Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-16
Y.M.C.A. WILL MARK
18TH ANNIVERSARY
Association Here to Stage
Great Celebration
in January.

Inc w ~hCI
Christian Association. originally
founded and organized by three Gov
eminent employees, was Is years old
last Thursday and plans are under
way for a large celebration to COM
memorate its founding, growth and
development during the last three
quarters of a century. The celebra-
ton is to be held in January.
Just what form the celebration will
take has not been definitely decided,
but William Knowles Cooper. general
secretary, announces that 1t is
planned to hold one of such n nature
that the progress made by the Y. NJ.
G. A. in this city might be properly
commemOrated.
The development of the Y. M. c. A.
here has not been without a struggle,
with a touch of romance. The broad
scope of its activities at the present
time. however has proved beyond
doubt to those in charge. and to mem
hors, who have benefited, that the
efforts of the workers for the or
ganization have been worth While.
With property in the District OF
Columbia valued at about $l,l0o.0oo
and an adequate corps OF workers,
The Y NJ. c. A. carries on activities
in it's various departments. the scope
Of which was, perhaps. little dreamed
of by its three founders who were
in charge of the organization meet
ing in the old Masonic Hall. corner
Tenth and L streets. June 3, 1852.
Property Worth Million.
The property in the District in
c!udes the main building. at 1886 G
street; the boys building, at 1882 G
street: a building at 1926 G street.
rented at present for commercial
purposes, and a large lot adjacent
to the main building. all valued at
a tota, of 100000. In addition
there is the colored branch of the
Y. NJ. c. A. at 1916 Twelfth street.
valued a 100000. Besides this prop
erty the local Y. NJ. c. 4. owns a
tract of more than 200 acres near
Edgewater, Nd, used as a boys
camp, we'll known as Camp Let's, |
valued at $4,000.
The work of the local Young Mems |
Christian Association at the present |
time can best be shown by the sta |
tistics showing the average number |
of persons participating in the activ-
titles OF it's different departments.
During the past year the social |
department had an attendance OF be-
tween 1900 and $4,000 persons for |
It's various activities; its boys de-
partment provided amusement and
many forms of activities for about
1900 boys; its educational depart
ment provided instruction in so prac-
teal subjects to S,49S students; its
physical department, with well
trained instructors, helped to keep
hundreds of men fit for their daily
tasks: it's religious department had
an attendance of nearly 10000 men
and boys at its Sunday school meet
ings. Bible classes and MONDAY shop
meetings at industrial plants.
In addition to it's activities in the
owned property it has a railroad
mans branch at Union Station, with
membership of about 1900 men.
1t also has branches at Walter Reed
Hospital, George Washington and
American Universities. where no
membership fees are required. There
was an attendance of 1925 at the
Walter Reed Hospital branch build
ing during the month of May. For
these various forms OF amusementS |
were provided, 2.100 envelopes dis
tributed and 202 books furnished for |
reading.
Progress Here Steady.
The progress of the Washington
Y. NJ. c. A. has been steady. It's
first permanent quarters were on the
third floor of a building on Seventh
street near E street, which was first
occupied in October, 1852. About six
years later the headquarters were
transferred to the Parker Building,
on Pennsylvania avenue between
Sixth and Seventh streets. On May
26, 1869. new headquarters, known
as Lincoln Hall, was opened, and in
October, 1881. the headquarters were
moved to So4 E street. From there
the headquarters were moved to the |
old Chamberlain House, on the north |
side of New York avenue between |
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. At |
the time 1t caused big stir because |
of it's becoming Y. NJ. c. A head |
quarters, it formerly having been one
of the famous drinking places in |
Washington.
The latter building was destroyed |
by fire in 1895 and long and hard |
struggle followed before the "Y'
secured the old Columbia Athletic |
Club property, at 1882 G street, for
a headquarters. property still owned
by the association. The present
headquarters, at 1885 G street, was
formally dedicated on October 80,
1905.
In recalling the Is years OF the
local Y. NJ. c. AS existence, men
long associated with it remember
many phases of its activities during
past years. They recall its yeoman
service rendered during the Civil
War and a long list Of men con-
spicuous in the annals of the Dis
trict who were associated with it's
growth and development. They also
recall. with pleasure. the formal cele-
bration of it's ffftieth anniversary in
1903 and the dinner held in connec-
ton with it January 10. 1903, in the
Willard Hotel, when President Roose-
Welt was the guest of honor.
The three founders of the organi-
cation were the late William
Chauncey Langdon, the late William
J. Rhees and the late Rev. Thomas