#TBT: Over a century of fitness at the YMCA

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Young Man’s Christian Association’s Wilmington branch claims to have been founded in 1887, even though there are newspaper reports of a YMCA dating back to the 1870s. In March, 1872, Alexander Sprunt was elected president of the YMCA. On June 8, 1872 the YMCA was located in a hall on the 2nd floor of a brick building near Princess Street, opposite the Journal office. In October, 1873, the YMCA moved to the Masonic Hall on Market Street.

The group met in a variety of locations in until, in the 1880s, the YMCA began raising the funds to build a building. Previously, the group met at the Library Association, and in 1888 they met in rooms at the Bank of New Hanover. They had 16 active members in 1888. During that year, they purchased a lot on Market between 2nd and 3rd, thinking to build there. The first YMCA building, however, ended up on Front and Mulberry (now Grace). The association bought a lot from Hall and Pearsall, near the railroad. The cornerstone for the building was laid on April 15, 1891. According to the Star, 3,000 people attended the ceremony. When the building opened, there was no pool in it, although there were baths.

Members of the organization began discussing adding a swimming pool as early as March, 1894. The Dispatch reported on February 6, 1900 that “The Athletic Committee of Y.M.C.A. met last night to discuss plans for building the swimming pool, to pay the cost of which a gentleman has contributed $300. The members of the committee visited the basement and after carefully debating the project decided to call in the assistance of a civil engineer and an architect.” The pool was not added until 1904. At that time, the building was remodeled, changing auditorium into a gym and turning the basement into a pool. The pool opened on July 10, 1904. A newspaper report from September 18, 1904 stated that the pool “was added during the Summer through the munificence of Mr. William H. Sprunt. The pool is 25 by 40 feet in size, is three feet deep at one end and six feet at the other. It can be filled at will with fresh water, and is quite popular with the boys who are taught all the strokes known to the natatory experts.”

In 1912, the YMCA bought some land from W. H. Chadbourn on the north east corner of Third and Market. Ground broke for the new building in December, 1912. The building, with a pool, opened in 1913.

In 1961, Adam Smith was the executive secretary. According to a 1961 article, “today, the local YMCA has facilities to handle more than 500 person per day, with sleeping quarters adequate for 125 persons per night.”

The YMCA was a segregated organization until, after some pressure from Hubert A. Eaton and other members of the African American community, as well as the changed policy of the national association, the local Y began operating under a policy of non-discrimination on March 26, 1968.

**Special thanks to the Cape Fear Museum.**