The YMCA is a place where communities come together and enjoy the activities the recreation center offers, like swimming, basketball, art classes, etc. Before families and communities used the Y, the center was originally used for young boys and men to develop themselves into responsible people through recreational activities.
History of the First YMCA
During the Industrial Revolution in London, Sir George Williams founded the first Young Men's Christian Association, known today as the YMCA. It was the year 1844, and many young men moved from their rural communities to find jobs in the city of London. Unfortunately, those young men who moved to London found the conditions in the city to be hazardous.
Williams saw the young men living in horrible conditions. With the help of eleven friends, they created the first YMCA. It's mission was to help the young men find a refuge from the dangerous conditions of the streets of London.
"The first Young Men's Christian Association was organized in London in 1844, mainly though the instrumentality of George Williams, a Christian young man from the country, who had procured a situation in the large dry-goods house of George Hitchcock & Co., located in St. Paul's Church-yard, in which many of the young men had their sleeping-rooms, according to the custom of the time. Mr. Williams had a small room to himself in this establishment, and, finding that there was a great want of religion among the young men of this and similar establishments, he invited a few Christian young men to meet in his room for prayer. From this little meeting other meetings grew and other establishments became interested, and finally a conference was held which resulted in the organization of the London Young Men's Christian Association."
- Life of George H. Stuart (93)
Marine missionary Thomas Valentine Sullivan was inspired by the founding of the YMCA, and decided to form the first YMCA in America for young sailors and merchants at the Old South Church in Boston on December 29, 1851.
Fun Fact # 1: Anthony Bowen, a freed slave, founded the first YMCA in Washington, D.C. for African Americans.
The First YMCA in Philadelphia
Sullivan was not the only person inspired by the work of Sir George Williams. Philadelphia businessman and importer George H. Stuart (1816-1890) was in London in 1851 and met Sir George Williams himself, and was show the room where the first YMCA occurred.
"At that time we little thought of the extent of the work which was to follow the organization that had been effected in London. My interest in that work increased from year to year, however, as I heard from time to time of what was being accomplished in London by this new organization."
- Life of George H. Stuart (94)
In the summer of 1854, Stuart called a meeting at the old Jayne's Hall in Philadelphia to establish the YMCA in the city. He and others were not aware of the YMCAs established in the US and Canada: Boston, Montreal, New York, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg. With everyone's agreement, they established the YMCA in Philadelphia on June 15, 1854 with Stuart as its first president.
Fun Fact # 2: John Wanamaker was the organization's first paid secretary. He got the job so he can pay his salary.
The YMCA Movement in Ambler
In 1909, a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Robert Davis on 916 Euclid Avenue (moved to 111 Hendricks Street) in Ambler to establish a YMCA in Ambler. Prior to this, Mrs. Robert Davis had a conference with Dr. Richard V. Mattison about this matter, and he supported the movement to establish the YMCA. A Ladies' Auxiliary Society was established by Mrs. Robert Davis to aid the YMCA movement.
YMCA secretary J.B. Carruthers was part of a public town meeting in Ambler where people discussed about the organization of the YMCA for the town. He was pleased to hear how many people supported the movement. There were a list of equipment the people wished to have for their proposed YMCA:
Gymnasium
Bowling alley
Game room (pool and billiards)
Swimming pool
Room for educational purposes
15 or 20 dormitories that can be rented
It was said the proposed YMCA building would be three stories high with a basement that would cost about $20-25,000.
While many in the community supported the movement, there were doubts about funding and how many people would join the YMCA in Ambler.
On February 14, 1909, a large rally was held at the Ambler Opera House to support the YMCA movement.
The Story of Watson K. Phillips
Watson K. Phillips (1881-1931) was a resident in Ambler, and served as the YMCA secretary in Italy during World War I. Born in New Hope, PA, Watson studied at both Spring Garden Institute and Drexel Institute (now Drexel University) where he earned his certificate in Pen and Ink Rendering (1901) and Building Construction (1903). He worked as a chief draftsman for Philadelphia architect Clarence Eaton Schermerhorn, and later being promoted to associate under Schermerhorn's direction. He continued working at Schermerhorn's firm after his death. He was responsible for the designs and structures of buildings in Ambler, Upper Dublin, Plymouth, and Montgomery Townships. One of the most famous buildings he designed in Ambler was the Wissahickon Fire Company.
In World War I, he served on the Italian front (Fourth Italian Army) as a secretary of the YMCA in Italy. He was one of the six secretaries who sailed from America to Italy to support the YMCA in the country. He later became the YMCA director of the entire Alpine division of over 25,000 troops.
After the war, Watson was made Knight of the Italian Crown and was awarded the Italian War Cross.
Fun Fact # 3: While in Italy, Watson met President Woodrow Wilson while visiting Rome. He presented the President a painted copy of the speech delivered by an Italian colonel on the opening of the YMCA station.
"I am like an old friend, I had hardly gotten acquainted when a seven passenger motor car with a chauffeur and an orderly was assigned to me. I ate at the officer's mess and this is a sample of what we got to eat: Home made macaroni, stewed capon, salad fruit, nuts, figs and wine. 'After the dinner the mess sang Alpine songs. As they sang I pulled out a small silk Italian flag and waved it. The action brought them all to their feet shouting 'Vivas' for the United States. An American [was] a novelty to them for I was the first to be at their mess."
- Ambler Gazette, April 24, 1919
The Ambler YMCA Finally Happened... 58 Years Later
It was unknown what happened to the YMCA movement after that day, but it was likely the movement was a bust and the project did not happen. But it wasn't until 58 years later the YMCA finally happened in the Ambler area.
In 1967, the YMCA was opened to the public in Ambler on 400 N. Bethlehem Pike with a 35,000 square feet facility on a 3.5 acre site.
Fun Fact # 4: The very first YMCA was in Lower Gwynedd at the old Penllyn School on Gwynedd Avenue. It operated from 1958 to 1961. William Smith, an African American resident of Penllyn, was listed as the founder of the "Y."
43 years later, on October 16, 2010, the YMCA began its expansion, and relocated to a much larger site (on 1325 McKean Road) of over 80,000 square feet on a 28 acre site.
Bibliography
Celona, Thomas. "Ambler Area YMCA to celebrate grand opening of new facility." The Reporter. Last modified September 24, 2021. https://www.thereporteronline.com/2010/10/11/ambler-area-ymca-to-celebrate-grand-opening-of-new-facility/.
"Fighting in Italy." Ambler Gazette. December 26, 1918. Page 3. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_7060.
"Grand Rally For Y. M. C. A." Ambler Gazette. February 18, 1909. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_4170.
"Interesting News From the Front." Ambler Gazette. September 5, 1918. Page 4. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_10299.
Jones, E. Gloria Stewart. Penllyn Village: Lest We Forget: A History and Personal Memories of a Black Settlement in Lower Gwynedd Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. (USA: Xlibris, 2008): 68-69.
"Our History." YMCA of the USA. Accessed April 18, 2024. https://www.ymca.org/who-we-are/our-history.
"Phillips, Watson Kenderdine (b. 1881)." Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ar_display.cfm/86111.
Stuart, George H. The Life of George H. Stuart, Written by Himself. (Philadelphia: J.M. Stoddart & Co., 1890): 92-99.
Summary of World War Work of the American Y.M.C.A. (New York: The International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations, 1920): 63-66.
"Town Topics." Ambler Gazette. April 24, 1919. Page 6. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_8107.
"Watson K. Phillips Buried At Horsham." Ambler Gazette. September 17, 1931. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_18944.
Weeks, Linton. "How The YMCA Helped Shape America." NPR. Last modified June 2, 2015. https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/06/02/410532977/how-the-ymca-helped-shape-america.
"Y. M. C. A. Activities." Ambler Gazette. February 11, 1909. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_4942.
"Y. M. C. A. Advancing." Ambler Gazette. February 4, 1909. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_4833.
"Y. M. C. A. Discussed." Ambler Gazette. January 28, 1909. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_4987.
"Y. M. C. A. For Ambler." Ambler Gazette. January 21, 1909. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_5365.
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