The Haverhill YMCA was formed in 1855 at a meeting held in Haverhill's Town Hall. Thirty three years later the YMCA purchased the three-story building on forty-five Merrimack Street and that was the perfect location to carry out the mission of the YMCA. On May 3 1897 the YMCA purchased for $20,000 the home of the late E.J.M. Hale located at 75 Main Street where an expanded facility brought new programs for the members. It touted a 45 ft. X 15 ft. swimming pool, a 40 ft. x 50 ft. gymnasium and a reading room that featured an open fireplace. Membership was $8 per year.

During the early 1940s two Haverhill businessmen, Louis H. Hamel and Nicholas Johnson began a fundraising drive to purchase the Hibernian building at the current YMCA location, 81 Winter Street. The new home of the YMCA opened in late 1951 with the gymnasium opening in 1952 and the swimming pool was completed in 1953. On New Year's Eve of 1955 the city of Haverhill was shocked and devastated to hear that the YMCA was completely destroyed by fire.

After three years of architectural planning and raising of capital funds, the City of Haverhill reopened its doors to a new and improved YMCA facility in 1958.

For years, the YMCA flourished within the city of Haverhill. Year after year community challenges were met, children and adults participated in programs and the mission of the Y was carried out brilliantly. Nearly 50 years later and still serving Haverhill strong, the building was in need of rennovation. Thus came the next capital campaign: 

Strengthening Kids, Families and Haverhill: A Campaign for Haverhill's YMCA

Our capital campaign was completed in 2007. The improvements to the YMCA facility have been planned with the needs of our members and participants in mind; including families, seniors and those who take advantage of our residential services.  The renovations included:

• Renovated locker rooms, and the addition of a family locker room
  
  Construction of a new climbing gym & gymnastics center
  
  Handicapped accessible elevators and lifts
  
  Creation of separate entrances for members and residents
  
  Improvements to the infrastructure, including new heating and air-conditioning systems and fire protection

Simultaneously, we have also completely renovate our housing facility at Winter Street to provide 52 enhanced single occupancy units for our residents by overhauling the third floor and creating a new fourth floor. Once completed, the total cost of the rennovations was $7.5 million. It certainly would not have been possible without the charitable contributions or our board, our staff and of course the Greater Haverhill community.

 

 

Donors to the Capital Campaign

Anonymous                                                       Georgetown Savings Bank
Stephen Anderson                                              Griffin White Foundation
Terrence Beaton, Beaton Management                 Haverhill Bank
Paul Bevilacqua                                                  Elizabeth Hawken
Daniel Bowie                                                      Agnes M. Lindsay Trust
Ken Cavallaro                                                    Donald Main
Edward Chernesky, Shoe City Hardware               N. Dana Moody
John Cleary                                                        Northeast Community Credit Union
Tim Coco, COCO+Co.                                         Pentucket Bank
Commonwealth of Massachusetts                         Mark Provost
Community Bank and Trust Company                   Dale Rogers
Stephen Corcoran                                               Nathaniel & Elizabeth P. Stevens Foundation
Jefferson Davis                                                   TD Banknorth of Massachusetts
Duncan Farmer, Farmer & Sons Funeral Home       Wadleigh Foundation
Louis Fossarelli                                                   Charles Walker
                                                                         David Youngblood, Youngblood Companies


Today, the Haverhill YMCA carries on the mission of the YMCA movement with innovative programs for children, adults and families of all ages and interests. Recent improvements include: a new Gymnastics Center that provides meaningful opportunities for children in a safe and fun atmosphere and a new rock climbing wall gives kids an opportunity to discover themselves and helps build self esteem. And of course the constant, ever-growing sports and aquatics program helps keeps Haverhill residents involved in programs with a purpose!

In addition to the 81 Winter Street facility, the Haverhill YMCA also provides much-needed affordable housing at the Wadleigh House.  And Camp Tricklin' Falls in East Kingston, NH is home to over 150 campers each week at YMCA Day Camp where kids learn the life-skills needed to build character in our kids!

Today, with 4,300 members and over 3,000 program participants, the Haverhill YMCA is an integral part of Haverhill and its surrounding communities. For 125 years, the YMCA has been working with individuals and families throughout our community, building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. We do so providing character-building athletic, recreational and educational opportunities designed to inspire and instruct, as well as offering residential services that are in high demand.