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Jehovah’s Witnesses—1991 Yearbook Report1991 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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Growth at World Headquarters
“Your people will offer themselves willingly . . . You have your company of young men just like dewdrops.” So sang King David about the volunteer spirit of Jehovah’s people. (Ps. 110:3) Today, throughout Jehovah’s visible organization, there are numerous young men and women who, just like dewdrops, give refreshing service to God and to fellow worshipers. More than four thousand of them serve as Bethelites at the Watch Tower Society’s world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and at nearby farms. Because of the rapid increase in the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide, growth is taking place also at the world headquarters.
More volunteer workers are needed in Brooklyn, and so is more space to house these. Thus, the Governing Body determined that a nine-story factory building at 160 Jay Street, purchased in 1986 and not yet remodeled, be demolished to make room for the construction of a 30-story Bethel residence building that will be known by a new address, 90 Sands Street. This building will accommodate an additional thousand persons. Final governmental approval for the project was given on August 30, 1990. The overall project will take about three years to complete.
This past year the Society was able to complete the purchase of a property known as 85 Jay Street, which contains several buildings of various sizes. It is two blocks from the factory complex and has a ground area of 97,800 square feet [9,100 sq m], larger than that of the present five factory buildings. The property will be held for any future needs.
In the spring of 1989, the Society bought a newly constructed building, with unfinished interior, located at 67 Livingston Street, about a 15-minute walk from the Watch Tower central offices. It is a narrow building (nicknamed the Sliver) 29 stories in height that will accommodate about 150 Bethelites. Occupancy took place in late 1990.
Early in 1989 it was announced that work was under way on the largest single construction project ever undertaken by the Society’s engineering and construction staff—the Watchtower Educational Center. The center is located on 658 acres [266 ha] in a scenic valley at Patterson, New York, 70 miles [110 km] north of Brooklyn and 45 miles [72 km] east of Watchtower Farms. A school and office complex is planned, with residence buildings and support services for up to 1,200 students and Bethel workers. Final Site Plan approval came on August 30, 1990, the same date the 90 Sands Street building was approved in Brooklyn.
A report by Patterson Farm on obtaining building permits for this vast project states: “Jehovah’s direction has been evident in these dealings. An example of this is a recent announcement from the State that no additional wastewater treatment plants would be approved in the watershed area. The last plant approved was ours.”
As of September 1, 1990, a visitors’ center was opened and will function seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It has an observation deck that gives a fine vantage point for viewing nearly all the construction activity at the educational center.
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Jehovah’s Witnesses—1991 Yearbook Report1991 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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[Pictures on page 11]
The building at 67 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, is narrow and 29 stories in height. Most floors have three Bethel rooms, allowing the building to accommodate a total of 150 Bethelites
The 90 Sands Street building will be 30 stories and have 506 rooms for residents, plus offices, a kitchen, and dining facilities that will seat 1,050 persons. The building will provide accommodations for 1,000 members of the Bethel family
[Pictures on page 12]
The Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, N.Y., will be home to 1,200 persons
Guests will stay at the 144-unit Patterson Inn
Main courtyard of Educational Center
[Pictures on page 13]
On September 1, 1990, the visitors’ center with its observation deck was opened.
Work on the six-module hotel, the Patterson Inn, will be completed in early 1991
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