Organized in February, 1876, It Has Had a Long and Useful Existence.
SOME DETAILS OF THE WORKERS AND WORK
Following is the fifth in a series of articles on the history of local societies:
Few people know that the local branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad Young Men's Christian association is the first railroad men's Christian association formed along the lines of the Pennsylvania railroad. It is also not generally known that at the time the local association was formed there was another Young Men's Christian association here.
A meeting for the purpose of considering the organization of a railroad men's association was held on October 10, 1875, and a committee was appointed to carefully consider the matter. From that time meetings were held each Sunday until in February, when the project assumed more definite form. The association started with 583 members and now has 819.
The meeting which marked the formal organization of the association was held in the basement of the First Lutheran church, on the evening of February 24, 187n [sic]. It was presided over by Lang Sheaff, who had come here in September, 1875, as a representative of the International committee of the Young Men's Christian association for the purpose of holding a religious meeting for railroad employes. Previous to the meeting in the First Lutheran church, petitions had been circulated among the shopmen, for the purpose of finding out who would be willing to affiliate with the new association. After discussing the project, it was decided to form the society. The question of uniting with the Young Men's Christian association of Altoona, which then existed, was brought up, but action in this question was deferred, owing to the fact that there was a comparatively small number of the proposed members present. A second meeting was held on February 27, 1876, and the vote relative to the form of organization was as follows: For becoming a railroad branch of the Young Men's Christian association of Altoona, 396; for uniting with the Young Men's Christian association of Altoona, 26; for a separate organization, 164; total number of votes, 583.
The next meeting was held on February 26, in the basement of the First Baptist church, for the purpose of adopting a constitution and bylaws and electing some officers. The first executive committee of the association was elected, being as follows: George F. Jones, Edmund Murphy, W. A. Adams, J. A. Bakestraw, John L. Williams, William Stimer, W. A. Shuster, James Sharp. H. J. Aukerman, Charles Brooks, E. J. Skelly, Flemon Trout. J. W. Kemmerling, George Houck. R. C. Esterline, James Trout, H. D. Whitmer, Thomas W. Cole and T. B. Patton.
The executive committee met on the evening of March 3, and elected the following officers: President, George F. Jones; vice presidents, Flemon Trout, Simon Hawk. John H. Carr; treasurer, W. A. Adams; recording secretary, John L. Williams: corresponding secretary, T. B. Patton; chairman of committee on rooms, C. N. Pimlott; on entertainment, Thomas W. Cole; on library and lectures, J. A. Rakestraw; on visitation of sick, E. J. Skelly; on finance, W. A. Shuster; on membership, H. J. Aukerman; on reception, Joseph Carl; devotional, Edmund Murphy; churches, H. D. Whitmer.
The new association secured quarters in the Jaggard building, at the corner of Eleventh avenue and Thirteenth street, and dedicated these quarters on the evening of March 16, 1876. The society has been in the same building ever since, but it is hoped to get larger quarters before a great while passes by. The rooms then were not nearly so commodious as they are now. The whole quarters took up the place now occupied by the office and game room. On the evening that the rooms were dedicated, letters of congratulation were read from a number of railroad officials, including James A. McCrea, then superintendent of the middle division, now president of the road.
The question of uniting the new Railroad Men's Christian association and the Young Men's Christian association of Altoona still was causing considerable interest. The first action taken by the city society concerning the organization of the railroad branch was in the adoption of the following resolution: "We, the Young Men's Christian association of Altoona, do recognize the organization called the Railroad Men's Christian association as a Christian association, and heartily wish them success in their work for the Master."
The Young Men's Christian association sent a letter seeking a consolidation of the two associations, and a committee from each society was appointed to confer on the subject. A negative report was given by the railroad men's committee. Later in 1876, the question was brought up again and another negative report was rendered. The railroad association continued to grow and prosper, but the Young Men's Christian association died out. Several years ago an effort was made to revive it, but it proved a failure.
The railroad men's association has been active in religious lines from the very beginning. Its minutes show that the spirit of religion was stamped upon it from the inception. At the dedication of the rooms, the local ministers were present and delivered addresses. Not only in religious lines, but in many other ways has the association proved a boon to Altoona. Its athletic department has always been acknowledged to be among the best acquisitions of the Mountain City. It has also been found to be the experience of the association that many young men who are interested in the athletic department can be made interested in the religious department. Athletically, the association is booming greatly at present. Last year the society obtained quarters in the Green avenue market house building for a big gymnasium annex, and it is hoped to get another annex this year. A fine athletic park is now in course of construction in the East End, most of the work on it having been completed this summer. This park will be thoroughly up-to-date, and will contain places for baseball, lawn tennis and field events. There is no lodge home in the city that is more frequented than the rooms of the Pennsylvania Railroad Young Men's Christian association. Every night sees youth after youth wending his way there to enjoy the games, to exercise on the apparatus, to participate in the meetings, or to read and study.
In the early days of the association, there was not so much work to be done around the rooms, and the duties of the secretary were looked after by volunteers. In the winter of 1881-1882, the work became so heavy that it was necessary to have a man at the place all the time, and H. J. Aukerman, the present competent general secretary, was given the position. He had been active in the work ever since the beginning of the association. Now Mr. Aukerman has two paid assistants, while Russell Aukerman, the physical director, spends considerable time in the rooms.
The men whom Altoona can thank most for starting the P. R. R. Y. M. C. A. here are: T. Blair Patton, E. J. Skelly, Flemon Trout, George F. Jones, J. P. Houseman, Henry Yon, William Lingle, J. A. Rakestraw, David Ginter, William Alloway, J. F. Bell, H. J. Aukerman, John L. Williams, H. D. Whitmer, Simon H. Hawk, W. A. Adams, Charles Brooks, W. A. Shuster, James Trout, C. N. Pimlot, Edmund Murphy, Thomas A. Cole and J. W. Kemmerling.
The present officers of the association are: President, E. M. Dougherty; vice president, G. M. Steward; treasurer, S. A. Martin; recording secretary, H. Howard Brashears; assistant recording secretary, Chester G. McGlathery; general secretary, H. J. Aukerman.
Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, October 17, 1911, page 5