Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 2, February 2004
Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.
STAN'S LOOKOUT:
Building Boys Club home was
all-out community effort
By STAN STAPP
(Editor's note: The Wallingford Boys & Girls Club is currently seeking donations to pay for a major renovation of its original clubhouse building at 1310 N. 45th St. The roof, for example is in serious disrepair, says branch director Jamie Flaxman. The project would allow the club to consolidate its programs, which are currently spread out throughout North Seattle. The following is a look back at the community's original fund-raising efforts to construct the building in the early 1950s, as reported in the old North Central Outlook, the community paper that Stan Stapp and his family owned for more than five decades until its sale in 1974. Stan was not only a journalist who covered the fund-raising efforts he was also an active participant, having served a stint during that period as president of the group that helped spearhead the campaign: the Wallingford Commercial Club, predecessor to the present-day Wallingford Chamber of Commerce.)
April 28, 1950: "Kickoff Heralds Jamboree Event"
With Wallingford's annual Jamboree only a month away, Boys Club and Commercial Club members are buckling down to the job of making the big event a successful one. Monday was Jamboree "Kickoff Day" with an afternoon kickoff held on N. 46th St., and a meeting that night in the Interlake School.
The kickoff was a real one, with officials of the two sponsoring clubs vying to see who could kick a football the farthest. Clarence F. Massart, president of the Boys Club outkicked Dr. William A. Higgins, vice president of the Commercial Club; and Claude McReynolds, Commercial Club ticket captain, bested Bill Johnson, Boys Club ticket captain.
Matt Starcevich, Lincoln High boys' advisor, was starter, and Mrs. Starr Swanson, Lincoln PTA president, Mrs. C.O. McAllister, Hamilton PTA president, and Marie Moss, Realtor, were judges.
At Monday night's pep rally, plans for the proposed new Boys Club building were shown, Charlie Stewart, Jamboree chairman, spoke, and three boys brought out the reasons for a Boys Club building.
1. It would be "their own home."
2. With more unemployment it is getting harder for boys to find part-time jobs now, and a building for their club would be a place to keep them out of mischief.
3. Boys like excitement and activity. Getting in trouble with the police is exciting, but not a very good activity. Sports at the Boys Club building would help to provide a good activity.
The Boys Club Trio, composed of Glenn Bartlett, Doug Schwartz, and Kermit Skylstad, sang at the meeting.
other Jamboree events coming up before the real thing on June 1, 2, 3, will be the offering of merchandise prizes by local stores, a merchant's caravan, and the usual fun with the sheriff, posse, paddy wagon, and stockade, to take care of merchants doing business without wearing a Jamboree hat.
Ticket chairman J.M. Delaney, has given Claude McReynolds' team the north side of N. 45th and Bill Johnson's boys the south side, in which to wage their ticket selling battle, with Byron W. Gray as overall chairman. The tickets are being sold on a new Studebaker (car) to be given away at the Jamboree.
Miss Veronica Garske and Mrs. Byron W. Gray were appointed captains of the ladies division. Mrs. Lucille F. Giffin will be co-chairman with Delaney, and will keep track of all ticket sales.
Ward Fulcher, Boys Club instructor, said that an anonymous donor had offered $50 to spur young members of the Boys Club in making ticket sales. Prizes of $25, $15, and $10 will be given.
Dec. 1, 1950: "Boys Clubhouse: Construction Underway"
Construction of the first unit of the long-awaited Wallingford Boys Club home is scheduled to get underway tomorrow morning on the club lot near N. 45th and Stone Way.
Clarence F. Massart, president of the Boys Club governing body, said that power equipment would be on hand to dig footings for the building.
Last Saturday, the lot was surveyed by Ben Hayes, civil engineer. R.W. Peterson, contractor and owner of North Seattle Construction, is digging the footings.
Complete architectural drawings have been made by Alfred Simonson, architect. John Hartman, contractor, will supervise the general construction.
"What we need now is volunteer workers and materials that are donated or given at cost," said Massart. "We have $10,000 in the bank, a $7,500 lot, and we're trying to put up a $20,000 building. By using volunteer labor and donated materials as much as possible, we'll make every dollar do the work of two."
The Boys Club building, which will be available to other community groups as well as boys and girls, will be 40x60 feet in size and two stories in height. It will front 40 feet on N. 45th, and leave room in the rear for construction of a gymnasium at a later date.
The first floor will provide a clubroom for Boys Club activities, the second floor will contain a dining room and kitchen. Construction will be of concrete block with large glass windows in front.
Contractors, builders and building trades suppliers who can donate a few hours of work or any material should contact Massart. Men and boys who can lend a hand at various times should show up on the Boys Club lot Saturday morning, or call Massart for further information.
Already offers of help are coming in 60 yards of concrete, labor to install the roofing, several thousand feet of shiplap, etc. The architect, surveyor, excavation contractor, supervising contractor, are donating their efforts. Massart will furnish the plumbing himself. Saginaw Timber Products of Woodinville has donated 2,000 board feet of 2x4s, through Charles I. Stewart of the Stoneway Lumber Co.
March 28, 1952: "Boys Club Building Dedication Thursday; Judge To Speak At Dedication of Boys Club"
Boys Club boosters are looking forward to the Dedication Banquet to be held next Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m., at the Wallingford Boys Club building, 1308 N. 45th.
"This is the day we've all been looking forward to for the last eight years," commented one of the directors. "Only 150 tickets have been printed, so we suggest those who plan to attend get theirs early in the week," he added.
Tickets are priced at $2.50 and may be purchased at the clubhouse, or at Home Market, 1904 N. 45th; C.F. Massart Plumbing, 4401 Wallingford; Foodland, 1802 N. 45th; Stoneway Lumber, 3636 Stone Way; and Wallingford Market, 1906 N. 45th.
Matt Hill, State Supreme Court Judge, is the principal speaker. The Very Rev. Albert J. LeMieux, S.J., president of Seattle University, will give the invocation. The Rev. R.M. Hilton, pastor of the Wallingford EUB Church, will say the benediction. The speakers will be introduced by Clarence F. Massart, president of the Wallingford Boys Club Board of Directors.
A program has been planned that will include magic acts, singing and specialties. Mike Storniola is master of ceremonies for the show. Lucille Giffin is accompanist.
April 4, 1952: "Boys Club Open House Today, Saturday; Group Cooperation Built The Boys Club"
There was a public dinner at the Wallingford Boys Club building last night, some speeches were made, people inspected the new community-use structure, the clubhouse was dedicated.
The banquet was the first formal affair scheduled in the building. Today, Friday, April 4, and tomorrow, Saturday, April 5, the building will be open for inspection at "open house" hours.
And thus, a dream formed over six years ago by a small group of as plain, everyday fellows as you might run into, will have partly come true. Where other projects similar to this $50,000 clubhouse and community center (and practically all paid for), have had the backing of some organization, the WBC building is the result of many individual donations of time, money and materials.