The Blackstone Valley in the 1880's was similar to London at that time. The city was crowded with young men - more than half of them immigrants who worked in factories and mills. Though the Protestant and Catholic churches were strongholds in the cities of Central Falls and Pawtucket, no united Christian work existed for young men; the main sources of entertainment were the many taverns and pool halls in the cities.
Concerned with this lack of Christian unity, community leaders representing every Protestant church in Pawtucket and Central Falls, met in 1889 to organize the Pawtucket/Central Falls Young Men's Christian Association. Within a year $5,300 worth of pledges had been secured. The second and third floors of the Kinyon Building, located on the corner of North Union and Broad Streets, were rented for $80 a month.
The program focus was on offering wholesome, Christian entertainment: talks for young men, concerts, theater outings and Sunday afternoon meetings. Several physical programs were also offered including the popular "new" game of basketball originated by the YMCA at Springfield College. Membership soared, reaching a total of 500 just two years after its establishment. With this rapid increase in membership came the need for a larger facility. The Y secured more spacious quarters on the second floor of the Taylor building, located on Broad Street. This facility seems so desirable that a 10 year lease was signed. However, with membership growing a steady pace, the YMCA soon outgrew the new building.
In 1894, George Peabody, soon to be general secretary, orchestrated a campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new building to be used entirely by the YMCA. With the help of 100 area businessmen, the goal was to reach $50,000 in one week's time. Community response was so overwhelming that not only was that amount raised, but after the clock struck 12, contributions kept coming in until they totaled over $51,000.
The money raised, the Pawtucket Central Falls YMCA celebrated its eight year by moving into its own building at the corner of Maple and Summer streets. In 1907, the building was opened to the public. Modeled and constructed to become the best possible substitute for a young man's home, the new facility housed dormitories, a reading room, parlor, game room, swimming pool, gymnasium and a bowling alley.
Under the guidance of the Executive Committee headed by Peabody, the Association had expanded not only its facilities, but also its programs: gymnastics, bowling and swimming were among the physical activities offered: bible classes helped meet the religious goals of the association; educational classes in penmanship, mechanical drawing, automobile school, mathematics and English for foreigners were offered to men seeking better employment; entertainment included famous national speakers, local and visiting orchestras and "moving picture" performances; and the establishment of Camp Idelwood on Prudence Island reintroduced boys to nature. Membership fees ranged from $4 to $15.
The Pawtucket/Central Falls Young Men's Christian Association continued to grow throughout the years. In the late 1920's, the Quidnick Reservoir and surrounding land was purchased in Coventry for the building of Camp Westwood. After World War II, membership was extended to include families, and the Korean War brought an increase in the number of women members.
With the changes in membership, there rose a need for new services. In 1955, a dairy farm in Lincoln was purchased with money donated by Norman MacColl. This new YMCA location was to provide much needed summer programming. A new pool, dedicated to the Joseph Olney Family, was built in the downtown branch in 1966. And in 1974, two squash courts were built.
As more women entered the work force full time and the number of single parent families increased, the family unit was becoming the primary focus of the YMCA. In the 1970s, the downtown branch of the YMCA of Pawtucket became The Pawtucket Family YMCA, and childcare became an important part of our programming.
Groundbreaking once again took place on October 4, 2004 at the Pawtucket Family YMCA. Construction was focused on the interior while keeping the historic integrity of the outside of the building. This began a two year renovation project that transformed the facility into a state-of-the-art YMCA that met the needs of the modern day participant. This project completed the summer of 2006 when the doors reopened. The renovation project was recognized in 2007 by the "YMCA of the USA's Facility Excellance Award" and the Pawtucket Family YMCA had become the largest YMCA in Rhode Island.
Today, the four branches of the YMCA of Pawtucket, Inc. reach nearly 22,000 men, women and children through the Y's many programs; 3,500 youths attend summer camp; 7,000 people of all ages learn to swim; more than 300 are enrolled in its child care programs and with four new child sites planned in the future, making the YMCA the largest provider of childcare in the Blackstone Valley. In addition, an estimated 8,000 individuals who work out on their own benefit from leagues and/or special programs.
The Blackstone Valley has changed in many ways in the past 118 years, and the YMCA of Pawtucket has worked hard and continues to adapt to changes and meet the ever-growing needs of the community.