| Architect: David S. McIlroy.
Also designed First Baptist Church and the Oddfellows
Temple.
Contractor:
Richard Brocklebank.
Original
cost: $75,000 including furnishings.
Construction materials:
Brick and sandstone.
Architectural style:
Institutional, Georgian Revival. Three storeys.
Interior details:
Main floor consisted of library, parlors, dining
room, gymnasium and swimming pool. The two upper floors
were devoted to bedrooms and reading rooms which opened
off large airy corridors. The bedrooms included two
single beds, a chair, two small rugs and good sized
dresser.
Historical highlights:
- The Young Women's
Christian Association of Calgary was organized in
1907 by a group of local women concerned about
the city's lack of accommodation for single women
new to Calgary. At the first meeting, held at
Magistrate Alice J.Jamieson's house, Katherine
Underwood was declared President.
- The women launched
"the dollar campaign" to raise money.
Alice Jamieson explained, " No one was asked
for more than a dollar. Imagine if you can,
Calgary in those days. There were no pavements or
sidewalks, and the mud was everywhere. Those were
the days of long skirts. Yes, we spoiled our
clothes, shoes and tempers the first day."
- With the $1,500 from
their fundraising efforts the Board rented and
furnished a house on on 15th Avenue S.W.
- In 1908 the Y purchased
five lots from A.E.Aull and H.G. Woolley for
$11,500. Nellie McClung wrote, "In many
masculine minds there was a grave doubt as to
their wisdom. However, in a year or so, when
property values began to soar, the stout-hearted
board were the recipients of many congratulations
on their excellent judgement."
- Alderman R.A.
Brocklebank and Katherine Underwood laid the
cornerstone for the three storey building on June
21, 1910. Invited speakers, R.B.Bennett, K.C.,
M.P.P., and Reverend George Kerby, publicly aired
their differences about the role of women in
society.
- Within months of its
official opening in February 1911 the new
facility, designed to accommodate 62 girls and
women, was full and additional space was rented
in the Underwood Block (1311 1st Street S.W.)
- The "Y"
quickly established itself as a safe place for
women needing assistance and support in a man's
world. Women arriving in Calgary on the train
were met at the station and directed to the YWCA
for suitable accommodation, a service later
called the Traveller's Aid program. The
"Y" also became involved in helping
women find employment and offered classes in
physical training, swimming, dress making,
cooking, millinery, music and Sunday bible
classes. The "Y" helped women to help
themselves.
- The swimming pool was
closed in 1940 and converted into temporary
dormitories.
- In 1941 the mortgage
was burned and the "Y" became the first
billet for the newly formed Canadian Women's Army
Corps.
- Residence was
remodelled in 1944.
- On October 6, 1954 a
$450,000 two storey brick annex which included a
swimming pool and gymnasium, designed by
architects Rule, Wynn and Rule, was officially
opened.
- In 1971, the Y.W.C.A
moved to a new facility at 320 5th Avenue and the
old Y was taken over by the City of Calgary.
- An historic wall
containing the cornerstones from the 1910
building, the 1954 annex and a new stone
depicting the foundation of the 1970 building was
dedicated in November 1970 as " a symbol of
the Y's commitment to build for the future on the
foundations of the past."
- The "Old Y"
was declared a Provincial Historical Resource May
27, 1982.
- The city leased the Old
Y building to a tenant's association who
undertook extensive interior and exterior
renovations throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
- The 1954 annex
currently accommodates the city of Calgary's
Beltline Pool and Fitness Centre. The Old Y
building is home to a number of community service
groups.
|
