At the beginning of the twentieth century, Frank H. Buhl had a vision. This great industrialist realized the need for a quality recreational facility for the people of Sharon, PA and its surrounding communities. On September 19, 1903, Frank Buhl and his wife, Julia Forker Buhl, delivered the deed of the F.H. Buhl Club to its directors and officers. Mr. Buhl told of his experiences as a young man in Sharon 34 years prior, when he first arrived in town. He realized there was no place to go spend an evening and very few

places that could keep a young man from "falling into devious ways". Major McDowell, the President of the Board of Trustees, accepted the gift, which represented an investment of over $250,000, by Mr. and Mrs. Buhl. The public open house later in the afternoon attracted over 15,000 local residents. When the doors opened in 1903, the F.H. Buhl Club became known as an important part of the social, recreational, and cultural life of the town. The club continued to flourish, and in 1906, it was known as "the finest equipped club of its kind in the world". By 1911, the F.H. Buhl Club featured music rooms, educational classrooms, game rooms, a gymnasium, a library and a bowling alley.at a membership cost of $5.00 per year. Since then the F.H. Buhl Club has served as a USO, has hosted several championship basketball teams, and, most importantly, has helped mold thousands of lives. A needy young person has never been denied membership to the F.H. Buhl Club. The dream of Frank Buhl -that people would have a place to go and enjoy its amenities- is alive and well. The front door is close to the street because Mr. Buhl wanted people to "rush right in." For over 100 years, thousands upon thousands of people have done just that. Today the F.H. Buhl Club has nearly 4,000 members. The mission of the F.H. Buhl Club is "To provide quality recreational, social, wellness and educational programs for people of all ages in our communities." Every week, over 60 organized classes and activities are offered, ranging from aerobics, volleyball, and indoor soccer, to lessons in dance and reading instruction. The mission of the F.H. Buhl Club is to continue the dream of Frank Buhl in perpetuity. That mission continues to be fulfilled a century later.