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History of Freeland, Pa.
Freeland Y.M.C.A.


What's on this page:

  • History of the Freeland Y.M.C.A.
  • "Y"sports and activities
  • Photo of the Sandy Run Y.M.C.A.
On a related page:


HISTORY OF THE FREELAND Y.M.C.A.

Freeland Y.M.C.A. lecture room in 1900 On June 14, 1900 the Freeland Tribune reported that "The Young Men's Christian Association building on East Front street, near Pine, was dedicated on Tuesday evening. The program that evening included a talk by State Secretary S. M. Baird about what the organization is and what it does, prayers and scripture readings, and singing by the Park M. E. church choir. This photo of the Freeland Y.M.C.A. lecture room in 1900 was scanned at the "Y" in 2007 or 2008 and appears courtesy of the Freeland Historical Society, Joe Flanagan and Tom Landers.



Ed Merrick found an article dated November 19, 1959 noting that the Freeland "Y" was celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Young Men's Christian Association in Freeland was first organized in 1899 at a meeting held in the Refowich building, and it was chartered in 1909. Freeland's first "Y" building was built on Front street by Griffith at a cost of $925, and dedicated on June 12, 1900. It had a reading room, a billiards room and an assembly room. An addition housing a gym was built in 1906 at a cost of $1,139. One of the Y.M.C.A.'s main functions was to conduct religious services on Sunday afternoons. As time went on, the "Y" became a hub for much of Freeland's early athletic activities, and as years passed and more activities were made available there, it was valued for its physical, spiritual, cultural and musical influence on the community.


Article about planned new YMCA building, 1929 The Freeland YIn 1929 a campaign was being launched to raise funds for a new, larger "Y" building. This picture at left shows the projected view of the new Y.M.C.A. that funds were being raised to build in 1929 (the time of the Depression). It was scanned at the "Y" in 2007 or 2008 and appears courtesy of the Freeland Historical Society, Joe Flanagan and Tom Landers. The Freeland Y had already shown its value in the years since it was begun. At right is the Y as it looked a few years ago.





"Y" SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

Freeland Y.M.C.A. baseball teamThe early Y.M.C.A. was not primarily about sports, but sports soon became a way for young men to develop character in a positive way. The photo at right of the Y.M.C.A. baseball team came from John Zubach and is undated.

1905 Freeland Y.M.C.A. baseball team At left is the 1905 Freeland Y.M.C.A. baseball team, photo courtesy of Bob Vannauker. His father George Vannauker was on the team and is marked with an "X" on the photo. The enlarged image was repaired digitally by Jay Cawley; here's what the actual photo looks like. Thank you, Jay.




Freeland Y membership cardY basketball 1939-1940At left is Bob Zimmerman's Y membership card from 1951. This magical piece of paper enabled the bearer to be part of a world of play, sports, effort, personal development, friendship. Here at right are some of the lucky holders of such a card in 1939-1940. Do you see anyone you recognize? Photo scanned at the "Y" in 2007 or 2008 and appears courtesy of the Freeland Historical Society, Joe Flanagan and Tom Landers.

More "Y" team photos and information are on the Basketball page.

1959 GROUPS USING THE "Y": In October 1959 an article that Ed Merrick found estimated how much the "Y" had been used in the previous 6 months. Uses included 22 Saturday night Canteen dances, 127 bowling sessions, 520 gym sessions for boys, men and girls, 111 uses of the game room by men and boys, and 166 sessions for various uses by over 30 different organizations. YMCA-sponsored groups included the Canteen Council, board of directors, budget committee, executive committee, oil-painting class, Edwards Tournament committee, Camp Kresge meeting, Canteen Council picnic group. Other groups that also used the "Y" included Brownie Troops 35 and 252; Girl Scouts; Freeland High School basketball teams, practice and games; St. Ann's practice; Democratic Woman's Club; Boy Scouts; ILGWU Sportswear Union, Freeland Shirt and Freeland Dress employees; Freeland Recreation group; Lions New Projects; Freeland High School Band practice, dance and dinner; Rotary committees; Rotary Club dinner-meeting programs; MMI practices; Freeland Conference basketball game; Major Shirt, Freeland Manufacturing unions; Girl Scout investiture ceremonies; Cancer drive, FHS June Class Prom; Initial Gifts committee; Recreation Fund -- about 3 dozen groups using the "Y" facilities, many on a regular basis.



SANDY RUN Y.M.C.A.

Sandy Run Y.M.C.A. This undated photo of the Sandy Run Y.M.C.A. comes from Bob Zimmerman. Upper Lehigh also had a Y.M.C.A., but I have not seen a photo of it.







Thanks to Bob Vannauker, Bob Zimmerman, John Zubach, Ed Merrick, and the Freeland Historical Society, Joe Flanagan and Tom Landers for contributions to this page.


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Site contructed by C. Tancin.
The URL for this page is: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/ct0u/frldymca.html