Association's history spans beyond first building in 1896
Here is the 125 years of history of the Butler County Family YMCA as compiled by the YMCA.
• Early 1870s — A.C. Taggart, state secretary of Pennsylvania, decided that, due to a low population, lack of buildings, funds, equipment, number of young men in reach and knowledge of YMCA programs the time was not right for a YMCA in Butler.
• August 1886 — On the first Sunday of that month, at United Presbyterian Church in Butler, the Young Men's Christian Association was organized as well as the Ladies Auxiliary, known today as the Ladies Service Club.
• Nov. 8, 1886 — Aaron L. Hazen, Butler County president judge, ordered that the YMCA of Butler be granted a charter of corporation.
• Dec. 1, 1886 — The YMCA got rooms in the Reiber Building at the corner of Main and Cunningham streets.
• Oct. 1, 1887 — John B. Quinn was hired as the first paid general secretary of the Butler YMCA.
• June 27, 1895 — The cornerstone of the first YMCA in Butler was laid.
• 1896 — Butler's first YMCA opened at the northeast corner of Diamond Street.
• June 1912 — A capital campaign was started to raise $130,000 for a new building.
• 1913 — The first cornerstone of the second YMCA building was laid.
• August 1914 — The second YMCA building was opened on South McKean Street, now known as the Cubs Hall.
• 1917 — Many members of the YMCA entered the armed forces to fight in World War I. Those who were not eligible for service entered the war work of the YMCA.
• 1929 — YMCA work is curtailed during the Great Depression as revenues could not keep up with expenses.
• 1933 — The YMCA entered the Butler Community Chest.
• 1936 — The Butler YMCA ranked among the top eight YMCAs in the state in volume of its programs and the efficiency of its work in proportion to the size of its population.
• Early 1940s — During World War II, the YMCA gymnasium was used for physical examinations of draftees, housed listening post equipment, provided special quarters for USO and was headquarters for hundreds of county men during their furloughs.
• Late 1940s — The Learn to Swim program had huge gains in popularity, the Tumble Inn Dance for teenagers was organized, the Youth Leader Corp. formed and day camping program began. In 1947, the first train race was held.
• 1951 — The YWCA requested that physical education and swimming programs be made available for women and girls, which was a trend nationwide.
• 1952 — The Butler YMCA hosted the National YMCA Basketball Championships.
• 1956 — The first Men of Retirement Age (MORA) meeting was held.
• 1957 — The boys swim team was started.
• 1960 — Many new programs were added such as preschool swim, girls' swim team, skin and SCUBA diving class, noon Lenten services, adult pistol club, men's channel swim, art and ceramics classes, open basketball tournament, slimnastics, physical fitness tests for boys and girls, co-ed club and table tennis.
• 1961 — At the 75th annual meeting, the board of directors announced plans to build a new building.• 1964 — A corporate capital campaign began generating funds for a new facility. A total of $1.2 million was raised.• 1966 — A supplemental building fund campaign was launched, generating $500,000. On June 30, ground was broken for a new facility at the corner of North Washington and West Penn streets.• Sept. 11, 1967 — First cornerstone for the new building was laid.• May 19, 1968 — The new, $2.2 million facility was dedicated.• June 1969 — The Butler YMCA hosted the Pennsylvania Youth Leaders Convention.• April 1972 — The boys swimming team won the YMCA State Swimming Championship.• September 1974 — At the request of the Butler County Area Agency on Aging, the YMCA began operating 60+ Dial-A-Bus, which now is known as Butler Area Rural Transit (BART).• 1986 — Day care was established and the new Women's Health Center and Aerobic Center opened. The Butler YMCA exceeded $500,000 in revenue for the first time.• 1987 — Millie Pinkerton became the first woman to serve as president of the board of directors. Also, an elevator and ramp were added to make the YMCA building more accessible.• 1989 — The financial assistance program was established to ensure no one would be denied YMCA services for financial reasons. The child care program was expanded to include infants and toddlers.• 1990 — Women and youth were permitted to use the weight training room for the first time. Also, a swimming pool ramp was added for accessibility.• 1991 — The YMCA bought a 10-station computer network. Before and after-school child care programs were established in the Seneca Valley School District.• 1992 — YMCA revenue exceeded $1 million for the first time as membership grew to 3,000.• 1993 — The YMCA assumed management of the dek hockey rink in Butler Township and Memorial Park Swimming Pool in Butler.
• 1994 —— Established the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program in Butler County; managed the Zelienople Parks and Recreation Program; established before and after-school child care programs in the Mars and Butler school districts.• 1995 —— Big Brothers Big Sisters Program raised $53,000 in its first Bowl for Kids Sake.• 1996 — Membership grew to 5,331 and the YMCA announced a $2.6 million capital campaign to renovate and expand the Butler YMCA.• 1997 — The Southwest Branch of the YMCA added 2,500 square feet to the existing building.• 1998 —— YMCA revenues exceeded $2 million. Construction of a new, 25,000 square foot building addition at the Butler YMCA began in March.• 1999 — The new building addition was dedicated on March 18 and included a second gymnasium, fitness center with a running/walking track, therapeutic whirlpool, warm-water instructional pool and two special needs locker rooms.• 2000 —— Membership grew to 7,583.• 2001 — Membership grew to 8,207. The Butler YMCA opened the new Infant Care Center at the corner of Penn and Jackson streets.• 2003 — The Southwest Branch Butler County YMCA, previously based in Zelienople, acquired 20 acres in Cranberry Township to build what would become the Rose E. Schneider YMCA. YMCA revenue exceeded $3 million.• 2004 —— The YMCA broke ground on the Schneider Family YMCA. Through a gift, the YMCA acquired ARMCO Park in Slippery Rock Township.• 2006 — The Rose E. Schneider YMCA opened in November. Butler Health System occupied 12,000 square feet of it to provide medical services.• 2007 — YMCA revenue exceeded $6 million. Membership increased to 24,052. The YMCA began to manage ARMCO Park and changed its name to YMCA Camp/ARMCO Park.• 2008 —— A child-friendly playground and a pool house were built at YMCA Camp/ARMCO Park.• 2009 —— YMCA reaches two all-time highs by serving 2,601 individuals through its financial assistance program and serving 28,258 members or program participants.• 2010 —— Y-USA adopted a new logo reflective of its new focus areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. YMCA Camp/ARMCO Park celebrated its 75th anniversary; Revenue eclipsed $7 million.
