GER
tain quarters where the situation is
not thoroughly understood there is
a feeling that the present building
is good enough. He said it was too
bad that these people cannot be
shown how men are dropping out
and others failing to join because
the proper facilities are lacking,
He called attention to the fact that
the building is on the market and
the directors are willing to sch 1t.
The dormitories, he said, can ac-
commodate only 40 men. where
there should be room for at least
1856. The dormitory Is great rev.
enue producer for the Y. NJ. c. A.
The gym" should be large enough
to accommodate two basketball
games at the same time. and there
should be another gym for the boys
department, he explained.
The swimming pool. IS 40 feet
should be at least 20 K co, and the
water should be filtered, he said,
and the membership now Is 1900
and it should be 2,400 or more.
The average membership in 7.
NJ c. A. In the most progressive
cities is 80 men per thousand popu-
lation, while in other cities in goes
down to 80 men per thousand. This