BURLINGTON AREA YMCA HISTORY

1876 - While visiting Burlington GFW Sherwin went from one person to the other talking of the YMCA and its work.

1877 - The YMCA was formally organized at a meeting in Coral Hall, 417 1/2 Jefferson St.

1895 - Horace S. Rand donated the John H. Gear home on the 400 block of N. 4th Street.

1912 - A gym, swimming pool, and auditorium were built.  

1929 - The gym was enlarged and two handball courts were added.   E. P. Eastman presented the northeast corner lot of N. 4th and Washington, just south of the Ybuilding for further expansion of the Y facility.

1938 - Heating boilers were replaced, a new roof was put on, dormitories were redecorated, and the building was repainted.

1968 -  Eastman Trust, Hertzler, John Witte Jr., and other gifts and bequests provided funds to purchase a 115 acre camp and lake site; build a lodge; and purchase a 35 acre plot of land at Mt. Pleasant and Dehn Streets to build a new facility.

1974 - A capital campaign began with the idea of building a new family YMCA/YWCA facility.  Sparked by a generous gift from Mel Raid, the capital campaign raised 1.8 million dollars.

1981 - The new facility opened its doors in January, and on April 26th, the new building was dedicated.

1983 - Mrs. Starker gave a one million dollar gift to the Y for construction of a swimming pool in memory of her husband, Earnest A. Starker.  A $300,000 Building Addition Fund Drive was kicked off.  The exercise room, weight room, and men's locker room addition were also added.

1984 - The new building addition opened in May.  The Earnest A. Starker Memorial Pool opened June 4.

1997 - The 1995 Capital Campaign building expansion of Mt. Pleasant Street was completed.  The expansion included a new gym, wellness center, interior remodel and updates.  A special dedication ceremony and open house was held on February 23, 1997 to showcase the expansion.

2005 - The YMCA and YWCA joined together to form the Burlington Area Community YMCA-YWCA effective January 1st.  The new structure provided for a joint management agreement that allowed the YMCA and YWCA to become the Burlington Area Community YMCA-YWCA, while maintaining ties with each national association.

2014 - The Burlington Area Community YMCA-YWCA is no longer maintaining our affiliation with the YWCA of the USA. Effective January 1, 2014, we are the Burlington Area YMCA.