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   YMCA Building

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Historic Name

YMCA Building

Address

31 W 10th Street

Municipality

City of Erie

Tax Parcel

16030004021600

Historic District

 

Classification

Class 3 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

68912

Historic Function

Social - meeting hall

Style

Colonial Revival

Built

1912

Architect

 

Builder

 

Barn Type on property

 

Last Entry Update

8/2/2016


HISTORY

The first YMCA, or Young Men’s Christian Association, was established in 1844 in London, England by George Williams. Within a decade, almost 400 YMCAs were formed in 7 nations. The nonprofit’s purpose was to financially, physically, and spiritually assist individuals and families in various communities. The Erie YMCA was established in 1860, operating from the basements of various Protestant churches for a full year until settling within the Beatty block on North Park Row. The organization founded Erie’s first public library in 1866, providing a large collection of books, lecture series, and a reading room for the Erie community. In 1878, the Erie YMCA purchased a building at 10th and Peach streets, which featured a lecture room and gymnasium. In the 1880s, the Erie YMCA began providing physical education classes, adult education night courses, and English language lessons to newly arriving immigrants. As the Erie YMCA continued to offer more services to the community, the organization needed to build a larger building. In 1912, a multi-level Colonial Revival style structure was erected on the same site at 10th and Peach streets.

In 2016, the YMCA has five branches in Erie County, and this location is referred to as the Downtown Y. YMCA summer camps and child care facilities are found throughout the county as well. The organization has continued to thrive in Erie County for more than 150 years, serving all residents regardless of age, gender, race, religious affiliation, and economic status.

Sources:


DESCRIPTION


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UPDATE

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CURRENT ASSESSMENT PHOTO


Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office


PHOTO FROM 2014 SURVEY

HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

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