www.nkyviews.com

Railroad men who are forced to stay at Silver Grove over night have no terror of it, as they are assured of a soft bed, with clean bedding, absolute privacy, and good meals at the Railroad Y.M.C.A. that has opened up at that place.

“All the comforts of home” is the way one man put it in a discussion of the Y.M.C.A. and its conveniences.

It seems strange, but the C. & O. Railroad believes in adding to the comfort of its employees, and for this reason maintains Y. M. C. A. buildings in nearly every railroad center on the system. It was thought that the Railroad Y.M.C.A. at Covington [see it here] would be enough and that there would not be one at Silver Grove, but the growth of the town has been such that the C. & O. has installed a Railroad Y.M.C.A. for its employees.

The R. R. Y. M. C. A. occupies a large portion of the building erected by a company that provides groceries all over the C. & O. system under a contract price.

The C. & O. R. R. pays the rent for this building in order to provide their men with a place to stay when they are kept at the yards. There are five shower baths for the men and several tubs and everything is kept spotlessly clean.

Have Restaurant

A first-class restaurant is maintained in connection with the Y.M.C.A. and there is an average of about 60 meals a day served to the men at the present time. The men are given a choice of several kinds of meat and are provided with enough wholesome food to do any able-bodied man.

There are several pool tables in the big main room of the Y.M.C.A. for the entertainment of the men and there is also a reading room and writing room.

Facing the street is a big porch 20 feet wide and on this are any number of comfortable willow rocking chairs where men may spend their leisure hours in perfect comfort.

Cigars and candy are on sale at the desk and men patronize this place extensively.

The C. & O. makes an appropriation each year of $20,000 for the maintenance of the Y.M.C.A. buildings on its system. This goes for the salaries of the superintendents.

Must Support Self

“The superintendent has to see that the Y.M.C.A. is self supporting in every way,“ said Supt. L. C. Glassmeyer, who is in charge of the Y.M.C.A. at Silver Grove. ”We have to make enough out of our membership dues and the proceeds of the restaurant and pool table to provide all the help and small repairs that are needed.”

“Beds are to be had for 15 cents by members who hold cards,” said Glassmeyer, “and railroad men who do not hold cards are charged 30 cents. We also take care of outsiders and they are charged 50 cents for a night's lodging. The Y.M.C.A. is a railroad man's place, but we don't turn any one down.”

from The Kentucky Post, October 9, 1914