A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FINDLAY YMCA
1888: Findlay YMCA Incorporated
• Located on East Main Cross Street.
• 1897 moved to the Cass Building on South Main Street.
• Moved to East Sandusky St.
1935: The Findlay YMCA bought Camp Sandusky
1960: Fire destroyed the YMCA building at East Sandusky Street.
1964: A new facility built on the corner of East Lincoln St. and East St.
1970: A gymnasium, two more handball/racquetball courts and pool were added .
1970’s: Land purchased for camp programming, later named after Ray Mosshart, General Secretary of the YMCA from 1933-1979.
1981: The Findlay Racquet Center purchased by the YMCA
1994: In October the YMCA enlists the help of the community to develop its first five-year Strategic Plan, resulting in six major goals being identified in the areas of
a. Facility Development d. Membership Development
b. Program Development e. Marketing
c. Financial Development f. Personnel Development
A committee structure identified 59 action steps, which they believed would have to be accomplished in order to achieve the six goals identified in the plan before the year 2000.
1995: Expands in house child care from 40 children to 75 children in response to the most recent U.W. Needs Assessment
1996: The YMCA expands childcare services again and renovates the facility to accommodate up to 193 children in house. Planning for a capital campaign begins with a Community Program Needs Assessment.
1998: YMCA purchases and renovates the Marathon Oil Pipeline facility and the YMCA Child Development Center opens and serves over 300 children daily
1999: Capital Campaign and Renovations to the Downtown facility begin
2000: By September a successful capital campaign raised $6,500,000 and $7,200,000 was invested in the renovation and expansion of the downtown facilities.
2001: The new facility opens in June
2002: An East Branch development Committee was formed to start gathering data from the community regarding the planned development of the East Branch facility.
2003: After conducting a community Program Needs Assessment the East Branch Development Committee provided results to the YMCA Administrative Board and a plan for renovations was begun. The YMCA hired Charles Associates, Inc. to perform as Construction Manager to the project. Work began on Phase I and Phase II of the intended renovations to the East Branch and a quiet campaign to raise $500,000 toward the completion of Phase III was begun.
2004: The YMCA and Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center entered into an agreement that would provide the YMCA an easement to access 40’ of BVHA land north of the East Branch facility to build an access road to the newly designed facility. $500,000 was raised toward Phase III construction and work began. The East Branch closed completely from June 27, 2004 until October, when the tennis courts were re-opened.
2005: The entire East Branch facility became available. The new facilities included five indoor tennis courts, a TechnoGym fitness Center, free weight room, all-purpose room used for Judo and Cycling Programs, aerobic room, locker rooms and parking for 85 cars.
2007: The Mary Brenner Child Development Center went through a renovation to replace outdated heating and air conditioning systems.
Flooding of the Blanchard River causes the worst flood damage in 100 years. YMCA staff join the city’s rescue teams using the YMCA as a point of shelter for responders and YMCA buses as transportation for flood victims being moved to the CUBE. The YMCA flooded with 6.5 feet of water, destroying all mechanical systems, meeting rooms and offices on the lower level and forcing the YMCA to close for two weeks before operations were to continue.
2008: The recession took hold of Findlay and any plans of rebuilding after the flood were postponed. In the face of the poor economy the YMCA instead elected to reduce membership fees in an effort to provide residents better access to continues services. Offices were rebuilt on the first floor where a chapel and youth department once stood.
2009: The YMCA continues to subsidize membership in a poor economy and a strategic planning process begins to address the next three years of recovery from the floods and the impact of the recession.