MDI YMCA

Brief History of the MDI YMCA . . .

The Y's first real home on Mount Desert Island was on the corner of School Street and Mount Desert Street, pictured here. This building is now the home of the Abbe Museum.

Old YMCA building

Many of our older members have fond memories of this place. After all, it was here that hundreds of island residents were first introduced to a long list of new activities.

  • Swimming classes began in 1908
  • Billiards was first offered in 1908
  • Youth Debate Team was first offered in 1908
  • Football began in 1916
  • Wireless Radio group was first offered in 1920
  • Tennis was first offered in 1920
  • Volleyball began in 1921
  • Wrestling was first offered in 1922
  • Gymnastics began in 1922
  • Boy Scouts began in 1922
  • Circus Acts (performers) were first offered in 1924
  • Bowling Alley was built in 1924
  • Collaboration with the CCC began in 1933
  • Entertaining visiting servicemen began in 1917
  • School Academic Support was first offered in 1947
  • The Y provided support during the 1947 Fire
  • Little League Baseball began at the Y in 1952
  • Summer camps began in 1975

Perhaps in single most significant event in the history of the MDI YMCA was the collapse of the roof over the pool in March 1994. An accumulation of wet snow and rain caused the support structure to give way during the very early morning hours. No one was in the building at the time and no one was injured. The damage was so complete that even the surrounding walls were condemned and the entire wing of the building that contained the pool had to be torn down for safety reasons.

The Downeast YMCA in Ellsworth stepped up and graciously offered the use of their facility during off hours as a temporary solution. The Atlantic Oakes Motel and the Ellsworth Racquet and Fitness Center (now the Life Christian Academy) also helped out by each offering their pools.

For three years the entire aquatics program operated when and where possible with no home of its own. Many a cold winter morning, swim team parents all over Mount Desert Island woke their children up at 4:30AM so they could catch the 5:00AM bus to Ellsworth for practice. It is an extraordinary testament to the strength and dedication of the coaches, parents and swimmers that the Sharks swim team program not only survived these dark days, but flourished in them.

1994 collapse

 

  • Pool Roof collapses in March 1994
  • Fund Raising for new YMCA 1994 - 1998
  • Y moves into new building on Park St. in 1999
  • 2007, Y purchases two adjoining properties to allow for expansion, if necessary
  • Gymnastics program relocated to the new Pineo Building in Town Hill, 2007