Monday, November 23, 2015
The Youngstown YMCA was established in 1872 by Dr. R.D. Gibson. It grew and was moved into the second floor of its new building on East Federal Street before relocating again to 17 N. Champion Street in 1915.
Central Branch facts
Former President William Howard Taft dedicated the building in November 1915.
It housed WKBN Radio from 1926 to July 6, 1951.
The expansion of the Y’s education department gave birth to the Youngstown Law School, known today as Youngstown State University.
It became an independent, locally controlled Ohio corporation in 1884, just 32 years after the first YMCA in the United States was founded.
At one time, Central boasted a three-chair barbershop, a full-service tailor shop, and a printing shop where all the Y newsletters were made.
Dorm rooms were located on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors.
The Central Y had a four-lane bowling alley and a billiards room whose main purpose at the time was to keep young men and boys from entering those establishments outside of the YMCA where they may have been subjected to cigarettes, alcohol and questionable language.
Source: Youngstown YMCA/Al Leonhart, YMCA historian