The brand spanking new Trenton YMCA building as it looked when construction was completed in October, 1922. The view on the bottom is a Google Earth "Street View" of the location at the intersection of East State Street and South Clinton Avenue. After this was posted, a visitor asked if the building remains. the vacant lot in the lower photo answers that query.
So, it's gone?
ReplyDeleteSome good memories and some sad ones.
ReplyDeleteAs kids we were "smuggled" in the main doors to use the gym back in the 1950's. Great winter stuff with the track, swimming and basketball.
The dark side was that as Catholic kids we were forbidden to join since the "Y" did not view us as Christian. All our applications were rejected.
This was in Time Magazine as topical and if you Google it, the article will come up from about 1961.
Ed Millerick
HI TOM...FOR SOME REASON, WE PLAYED MORE GAMES AT THE Y.M.H.A. ON STOCKTON ST. THAN THE Y.M.C.A. IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT, I BELIEVE THE Y.M.C.A, HAD TOO MANY RESCRIPTIONS.
ReplyDeleteTom:
ReplyDeleteAs I recall it, The Catholic Church did not want us to particpate in the Y programs, since it was a "Protesant Establishment"
As a kid at Sacred Heart, I can remember Fr. Halloran our Pastor telling us we would burn in hell if we were caught inside the y!
Said essentially the same thing about the Masonic Lodges.
Boy how times have changed.
Shelly Robertson was the director of the Y. Shelly was the penultimate gentleman. I joined the Y when it became "acceptable" and enjoyed many years relaxing in the Executive Health Club which was an alternative to meeting at Chick & Nello's.
Funny the pastor would condemm us to hell if we were caught at the YMCA, but it did no harm to belong as I did to the YMHA, where Russ Hedden and I alternated as the "Best Goyem" in the league.
Regards
Mike Kuzma
ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING AND INCITEFUL COMMENT, MIKE! AS A CONVERT TO THE FAITH, I ALSO RECALL THE MODERATING AND SOMETIMES SUBTLE CHANGES IN THE WAY PRIESTS VIEWED THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE A PERCEIVED THREAT TO THE FAITH.
ReplyDeleteTOM GLOVER
Please check the facts on this, as I did a few months ago. The YMCA had a national policy on restricting Catholics. I and others were personally rejected. I believe possibly the formation of the CYO and reaction of the priests was a bitter response to the policy of the YMCA. As I noted, this was even a topic in Time Magazine back in the 1960's when the "Y" started to finally change it's national policy. I think "Time" was a pretty legit source; that and in addition to my own experience. We used to be "snuck" in by Ed Smolinski, who though Catholic was a prominent Trenton athlete in baseball and soccer, hence his "exempetion".
ReplyDeleteEd Millerick
Tommy
ReplyDeleteThe Y.M.C.A was a haven for the "burg" kids in the late 30's and the forties. We used to go there and take swimming lessons. No bathing suits because the Y.M.C.A was all men in those days.
We were al Catholics and nobody asked for our religion. Only restriction was once a day use. We tried to sneak in as many times as we could. Why not .It was free and we hads the time but not the money
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI know I am a bit late in posting a comment, but the Google Earth "Street View" is incorrect. This is a picture of East State St. at N. Clinton Ave. The YMCA was on N. Clinton Ave. at E. State St. That being said, the "Y" was formerly to the left in this view. The corner of the office building that replaced it, part of the Station Plaza office complex, barely visible.
I assume the date on the newspaper indicates the opening of the building in 1922. I thought this would be earlier as it was fitted with combination gas/electric light fixtures. These were often used where electric supply was either unreliable or expensive. I remember the massive Stickley Mission Style furniture in the lobby.
ReplyDelete