The Y.M.C.A.’s Urgent Plea for Modern Facilities
General Secretary T.M. Pattullo departs after four years of growth, leaving behind a vision for a modern facility that could double the organization's membership.
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The resignation of T. M. Pattullo as general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. took effect today. The board of directors has not yet selected a man to take the position, and until a new secretary is appointed, George Botsford, assistant secretary, will have charge of the work. Mr. Pattullo has been the general secretary of the association for the last four years. During that time the association has made rapid advancement. When he first took up the work in this city, only 60 young men belonged to the association, while the membership at the present time is 460. During the last four years $12,800 has been paid for interest, taxes, and other debts, and the association has never been as strong as it is today. Mr. Pattullo will continue to teach the Wednesday evening Bible class and will not drop entirely out of association work. 'While the work is progressing favorably in every way,' says Mr. Pattullo, 'we need an up-to-date Y. M. C. A. building. It is impossible to do proper work for young men in the inadequate quarters we have. If we had a modern building similar to what many cities of the United States smaller than Tacoma have, and had a large swimming tank, gymnasium free from posts, model bath plant, and thorough equipment to carry on the night school, it would be an easy matter to raise the membership to 1,200 or 1,500.' Mr. Pattullo has been appointed district manager of the Provident Life Insurance company and will make his headquarters in Tacoma.
“It is impossible to do proper work for young men in the inadequate quarters we have.”
The Y.M.C.A. in early 20th-century Tacoma served as a critical hub for transient young men seeking social, educational, and moral support, mirroring modern discussions about the role of non-profit public spaces in addressing loneliness and social infrastructure in growing cities.
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