The non-postcard image above shows the first building owned by the Cincinnati YMCA. The year was 1871 and it was located on the southeast corner of 6th and Elm.
MAIN BRANCH
By the middle of the 1880s the old Heyl House above was too small to accommodate the growth the YMCA had experienced over the previous 15 years. It was also ill suited for the program of physical activities that the Association was contemplating. As a result the building, seen below, on the northwest corner of 7th and Walnut was constructed. It opened in 1891 and lasted until the Building Commission of Cincinnati condemned, for certain uses, part of the structure. In 1914 the Association launched a drive to obtain $500,000 for a new building, which resulted in the Central Parkway Branch. This building was converted into the Shubert Theater which opened in 1921 and operated until 1953. It later reopened as the Reverend Earl Ivies' Revival Temple. This only lasted for two years before it was again renovated and returned to being a legitimate theater which lasted until it was finally demolished in 1976 to make way for a parking lot. There is an office building now on the site.
CENTRAL PARKWAY BRANCH
President Taft laid the cornerstone for this building at 1105 Elm St. It opened on 12/8/18. As can be seen in the first card below when this building opened the Miami-Erie canal next to it had not been replaced by the subway tunnels that were being constructed in the former canal. In some of the following cards they have been retouched so that all you see is a paved street. Seepage from the old canal caused a lot of problems when the swimming pool was being installed in the Y. The non-postcard image below shows Ex-President William Howard Taft delivering the Address.
NINTH STREET BRANCH
Ninth Street branch
Not a postcard
MESSAGE PRINTED ON THE BACKS OF 3 OF THESE CARDS STATES:
The Cincinnati Y.M.C.A. has a gymnasium, shower baths, swimming pool, summer camps, day commercial school, night classes in law, business, trades, and automobiling; also Bible classes, Sunday meetings, social rooms, and an employment department. These privileges are being used by 2,400 men and boys. You will be welcome.
Lobby at 7th &
Walnut
Auto School s.e.
cor.
Annual Members
Banquet
Track
Team
Canal and
Walnut
Pool & Billiard room Newsboys in front of "Y" Gymnasium Class Night Law School
Loading wagons for camp
Three cards showing a Y.M.C.A.
camp at Tawas Beach (Michigan?)
The Georgian Bay YMCA Camp (also refered to as the North Woods Camp) was located on Beausoleil Island, Ontario, on Georgian Bay. It is in a National Park and Game Preserve of the Canadian Government.
Y.M.C.A. for railroad men.
Fifth and Baymiller Streets.
Located at 20 East 8th St.
Opened in 1929 at 898 Walnut St.
The information printed on the back states "YWCA'S CAMP LENMARY Twenty-eight miles from Cincinnati schedules camping periods during the summer for girls from the 4th through 10th grades; and is available for private groups for weekends in the Spring and Fall. For information call YWCA, Ninth and Walnut Streets Cherry 7090.
