Encyclopedia Dubuque
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YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.M.C.A.)
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. In 1876 the Y.M.C.A. offered room for meetings of the Dubuque lyceum. On which questions as "Is the miser more injurious to society than the spendthrift?, two people spoke for the affirmative and two for the negative. Young men were encouraged to attend and to learn parliamentary procedure, "which is essentially necessary, as no man can tell when he may be asked to hold office." (4) In the same year, the organization published the "Gospel Trumpet" which was distributed at local churches. (5)
Interest in the organization appears to have declined. On June 28, 1892 a Y. M. C. A. "was organized" at a meeting held at the Congregational Church. A copy of the constitution and bylaws of the Clinton chapter was read and, with few changes, adopted. There were to be two classes of members. The "active" members had to be in good standing with the orthodox Christian churches of Dubuque. Those who did not agree with the doctrines of the orthodox Christian churches could be honorary members. These members could not hold office or vote, but could participate in discussions. There was to be no sectarian discussion, essay or speech within the rooms of the organization. The members of the board of directors contained no more than two members each from the First Congregational, Second Presbyterian or Main Street Methodist churches. The other nine members came from the other churches with no more than five from any sect. (6) Boys between the ages of ten and fifteen were admitted to membership for $2.50 annually. All facilities were open to them on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday forenoons. Classes in the gymnasium were offered from !0:00-11:00 a.m. Saturdays and 5:00-6:00 Tuesdays. (7)
In November 1892 an announcement was made that the organization would be located at the southwest corner of 9th and Locust on the first floor of the ODD FELLOWS TEMPLE. The Y. M. C. A. rooms including a gymnasium, baths, parlor and reading rooms were opened for public inspection on August 29, 1892. (8) The library of an estimated 14,000 volumes was moved into the building in December, 1893. (9)
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 RIVER. 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. (11)
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, club room, 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. (12)
Bids for the project were let in August of 1969. In 1970 construction began. The Y.W.C.A. 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. (13)
In 2000, the YMCA and YWCA merged governing boards and staff under one corporate entity called the Dubuque Community Y while retaining their respective affiliations to their national organizations. In 2016 there were only three other combined organizations in the United States. (14) 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. This opened to the public in May 2011. All profits resulting from its operation were used to advance the mission of the Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA throughout the community. (15)
Nationally both the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. focus on the development of "pillars." The Y.M.C.A. pillars include youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y.W.C.A. pillars are eliminating racism and empowering women. The merged organization in Dubuque focuses on all five pillars. In addition to outreach programs and swimming lessons, the Dubuque organization operates a victim services shelter and offers fitness classes and child care.
In the summer of 2016 the organization applied for and received a $920 grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to aid in the preservation and archiving of its documents an pictures. In the same year the Dubuque Community Y served an estimated 10,000 members annually of which about 6,000 were active members who regularly participated in programs or used the facilities. Annually the organization is served by more than 1,000 volunteers. (16)
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Source:
1. "Dubuque Community Y," Online: http://www.dubuquey.org/about-us/
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, January 11, 1876, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18760111&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
5. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, October 1, 1876, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18761001&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
6. "Took the First Steps," Dubuque Daily Herald, June 29, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920629&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
7. "Municipal Molecules," Dubuque Daily Herald, September 9, 1892, p. 4
8. "The Good Work Begun," Dubuque Daily Herald, August 30, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920830&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
9. "Perseverance Has Won," Dubuque Daily Herald, December 31, 1893, p. 8
10. "A Y. M. C. A. Building," Dubuque Daily Herald, November 11, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18921111&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
11. "New Departure in Y. M. C. A. Work," Telegraph Herald, July 18, 1904, p. 8
12. "Dubuque Community Y."
13. Ibid.
14. Gehling, Maddie. "Years in the Making," Telegraph Herald, September 18, 2016, p. 6A
15. "Dubuque Community Y."
16. Gehling
