The following story appeared in the February 6, 1915 edition of the Philipsburg newspaper.
Hundreds Accept Invitation to Visit and Inspect the New Y.M.C.A. Building in That City
That Philipsburg is interested to no little extent in the proposition to establish a Y.M.C.A. in our city may be inferred from the fact that fully four hundred of our people braved the slush and rain last evening to accept Tyrone’s invitation to visit that place and inspect the handsome new building recently constructed there; and this, too, in view of the fact that there were other attractions that kept at home many who would otherwise have joined the excursionists, such as the lecture at the Odd Fellows Hall by Rev. Dr. B. F. Hart, basketball game between the Altoona and Philipsburg High School teams, etc.
The special train left here promptly at 7 o’clock, making a stop at Osceola and Sandy Ridge, where a goodly number of additional passengers were taken on. The railroad company did not anticipate such a big crowd for a bad night and failed to provide a sufficient number of coaches to seat all the people going to Tyrone. Two more cars, however, were added for the return trip, which was made with a higher degree of comfort.
Reaching Tyrone about 8:20, the big delegation — made up of a happy lot of men, women, and young people — was met at the station by a committee and escorted at once to the Y.M.C.A. quarters, where all were most cordially received by a still larger committee composed of ladies and gentlemen, as well as other representative citizens of the town and members of the Association who had come out through the storm to show the visitors a good time. The greetings were so hearty that all were made at once to feel at home, and an evening of rare enjoyment was the result.
The guests, after doffing their wraps, were ushered into the large and exquisite auditorium, and following a brief but happy address of welcome by W. A. Bouse, the popular and very capable president of the Association, were treated to a concert of the rarest character by Tyrone’s famous [P.R.R.] band, composed of forty pieces.
At the conclusion of the concert, a three-reel moving picture film was the attraction, after which the Philipsburg City Band, which accompanied the delegation, providing splendid music on the train, rendered a very much appreciated number. The visitors were then invited to thoroughly inspect the building and witness the various attractions, among which were a basketball game, exhibitions in the swimming pool, bowling alley, etc. These features were made all the more enjoyable by the very courteous treatment of the ladies and gentlemen in ushering their guests through the building and imparting much valuable information.
The Y.M.C.A. building is complete in every detail and an edifice of great magnificence. The doors open into a lobby luxuriously furnished and supplied with up-to-date literature. In the other parts of the building are a library containing 5,000 choice volumes, a gymnasium equipped with modern apparatus, two bowling alleys, recreation rooms, and a spacious auditorium.
The event was altogether an unusually happy one, and those who indulged are most thankful to the originators of the movement, and again, it is hoped that some day Philipsburg can in a small measure repay the Tyrone YMCA people by extending to them an invitation to inspect a modern Y.M.C.A. building here.
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