With demolition proceeding at a furious pace, the old Aurora YMCA on Garfield soon will be just a memory. It is shown here during demolition on July 10th and in a 1976 photo when it was in its prime.
The origins of this building go back to the 1940s, by which time it was clear that the YM had outgrown its previous quarters, a 1908 building at LaSalle and Downer. A search began for a new location. After some false starts with another location, the property on Garfield was acquired in 1954.
Ground was broken for the new building in April 1956, and construction proceeded over the next two years. The cornerstone was laid in October 1957, and the completed building was finally dedicated on May 18, 1958. Total cost of land, building, and furnishings was more than $2.5 million.
The new building featured an Olympic-size swimming pool, a huge gymnasium, handball courts, locker and shower areas, game rooms, a TV room, a coffee shop and dining room, lounge areas, offices, and more. It also featured living quarters for men in 101 dormitory rooms.
This building and its staff served the community and its families for decades. The YM ran into financial difficulties in the 1990s. In 1999, it merged with the Naperville YMCA to form Heritage YMCA. Finally, in May 2007, the YMCA left the building, after nearly 50 years.
