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YMCA Dates Back To Mid-1800sThe idea of a YMCA began more than a century ago in Sandusky, but the organization didn’t becpme a permanent part of the local scene until the early 1950s.According to a brief history delivered by Charles Frohman at thadedication of Phase I project in May, 1972, the YMCA was Started in Sandusky in 1859 but did not last long.In 1867, the Congregational Church. flag, and in those days they said it was for literary, moral and religious habits,’ ’Frohman said..A reading room and library were started. ' *“Another young man’s association transferred 557 books to the library and theyaccumulated another 300 during the course of the year,” Frohman related.“They said, ‘We hope to see the reading room more popular than the billiardsolon and the library more frequented than the ballroom’. ”The group gave lectures, had 220 members and had rooms in the Moss Bank Building, which was on the east side of Columbus Avenue, Frohman said.“There in 1871 they had a revival and this time it took fairly well for quite a long while. They had rooms on the second floor of the Hubbard Block. The Hubbard Block is at the north corner of Water and Columbus Avenue opposite the side entrance of the State Theater, and 164 members joined it before they had an actual canvass, ’ ’ he noted.“By 1889,... they took a piece of property which is now covered by an addition to the Presbyterian Church, known as the Gordon property.“They had a gymnasium and they had showers. Water had not been available in Sandusky for more than about 10 years so that everybody who wanted to be clean without going down to the bay for a bath had an opportunity to use the showers in the YMCA,” Frohman said.“They were very active in those days; they had classes in bookkeeping, in shorthand, in German and mechanical drawing.”Again the YMCA failed, but in 1919 — after the war — the YMCA had a revival.“Dr. Bliss led the movement, however it did not succeed, and it wasn’t until 1951,” Frohman said, “that another group got together. Any of you who knowWE ST MON ROE ST. HOME.. .former YMCAthe game of poker know that it takes a pair of jacks or better to open.“They were Jack Frost and Jack Springer and they opened the present YMCA. First it was the Cable home on West Monroe Street... ”Although initial plans were to take the YMCA facility out to Sycamore Line, a # old garage building on East Washington Row was purchased and served as the YMCA’s home until the current facilitywas constructed.The West Monroe Street structure has again become a home, and the downtown building is the newly remodeled home of the Western Security Bank.“started a renewal under the YMCA
Newspaper Details
Sandusky Register
Sandusky, Ohio, US
Fri, Oct 24, 1975
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Elyria P.
OH, USA 14 Mar 2018
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