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| Last updated on May 9, 2008 |
The Butler Street YMCA is an African American not-for-profit institution/association of members that implements programs embodied in Christian ethics, and civic principles that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Description:
YMCA Mission
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy, spirit, mind and body for all.
Butler Street YMCA Mission
The Butler Street YMCA is a not-for-profit institution/association of members that implements programs embodied in Christian ethics, and civic principles that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Purpose
The Butler Street YMCA, through quality programs, provides for the strengthening of families, the healthy development of children, positive individual behavior, and a healthier, safer community for all. These programs emphasize caring, respect, honesty, responsibility, character- building, fun and friendship. The YMCA is a charitable organization that creates a sense of community by involving individuals and families of all ages, abilities, genders, incomes and
History:
History
The Butler Street YMCAs rich history started with Mr. J.S. Brandon taking the initial step to organize what is now known as the Butler Street YMCA, in the Spring of 1894. Over fifty young people, male and female, were called together in the basement of the Wheat Street Baptist Church . Mr. Brandon was elected president of the newly formed group and his sister-in-law, Miss Hattie Askridge, was elected organist. Miss Askridge's father, Peter Askridge, was the owner of all the property now occupied by the Herndon block on Auburn Avenue . The dominant activity during those early years was song and prayer which took place regularly on Sunday afternoons.
Meeting places during the early years included Simington Hall (at the corner of Cain and Fort Streets), Bethel Church, a frame building at 217 Auburn Avenue, the Carter Old Folks Home, a Peachtree Street office building, and the 145 1/2 Auburn Avenue building. During the early 1900's, when changing residences were the rule rather than the exception, Mr. W.O. Castleberry, Mr. John Adams, a Mr. Williams, Mr. C.H.J. Taylor, and Mr. R. Gainer served short terms as president.
Concurrent with the decision to move permanently to 145 1/2 Auburn Avenue was the decision to employ the first Secretary, Mr. R.T. Weatherby, at a salary of $35.00 per month. Under Secretary Weatherby' s leadership, a house and lot was purchased at 132 Auburn Avenue (where Atlanta Life Insurance Company now stands) at a cost of $3,935. Mr. W.J. Trent replaced Mr. Weatherby in 1910, and gave leadership to the erection of the present headquarters building at 22 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive NE (formerly Butler Street ). Mr. Trent resigned in 1925, to become president of Livingston College in Salisbury , North Carolina . Of great significance is the fact that W. A. Hunton (the first black member of the National YMCA's field staff-the International Committee) moved his office to Atlanta in the early 1900's and helped fledgling Butler Street YMCA.
The Auburn Avenue property was sold in 1918 for $7,200 and the present location at the 22-24 Butler Street was purchased for $10,609.00 upon which a modem building was erected.
In the late 30's and early 40's, three very important additions were made to the Butler Street YMCA: J.D. Winston, a student at Clark College, began working as Boys' Work Secretary, a job he continued after he was graduated from college; William A. Holmes, a Morehouse college business major, was employed to assist with business management; and Warren R. Cochrane, the former program secretary of the Harlem Branch YMCA in New York city, became the Executive Secretary.
It was during the twenty plus years to follow that the Butler Street YMCA gained national recognition. The budget increased from $12,000 annually to $230,000 annually, and a new half- million dollar branch facility was constructed on the west side of town, The Joseph B. Whitehead Westside Memorial Branch. Resident camp facilities were developed at Lake Allatoona at various intervals, building-centered expansion programs were sponsored in the Summerhill community, Pittsburgh community, College Park , Marietta , John Eagan Homes, and the Perry Homes Housing Project.
The Butler Street YMCA built two (2) additional branches (1) the J. D. Winston Branch, located at 17 Butler Street , which replaced the "Old Boys Branch located at 24 Butler St. , and (2) the Bill Lucas Southside Branch, located at 601 Pryor Street . Additionally, the Butler Street YMCA expanded services to develop a College Branch of the Butler Street YMCA, to provide program services to the entire Atlanta University Center . This branch is located on the campus of Morris Brown College .
In 1965, Mr. Cochrane returned to New York City to become Executive Director of the Harlem Branch. A former Butler Street Program Director, Franklin W. Thomas, was appointed General Secretary. John W. Cox succeeded Mr. Thomas in 1969, who was succeeded by DeWitt N. Martin in 1975. In January 2000, Mr. Martin retired. After the retirement of DeWitt N. Martin, Jr., the Board of Directors appointed Jacob A. Rhodes, Ph.D., former President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Rochester, Rochester , NY to succeed Mr. Martin as President & CEO of the Butler Street YMCA.
The Butler Street YMCA became affiliated with the Community Chest, now the United Way in 1928. Membership in the National Council of YMCA's has always been maintained, and by mutual agreement between the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta and Butler Street YMCA, Atlanta 's two YMCA's have operated separately and independently of each other.
The Butler Street YMCA started Atlanta 's first city-wide forum, the Hungry Club Forum, in 1945. The forum still meets weekly and has become one of America 's outstanding public affairs programs. Its motto is "Food for Taste and Food for Thought for those Who Hunger for Information and Association.
The Butler Street YMCA, currently, provides a wide range of human development programs and services geared toward improving the quality of life for those it serves. These programs and services focus on physical and health education, personal growth and religious education, community information and referral, as well as after school care and senior citizens programs.
Contact people:
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Sean Reed, Board Member/Technical Advisor, (phone), (email)
Stewart Williams, Chief Executive Officer, (email)
Tina Flinn, Administrative Assistant, (email) |
Office fax number: (404) 589-8444
Address:
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22 Jesse Hill Drive
Atlanta, GA 30303
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.butlerstreetymca.org
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