YMCA of Greater Charlotte records

The YMCA of Charlotte was founded on November 11, 1874 in a hall above Wadsworth Livery Stable in uptown Charlotte by 23 men. The group adopted the Constitution of the YMCA of America and enrolled 16 active members and 7 associate members. On November 17, the Rev. Shorter Caldwell was elected the first President and the organization rented Wadsworth Hall to use as their facility for $6.25 a month. The Y's headquarters shifted to several different places over the next few years and its main programs included a library and reading room, games, socials and religious services. In 1876, George Hanna became President and remained in office until his death in 1906. In 1880, the Y began the first YMCA educational program in North Carolina by offering night classes in bookeeping, German and French. In 1889, the organization finished construction on the first Y building in North Carolina, whose facilities included the city's first gymnasium, an auditorium, library, residence rooms and business rental space. The Y continued to expand and in 1908 its second building was dedicated, which included the first swimming pool in Charlotte.

The organization also began to start outreach in the African-American community and started offering educational classes for African-Americans in 1912. In 1936, the first African-American YMCA in North Carolina was established in the Brooklyn neighborhood as the Second Street Y. Over the years, several new branches opened throughout Mecklenburg county, including the Johnston Branch in North Charlotte (1948), Lake Norman in North Mecklenburg (1969), Simmons Branch in East Charlotte (1971), Harris Branch in South Mecklenburg (1977), Brace Family Branch in Matthews (1988), Keith Family in the University area (1989), Mooresville Branch (1991), Morrison Family in Ballantyne (1999), Gateway Village in Uptown Charlotte (2001), Steele Creek (2004), Stratford Richardson in West Charlotte (2007) and Wesley Chapel (2008). Additionally, the Y opened a camp for boys on the shores of Lake Wylie in 1946, it became co-educational with the construction of girls' cabins in 1965. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte has played an important role in the Charlotte area for nearly 150 years through their role in mentoring children and promoting healthy living. The organization currently has over 297,000 members over 19 branches with two overnight camps and one child development center.