[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E52]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MORRIS CENTER YMCA OF MORRIS 
                           COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2004

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 130th 
Anniversary of the Morris Center YMCA, of Morris County, New Jersey.
  Since January 2, 1874, the Morris Center YMCA has provided programs 
essential to the people of Morris County. The 172 Founding male members 
first gathered in four rented rooms located in the Old Post Office in 
Morristown. In 1889, the Board of Directors dedicated a new building 
that included a gymnasium, classrooms, bowling alleys and a game room. 
A third building was dedicated in 1913 in Morristown that included a 
wing exclusively for women. But by 1968, however, it became clear that 
a new building was needed and plans were made to begin construction.
  On March 1, 1981, the grand opening of the newly completed fourth 
home of the Morris Center YMCA took place in Cedar Knolls. The Center 
featured a 25 meter swimming pool, gymnasium, track, racquetball 
courts, weight rooms and a fitness center. Over the years, renovations 
have been made to the building, bringing more programs to people of all 
ages in Morris County. In 2002, renovations were completed to update 
and expand the Y to include a larger fitness room, youth classrooms, 
and much more.
  Caring for children has always been an important specialty of the 
Morris Center YMCA. In 1985, the YMCA added an in-house After-School 
Care program. Later in 1988, the Center opened the Y's Owl's Child Care 
Center which provided care to approximately 130 children each day. 
September 2003 celebrated the new home of the Y's Owls, now the Richard 
F. Blake Children's Center, which is located in a newly renovated 
building next to the YMCA creating a 13 acre campus. The Children's 
Center now accommodates over 215 preschoolers.
  The Owl program received national accreditation by the National 
Association for the Education of Young Children. Building on the 
reputation of the Y's Owl Child Care Center, the Morris Center YMCA was 
selected to create and manage the childcare center of the Morristown 
Memorial Hospital and opened the Children's Corner in the Fall of 1996.
  The Morris Center YMCA currently has over 400 volunteer members 
comprising the Board of Directors, all of its committees and program 
leaders. These volunteers are the heart of the Morris Center YMCA, 
working in all aspects of the organization. In short, the Center is 
people caring for people, not just buildings and equipment.
  Mr. Speaker, for the past 130 years, the Morris Center YMCA has 
provided the citizens of Morris County with programs that benefit all 
those who participate. I ask that you and my colleagues join me in 
congratulating all past and present members of the Morris Center YMCA 
on this special anniversary year.

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