USASTRATCOM

This blog was created for USASTRATCOM Long Lines Battalion Army personnel who served in Taiwan during the 1965-72 time frame. Specifically, those who lived and worked in and around Taipei are the target. If you worked at the Grass Mountain or Gold Mountain facilities or anywhere in downtown Taipei, we would like to hear from you. All are welcome to visit and contribute to this blog. Your comments and pictures are encouraged.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Grass Mountain Community Center and Teen Club, Taipei, Taiwan

Just one black and white picture of a sign has blossomed into a fulfilled quest. If Larry Barton had only known.

Army LTC Scott Ellinger has been narrowing his search for the Grass Mountain Community Center and Teen Club. In the past his hunches have proven to be pretty much on the money.

In a previous posting, he marked a site where he thought it once stood. Now, its location has been firmly established.

For all of the families who lived in BOT housing, these pictures might look familiar. 

Photo courtesy of Larry Barton

Looking north, the Community Center sign is partially visible on the left (west) side of the road.

Across the road and up a hill was the movie theater and combination snack bar and bowling alley.




Today, a small triangular area is shown. It is just slightly north of the old sign.

The other side of the triangle shows a more direct route to the Teen Club on Kaixuan Road (Sometimes referred to as a Street.). 



The yellow lines show the two entrances to Kaixuan Road, followed by the direct route to the GMCC.


Original PowerPoint slide courtesy of Scott Ellinger

Circled is the community center itself.


This closeup shows not just the two huge additions at either end of the building, but also a swimming pool near the middle.

There is a huge dropoff to the south, down a hill. Others will certainly know what the place looked like in the days of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.





This is just a straight line view down the road to the end of the building.


The road from where the picture was taken is a shortcut to the community center from the F housing area. The street from which this photo was taken is Guotai Street.


To the right of these parked cars is the main entrance. To the left appears to be a guard shack.


Looking straight on, you can imagine how impressive this entrance once was.


With the Chinese Culture University in the background, we are not quite halfway to the end of the community center.

Much of the land around here is leveled as many C and F Housing units were demolished.


With this shot, the deterioration of the building is evident. Either that, or it's in the process of repair. Things change quickly and the date of these pictures might be 2005.

Efforts are being made to persuade the Taiwanese government and the Bank of Taiwan to declare the former C, F, and H housing areas near this building and others to Monument Landmark  status to ensure their preservation.

For more on this click HERE.


Looking back, one can see how wide this building is. Wouldn't you like to see the inside? Maybe not


Near the west end, the place definitely looks shoddy.





Kaixuan Road continues, but the building ends.




6 comments:

  1. Thanks to John Crum, Scott Ellinger and Larry Barton for saving and sharing the history of the Grass Mountain Community Center and Teen Club. This is where I first learned to dance, where I met my first "steady" girlfriend, and much more. Hoping others will share a memory or two as well. Thank you all!

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  2. Rory, Glad to have contributed to your memories. If you or your friends from the Mountain have any pictures, we would certainly enjoy seeing them in the blog. Just scan, attach, and send to me by e-mail. (JPEG)

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  3. Its only fitting that I follow Rory O'Neil on commenting on this page. We shared the same house in Yangmingshan back to back. I was directed here by Rory when I asked about the moniker GMCC. I ask you did that refer to the teen club or the snack bar, movie theater, bowling ally area?

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  4. Thank you for sending in your comment. When my wife and I lived on DaHeng Road in 1968-69, we frequented the movie theater and snack bar/bowling alley which, as you recall, were located across the street.

    The man who took the first picture in the post accidentally included the GMCC sign which, according to those in the know, is the large building shown.

    Only BOT housing residents were to use the GMCC which included the teen club.

    Any American was free to use the snack bar and movie theater. I don't believe these two buildings were part of the GMCC.

    BTW, do you have any pictures of the snack bar and movie theater? No one else has submitted anything even close to "Smiley's Restaurant."

    John

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  5. Must encourage you to Join Us at the facebook group Yangmingshan US Military Housing Come Back to Grass Mountain 陽明山美軍眷舍群回到草山 John, before Richard Longacre generously contributes his great GMCC/GMTC photo to your blog! *smiling* Back to back residents of C-21 in Section C-1 of YUSMH, Richard is 'new school' and I am 'old school'. Other residents of the DaHeng Road area are now identified, and Joyce Eaton, former director of the GMTC (circa 1967-1970) joined two days ago. Of course we're in touch here on your great site - thank you again!

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  6. Rory,
    Send me an email at the TSA address. I've got some pics and stories your group might enjoy.

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