A View of Historic Naperville from the Sky-Lines is a collection of historic newspaper articles first published in 1975 written by Genevieve Towsley, a writer for the Naperville Sun.
This book is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of Naperville. The YMCA was lucky enough to be the topic of one of these articles titled “Y is a Testament to Determination.”
In this article Ms. Towsley wrote about the early decades of the Y and the role it served. She wrote, “Fulfilling its role as a community center the ‘Y’ affords a meeting place for the following groups which are not actually affiliated with the YMCA program: Youth Center; Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis Clubs; Chamber of Commerce; the Christian Scientists, who hold services in the gym every Sunday morning; Square Dance Club; Newcomers Club; Young Men’s Club; Kum 4 Kards Klub; Flying Club; Youth Council; Coed Dance group and Girl Scout neighborhood meetings. Most community drives are launched and completed at the “Y” and it serves as a clearing center for the Community Calendar.”
A copy of this book that sits in my book case came to mind when one of our fellow nonprofit friends, Artful Impact, was in need of space quickly to continue their programs. Y staff worked quickly to find room so their programs were not disrupted.
Although times have changed from when there was a square dance club, the Naperville YMCAs continue to be committed to Naperville serving as that community center. This was part of our responsibility in the 40s and 50s and is still in our DNA today. The Y hosts many community organizations and is always open to collaborations benefiting the community’s greater good. Fulfilling our role as a community center today, the Y hosts Lions Club meetings, community prayer group meetings, District 203 Vocational Programs, District 204s STEPS program, WDSRA, KidsMatter programs, Red Cross Blood Drives, The Alive Teen Center, coat and supply drives for many service clubs and so much more.
The last sentence in Ms. Towsley’s article stated “With able leadership, the Y will continue to be the hub of wholesome social and educational activity for Naperville.”
I’m glad more than a half century later we are living up to her prediction.
