Mission and History

Learn about where we came from and where we are going.

 HISTORY

Key Dates in YMCA History 

• 1844 YMCA organized in London, England by George Williams
• 1851 YMCA founded in America - Boston, Mass.  
• 1856 First physical education dept. established in New York.  
• 1861 Armed Forces YMCA established.
• 1869 Boys work programs started.  
• 1880 National interest in health and fitness began.  
• Boston YMCA staff member Robert Roberts coined the term "bodybuilding".
• 1885 Camping begins at Camp Dudley, NY.  
• First YMCA swimming "bath" (pool).  
• 1891 Basketball is invented at the YMCA.  
• 1895 Volleyball is invented at the YMCA.  
• Professional football started at the Latrobe, PA. YMCA.
• 1906 YMCA launched water safety/learn to swim program.  
• 1910 YMCA fostered the Boy Scouts.  

Our YMCA History: 

In 1992, a group of community leaders began an effort to bring a community center to Logan County.  After two and a half years of extensive research, they decided this organization should be a YMCA because of the deep history of the YMCA and its mission and values. 

This effort began with a core set of programs aimed at our local youth and quickly expanded to include adult fitness programs.  The Logan County Family YMCA was incorporated in 1996 and operated as a storefront for three years.  

After three years of successful programming, the Board of Trustees embarked on the next phase in our history– building a full service facility.  What remains the largest fund raising effort in Logan County history, resulted in the  construction of the 38,443 square feet facility located on Sloan Boulevard.  The building was named after the YMCA’s largest contributors, Don M. & Margaret Hilliker.  The grand opening was held in September 2000.