The West Side branch of the YMCA of Greater New York began in November 1896 on 57th Street. In 1930, the branch moved to a new location between 3-11 West 63rd Street and 6-12 West 64th Street, near Central Park West, with a capacity for 10,000 members. Soon after, an addition was constructed to house the Trade and Technical School of the Educational Department, later to be a college preparatory school known as the McBurney School. Designed by Dwight James Baum, the structure was the world's largest YMCA building. The McBurney School moved and eventually closed, and the YMCA of Greater New York then sold the building and the air rights to a developer who opened a 41-story condominium tower cantilevered over the West Side Y. This branch of the YMCA of Greater New York has a long history of athletic prowess, and its gymnastics, handball and basketball teams have been well-regarded during this branch's 100-plus year history. Like other YMCAs in New York City with residential programs, the West Side YMCA provided a temporary home to a number of future celebrities, including Kirk Douglas, Bob Hope, Jack Kerouac, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dan Rather, Norman Rockwell, Andy Rooney, Malcolm X, Tennessee Williams, and others.
From the description of West Side YMCA records, 1896-1980s. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 244764294
