History of Our YMCA

The Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg and Vicinity was founded on November 7, 1898 with the objective of helping "young people develop Christian Character by maintaining and promoting such activities and services as contribute to their physical, social, mental and spiritual growth and by such means as may accomplish this objective."

The first Family YMCA of Easton was located on the south side of Centre Square, east of 3rd Street, and offered reading rooms, classrooms, offices, a parlor and kitchen. The gymnasium was added to the building seven months after it opened.

On January 30, 1899 the Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg and Vicinity was officially incorporated under the non-profit corporation law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In 1900, Camp Hugh Beaver, the YMCA's Resident Camp was begun at Saylor's Lake. Today, Camp Kresge is the Family YMCA’s resident camp and it is located in White Haven, Pennsylvania and is a partnership with the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA.

The second Family YMCA of Easton, was constructed on the corner of Spring Garden and 3rd Streets in 1921. The new building was considered to be one of the largest and best-equipped YMCA's in Pennsylvania in 1922. It had a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, locker rooms, showers, lounges, youth departments, and 88 residence rooms. In 1973, the residence rooms were shut down.

In 1980 new building funding began. After raising 1.95 million dollars and receiving donated land on Lafayette Street, the present building was built.

The facility underwent a $2 Million dollar expansion project in order to better serve the community. The expansion includes the new Wellness Center and the Fowler Family and Children's Wing.