Over the course of 149 years, the YMCA constantly evolved to fit the needs of Kokomo. Now, one more time, the old Y building at the corner of Union and Walnut streets will play a role that, in a way, represents a return to its roots.

Just last month it was announced the historic YMCA, now empty after the completion of a new facility across the street, would be remodeled to serve a new purpose in the City of Firsts. A $6.5 million private investment would see the structure transformed into an apartment complex to fit the need for housing in downtown Kokomo. While the building will no longer be a YMCA, looking back at the Ys history in Kokomo its easy to see that for nearly 150 years the YMCA has evolved and morphed to serve the community.

But, the Ys beginnings in serving the community came before the organization even had a dedicated building in Kokomo. Thats because prior to being a focal point for fitness, as they are now in the United States, YMCAs primarily acted as evangelical organizations. In 1868, when the Young Mens Christian Association first came to Kokomo, it did just this.

According to Dave Dubois, who recently retired as the Kokomo Ys CEO, the YMCA is rooted overseas in London, where an individual by the name of George Williams saw a need for a Bible study targeting young men who moved to cities to work during the Industrial Revolution. This model became a reality in 1844.

What he witnessed was these guys getting paid a decent wage for the day, said Dubois. They lived at work basically. Sometimes they shared beds because there was one bed for two or three guys rotating work shifts. When they were off, these young men with money and time and freedom were making some poor choices. It was the proverbial wine, women, and song. He was a young devout Christian man, and he said he wanted to start a Bible study. In the first meeting there were 12 young guys he worked with.

From there, the organization spread overseas, and in 1868, a local judge by the name of Samuel Davis donated the use of rooms on the second floor of a building in downtown Kokomo just north of Mulberry Street and on the east side of Main. These rooms became the modest beginnings of the Y locally, and $600 was raised to furnish the first YMCA, according to a historic newspaper clipping provided by the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library.

What the YMCA was in those days was a strictly Evangelical Christian organization. From some of our original historical documents, this was true in the 1870s. It was meant to expand the kingdom of God, said Dubois. It was an organization for exactly what it said, young men who were Christians. What they did in the 1870s and 1880s in Howard County was essentially organize and execute revivals. So, they brought traveling evangelists to town and set up in all the hamlets and townships in Howard County. They brought evangelists to town and did tent revival meetings.

Then the local organization entered a dormant period in the late 1880s. Dubois said little record exists of the YMCAs evangelical activities during this period. However, in 1909 the organization was revived.

Similar to how local campaigns helped raised funding for the new Y downtown, Howard County citizens and businesses contributed to the original YMCA building on the corner of Union and Walnut streets.

The community raised $140,000 for the first structure, which had its first cornerstone laid on June 8, 1910, by then-Gov. Thomas R. Marshall. The YMCA building was completed in 1911, and it served a purpose that was also much different than its newer counterpart serves today.

The original four-story structure called for 57 rooms that could be rented out to young men. It contained the original gymnasium, a pool, dining facilities, and even a bowling alley was included in the basement as part of the original plans. According to Dubois, its not clear how long the bowling alley remained, but it eventually became a rifle, pistol, and archery range. Also, a smoking room, lounge areas, and even a library were included for residents.

Similar to how the YMCA got its start overseas, the idea of providing lodging was to have a facility for young men to stay at that offered a Christian focus within the community. Also, the YMCA at the time fostered a very different environment than it does now.

According to Dubois, women were excluded from becoming members at that time. Also, children only were allowed into the facility once a week, on Saturdays at 9 a.m. for one hour, to play basketball in the gym.

Of course, over the years the community center continued to evolve and underwent multiple additions and remodels.

In 1957, the Kokomo Ys first expansion took place. Again, the community raised funding to construct a second gymnasium, which was built on what was a courtyard at the time. This is also when what would become the racquetball court would be added, but at the time the space served as a handball court since racquetball wasnt invented until the 1960s.

The last major addition to the original YMCA occurred in 1965. With this, the natatorium was added to replace the original pool that was in the basement of the facility.

The final big change for the facility that didnt include an addition occurred in 1983.

The locker rooms were expanded in the basement. Also, the third floors housing was removed and replaced with what served as the facilitys fitness center until it closed. Upstairs, the Ys remaining 24 rooms became storage space.

The Ys rooms were going out of vogue, so to speak, said Dubois. It was not the main focus of what the Y was doing anymore. The Y was shifting as well, and it was becoming much more of what we know today If it was still there, the remnants of the old cafeteria were removed, and they made the addition of a towel service. Those are the main things that happened in 1983. They were modernizing a 70-year-old building to meet the needs of the community.

Of course, with each expansion, Dubois noted that every change came about as a result of changing times. This, he indicated, always played a role in decisions made in changing the facility. But regardless of the era, the former CEO said the YMCA has touched many lives in the Howard County, and even after its no longer a Y, the old building will continue to play a role in the growth of the community.

I think Ill always believe this, that the Y plays a critical role in the life of a community in many, many ways, said Dubois. I think Kokomo has been deeply enriched because weve had a strong Y for a very long time. Im excited about (the remodel). I think its extremely cool. Its sort of a circle thats closed when you think people will be living there again. Its like its served this full cycle of life, and its coming back to its origins.

Excerpt from:
YMCA comes full circle - Kokomo Perspective

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