Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland

The Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland, Ohio, was an outgrowth of the international YMCA movement begun in England in 1844. The Cleveland YMCA was established on February 28, 1854, three years after the first American branch was founded.

The Cleveland YMCA initially operated out of a suite of rented rooms at what is now Superior and West 3rd Streets. Efforts of all the early branches were directed toward the moral and mental rehabilitation of young men. To this end, the Cleveland branch offered prayer meetings, a mission Sunday school, a lending library, and lectures, some of which were delivered by such men as Henry Ward Beecher and Cassius M. Clay.

The Cleveland YMCA disbanded in January 1863 when the American Civil War drew off most of the active membership. Following the Civil War, the Cleveland YMCA was re-established in 1867. Charles E. Bolton led the move for re-establishment and was assisted in his efforts by such prominent Clevelanders as Sereno P. Fenn, Henry A. Sherwin, and Charles J. Dockstader.

The Association grew quickly during the following two decades. By 1872, the Cleveland YMCA had established the first "Railroad" YMCA in the country. this operation was directed toward transient railroad workers and eventually became the Collinwood Branch of the YMCA. Religious and missionary work was intensified during the 1870s. In 1875 the Association began to take an interest in the welfare of the younger members of the community and opened a home for newsboys and bootblacks.

The year 1879 marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Cleveland YMCA as Joseph B. Meriam assumed the presidency of the organization. Meriam redirected the Association's efforts toward the development of individual character in large numbers of young men instead of placing emphasis on the reformation of derelicts.

This redirection resulted in the establishment of education classes and a physical education program in 1881. The YMCA established its Junior Department in 1887, thus extending its work from young men to boys.

Along with the continued development of Meriam's new programs, the last years of the nineteenth early years of the twentieth century saw a tremendous expansion of the Association's physical plant. Aided by large gifts from men such as John D. Rockefeller, the Cleveland YMCA built several new main buildings and branches. the Broadway branch was established in 1883, the West Side Branch in 1901, and the East End (University Circle) Branch in 1911. The YMCA built and equipped new central buildings in 1891 and 1912.

The early decades of this century saw the Cleveland YMCA working closely with the city's social settlements and welfare agencies to alleviate the plight of the poor and the immigrant. World War I found the Cleveland YMCA totally committed to the War Work campaign and actively involved in promoting the Allied cause.

Following the war, the Cleveland YMCA continued to enlarge and improve both its buildings and programs. A branch was established in the suburb of Lakewood in 1921 and several new branches, including the Cedar branch, were established in the city. Increased attention was given to physical training and work with young boys. Scouting activities, with which the Cleveland YMCA was first associated in 1910, were greatly expanded during the 1920s.

In 1921, the educational activities of the YMCA were formally organized into the Cleveland School of Technology of the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1930 this organization was renamed Fenn College. Fenn College continued to be associated and partially directed by the Cleveland YMCA until 1951. In 1967, Fenn College became part of Cleveland State University.

The Great Depression forced the Cleveland YMCA into deep financial difficulties. Nevertheless, it provided services such as employment counseling during this period.

The Cleveland YMCA recovered quickly from the Depression and began some of its most ambitious expansion programs in the following years. Fund drives in 1954 and 1962 resulted in a tremendous expansion of the Cleveland YMCA.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Young Men's Christian Association

From the guide to the Young Men's Christian Association of Cleveland Records, Series II, 1868-1977, (Western Reserve Historical Society)