YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.)

The home of the Y.M.C.A. with the former Stout home adjacent.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.). The Dubuque chapter of Y.M.C.A. was organized at a meeting held in the lecture room of the First Congregational Church of Dubuque (later FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST on September 11, 1866. (1) This makes the Dubuque chapter one of the first west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

A constitution and bylaws were written soon after the first meeting, and officers were elected. N. C. Ryder was elected president of the board of directors. Vice-presidents were D. K. Cornwall and William C. CHAMBERLAIN.

The first Y.M.C.A. was opened in November 1866, in rooms over the E.H. Moore Drug Store at 130 Main Street. (2) The "Y" was later relocated to 679 Main Street. (3) The facilities included a boxing room and another room for social activities, Gospel meetings, and Bible study. Growth in membership did not occur until the 1890s. A fund-raising campaign was organized in 1894 to secure funds to finance the construction of new facilities.

One of the greatest donations ever received by the organization came on March 30, 1894, when Henry L. STOUT gave a check drawn on the SECOND NATIONAL BANK for $1.00 to C. H. Fiegenbaum representing the Y.M.C.A. for his home, valued at $20,000, at the corner of Ninth and Iowa STREETS. Stout had been interested in the work of the Y.M.C.A. by Fred B. SMITH who had served as the local head of the organization since 1892. Stout's home was used as the organization's headquarters.

Construction soon began on the adjacent lot. A large building, still present in 2014, housed a gymnasium and two floors of residence rooms. Completed in October 1894, the gymnasium was used longer than the residence rooms that were gradually closed due to their age and condition.

Not all activities occurred at the building. On July 23, 1904 a swimming school was established by the Y. M. C. A. at the base of Third Street on the west bank of the Mississippi. A space containing about 2,000 square feet was enclosed with wire netting to prevent the swimmers from drifting into the current. A large "float" was anchored at the northeast corner of the enclosure. Built like a houseboat, the float provided dressing room and diving boards on two sides. Life lines and rescue boats were available. Special hours were assigned for the instruction of boys of different ages and for men. (4)

In 2010 the building described in this paragraph had been converted into the Henry Stout Senior Apartments.

In 1916 the Stout home was demolished and replaced by a five-story building costing $175,000. This structure housed administrative offices, two meeting rooms, sixty-two residence rooms, lockers, clubroom, handball court, swimming pool, weightlifting room, and health center which in 1951 was advertised as providing baths.

By 1965, the YMCA had outgrown its facilities on Iowa Street and, at the recommendation of the United Way's Community Services Planning Committee, began discussions with the YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.W.C.A.) Board of Directors regarding the sharing of joint facilities. In 1968 an option was signed for the Frudden property on Dodge Street as the site for a combined Y.W.C.A.-Y.M.C.A. building. Wayne Andrew NORMAN, Sr. was named campaign chairperson. (5)

The new home of the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A.

Bids for the project were let in August of 1969. In 1970 construction began. The Y.W.CA. and Y.M.C.A. moved into their new building at 35 North Booth in 1971. An estimated six thousand people toured the facility during the open house. Additions to the building were made in 1980 and 1986. In 1987 the YMCA-YWCA Wendt Adult Center and circuit room were opened due to the generosity of Lester WENDT. (6)

In 2000, the YMCA and YWCA merged governing boards and staff under one corporate entity called the Dubuque Community Y. The YMCA and YWCA have retained their respective affiliations to their national organizations. Leadership at the Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA began discussing the possibility of expanding the land use of YMCA UNION PARK Camp with a zip-line tour in early 2010. It opened to the public in May 2011. All profits resulting from its operation are used to advance the mission of the Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA throughout the community. (7)

Photo courtesy" Bob Reding

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Source:

1. "Dubuque Community Y," Online: http://www.dubuquey.org/about-us/

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. "New Departure in Y. M. C. A. Work," Telegraph Herald, July 18, 1904, p. 8

5. "Dubuque Community Y."

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.