The meetings were held in the Dietrick's Mercantile Institute located at the corner of Main and Calhoun Streets. Isaac Jenkinson was the first president of the YMCA in Fort Wayne serving from 1858-1860. The programs consisted entirely of weekly meetings of religious, literary and social nature. The Railroad Association YMCA opened its doors on July 1, 1884. It was located on the corner Calhoun and
Holman Streets. The Railroad YMCA provided sleeping quarters, hot baths and Sabbath services to the railroaders. The dues to the Railroad YMCA was 25 cents per month and it entitled the member to all privileges of the association with 1 friend. The building included a large reading room, an amusement room supplied with chess and checkers, and 2 large parlors that were used for receptions and lectures. There was also a surgical room for First Aid and complete bath facilities. On September 13, 1889 new Articles of Incorporation and a new Constitution was adopted. The name was changed to "Fort Wayne Young Men's Christian Association". This Y had Sunday song services, complete bath facilities, library and reading rooms, a gymnasium and a bowling alley. From 1896-1916 there was no permanent YMCA in Fort Wayne. When the city's population reached 75,000 people, various businessmen and civic leaders felt that Fort Wayne should have a permanent YMCA. In 1913 the 44th Annual State Convention of all the associations was held in Fort Wayne. As a result of this convention an inspired group of prominent businessmen went on record commenting about a $300,000 building program and initiated the drive to raise funds. This was the first general fund raising campaign ever initiated in Fort Wayne. The cornerstone to the Central YMCA was laid on May 12th, 1918 in a ceremony at the corner of Barr Street and Washington Street. The Dedication Service was held on December 17, 1919 and the Railroad YMCA moved into the Central Branch YMCA. Bechtol was elected president and served until 1922. The Central Branch YMCA was the first building devoted to the YMCA work exclusively. The Fort Wayne YMCA Boys Camp was founded in 1920. Louis Schwan, YMCA Secretary, took a group of boys to Lake Wawasee for a camping program. The group returned to Lake Wawasee in 1921 and 1922. In 1923 the camp was moved to Hemlock Lake near Redding Michigan. On November 25, 1924 the Fort Wayne YMCA purchased 14 acres on Blackman Lake to establish an all boys camp called Camp Potawotami. The first summer of camping was in 1925. There were 8 cabins, each one with a capacity of 8 bunks. Arrowhead Lodge was built in 1931 and still houses the camp's kitchen and dining area. In 1929 the association celebrated its 10th anniversary of the grand opening of the Central Branch YMCA with the addition of the East Side YMCA at the corner of Eliza and McCullock Streets. The Kiwanis Westside YMCA was founded on July 6, 1934 and dedicated on November 26, 1934; this Y opened through the cooperation of the Kiwanis Club and the Central YMCA. It was located on Culbertson Street. Initially it served primarily boys from the area but in 1942 its programs were expanded to served families, women and girls also. The Old Fort YMCA was established in 1956 with its headquarters on Bowser Avenue. In 1957 the Old Fort YMCA Offices moved to East Creighton Avenue. The Old Fort YMCA was dissolved into the Central Branch and operated there until the 1974 dedication of the new location on Reed Street. In 1965 the Southeast Family YMCA opened. It was originally supposed to be a YMCA/YWCA branch. 17 acres of land were donated by Mr. & Mrs. Lisle Hodell that was later named Hodell Acres. The Whitley County Family YMCA was chartered as a branch of the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne in 1993. In 2005 the Whitley YMCA was renovated to include a new fitness facility, dance and aerobics studio and youth recreation center. In 1994 the Status Offender Court Alternatives Program (SOCAP) was developed by the Youth Service Bureau. The School Age Child Care moved into its first full year of serving over 700 children a day in Before and After School Programs in 1996. The Jorgensen Family YMCA opened in September of 1998. Their original location was on Homestead Road and then moved to the current location on Aboite Center Road. In 2001 the Parkview Family YMCA opens and then has a renovation in 2004 in order to accommodate all their members.
