On Friday, Oct. 18, the Bellefonte YMCA is throwing a birthday party for itself — its 150th, to be exact.
The festivities will include a birthday cake and a light lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Present members, former members and the public are invited to come, relax and share stories from their days at the Bellefonte YMCA. Community members are asked to share pictures or send them to the Y before the day at info@ymcaocc.org, if possible, in an effort to add to the community spirit and general education.
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania chartered the Bellefonte YMCA on Oct. 19, 1869, establishing it as the third YMCA in Pennsylvania. The present site has been home to the Y since the early 1900s and the current building was built in 1957. For many years, Bell Telephone occupied part of the building and a bowling alley operated in the basement.
The YMCA Annex, on the opposite side of the street, is a leased space that holds workout equipment and was formerly the Total Fitness Gym. The annex has been a part of the Y program for about 13 years.
“What’s really different about our YMCA is how much it means to the community,” said YMCA of Centre County CEO Scott Mitchell. “The building is smaller and older, but the spirit of fellowship it embodies is what makes it a special place.”
“So many people come in and say, ‘I learned to swim in this pool,’” said Beth Gibson, member engagement director. “There was a lot to do here for kids. There were ping pong tables in the entry way and some of the stores had pinball machines. We had a movie across the street in those days also. This place means so much to so many people.”
Shawn Thompson, branch director of the Y in Bellefonte, has been in his position since November 2017, after 19 years of experience in Pittsburgh. He said that he would like people to come and tell their stories about experiences they had at the YMCA. The staff would welcome pictures to share at the birthday party.
“We want this to be a celebration of the 150th anniversary in a happy, relaxed manner,” said Thompson. “When people share their stories, they share themselves and that’s good for the community.”
Steve Greecher has held the title of aquatics director for eight years, and he has lived in Centre County for 16 years.
He shared that he loves to hear people say, “I learned to swim here.”
Many who say that are in their 80s or beyond.
“There is much here for those seniors still, with pickle ball, water walking and other classes geared to keep older people active,” said Greecher.
On the other side of the age spectrum, “No one is turned away at the Y,” Greecher said.
“Every child should learn to swim regardless of ability to pay,” he added. “There are state funds and open-door subsidies to help.”
Greecher explained that a unique feature of the Bellefonte YMCA is its suspended pool, which you can walk under.
“We have storage down there with 55,000 gallons of water overhead,” Greecher said. “The pool is 60 years old, but what we lack in time and space, we make up for in character of the staff and visitors. Water works the same no matter how large the pool, and we want to get the word out that no one is turned away from the YMCA.”
Among the other valuable programs at the Bellefonte YMCA are the infant, toddler and preschool, and after-school programs.
“I was one of the first kids in the program in 1985,’ said Katie Fisher, assistant child care director. ‘I learned to swim here, worked here in high school and when I graduated from college, I accepted a position here. Now I have a child in elementary school, but also one in the same preschool program I went through.”
There are 65 infants and preschool children in the downstairs area during the day and four after school programs that serve 120 kids, according to Fisher.
A lot of people who return to Bellefonte like to stop at the YMCA and other local landmarks to reminisce and remember their childhood and youth in Bellefonte.
For more information visit the Bellefonte YMCA Facebook page, or www.ymcaocc.org.
Those planning to attend the celebration are asked to RSVP to (814) 355-5551.
