The architects were Messrs. Shattuck and Hussey of Chicago, and Mr. A.R.F. Raven was the local associated architect. Mr. G.F. Turner acted as building secretary and a committee was appointed to watch the interests of the donors.
Only a few years ago, the need for Association premises in Kowloon was felt, and a site in Waterloo Road was purchased from the Government. A small building was opened there on the Double Tenth in 1929, but this has since been found inadequate and extensions to the building are now in the course of erection.
1129
And now I come to the European Y.M.C.A., the present fine headquarters of which are situated on Salisbury Road, Kowloon. After Mr. Southam had organised the Chinese Y.M.C.A., requests poured in for the opening of a similar institution for Europeans. The agitation bore fruit, and on May 1, 1904, the Association was started on the top floor of Alexandra Buildings. Soon after these premises had been opened, Mr. Southam was compelled to leave the Colony owing to his wife's illness, and a young man, Mr. J.L. McPherson came to take his place. Mr. McPherson is still in the Colony to-day, the active and highly popular General Secretary of both the Foreign and the Chinese Y.
When Mr. McPherson arrived in the Colony, he was welcomed by a Mr. Ruttledge who had been Mr. Southam's assistant at the Chinese Y. They worked harmoniously together until Mr. Ruttledge left in 1907, when Mr. McPherson took over the General Secretaryship of the two institutions.
In 1911, Mr. McPherson went on leave and his place was taken by Mr. F.C. White. The pair worked together after Mr. McPherson returned, but in 1914, Mr. White left Hongkong and "Mac" stayed on as Secretary of the Chinese and the European Y.M.C.A. until Mr. J.H. Hunt arrived in 1925.
In June 1914, an outbreak of plague necessitated a change of quarters, and by kind permission of Messrs. Alexander Ross and Co., temporary quarters were arranged at No. 4 Des Voeux Road. This building was later used as an annexe of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Building. It has since been demolished.
These temporary quarters contained an office, reading room and billiards room, and proved wholly inadequate for the successful working of the Association.
Accordingly, in 1916, it was considered advisable to temporarily suspend work until more suitable premises could be obtained.
A canvas for funds was commenced, and, thanks to the strenuous efforts of the Governor, Sir Henry Hay, over $140,000 was raised for the purpose of erecting a new building. The money was sent home and invested in war loans.
Subsequently, various sites were suggested for the new building, two of these being on the Victoria side of the harbour, but ultimately the directors decided on the present site. The land was secured by the Governor, with the consent of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
About this time, the funds at the disposal of the Directors were considerably augmented by the gift from the International Committee of the Y.M.C.A. of $75,000, subject to conditions which were acceptable to the Directors. These conditions included the provision of certain accommodation in the building for British and American servicemen.
In due course the building was erected. The Directors were optimistic about its success, and even in 1916, the idea of the West Wing, opened only a few years ago, was firmly implanted in their minds. They visualised a
2.
The architects were Messrs. Shattuck and Hussey of Chicago, and Mr. A.R.F. Raven was the local associated architect. Mr.G.F. Turner acted as building secretary and a committee was appointed to watch the interests of the donors.
Only a few years ago, the need for Association premises in Kowloon was felt, and a site in Waterloo Road was purchased from the Government. A small building was opened there on the Double Tenth in 1929, but this has since been found inadequate and extensions to the building are now in the course of erection.
1129
་
And now I come to the European Y.M.C.A., the present fine headquarters of which are situated on Salisbury Road, Kowloon. After Mr.Southam had organised the Chinese Y.M.C.A., requests poured in for the opening of a similar institution for Europeans. Theagitation bore fruit, and on May 1, 1904, the Association was started on the top floor of Alexandra Buildings Soon after these premises had been opened, Mr. Southam was compelled to leave the Colony owing to his wife's illness, and a young man, Mr.J.L. McPhersoncame to take his place. Mr. McPherson is still in the Colony to-day, the active and highly popular General Secretary of both the Foreign and the Chinese Y.'
When Mr. McPherson arrived in the Colony, he was welcomed by a Mr. Ruttledge who had been Mr.Southam's assistant at the Chinese Y.
They worked harmonicusly together until Mr. Ruttledge left in 1907, when Mr. McPherson took over the General Secretaryship of the two institutions.
In 1911, Mr. McPherson went on leave and his place was taken by Mr.F.C. White. The pair worked together after Mr. McPherson returned, but in 1914, Mr.White left Hongkong and "Mac" stayed on as Secretary of the Chinese and the European Y.M.G.A. until Mr.J.H. Hunt arrived in 1925.
In June 1914, an outbreak of plague necessitated a change of quarters, and by kind permission of Messrs. Alexander Ross and Co., temporary quarters were arranged at No. 4 Des Voeux Road. This building was later used as an annexe of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Building. It has since been demolished.
These temporary quarters contained an office, reading room and billiards room, and proved wholly inadequate for the successful working of the Association.
Accordingly, in 1916, it was considered advisable to temporarily sus- pend work until more suitable premises could be obtained.
A canvas for funds was commenced, and, thanks to the strenuous efforts of the Governor, Sir Henry Hay, over $140,000 was raised for the purpose of erecting a new building. The money was sent home and invested in war loans.
Subsequently, various sites were suggested for the new building, two of these being on the Victoria side of the harbour, but ultimately the directors decided on the present site. The land was secured by the Governor, with the consent of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
About this time, the funds at the disposal of the Directors were con- siderably augmented by the gift from the International Committee of the Y.M.C.A. of G$75,000, subject to conditions which were acceptable to the Directors, These conditions included the provision of certain accommodation in the building for British and American servicemen.
In due course the building was erected. The Directors were optimistic about its success, and even in 1916, the idea of the West Wing, opened only a few years ago, was firmly implanted in their minds. They visualised a
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