Public Event Will Bring Guests Back to the 1890s

Beautifully-preserved, hand-written notes tell the story of the founding of Meeting Waters YMCA back in 1895. Several organizational meetings were held throughout 1894 and 1895 leading up to a vote among more than 100 founding members on September 2, 1895. That night, the Bellows Falls YMCA was born.

Photo: The minutes from the September 2, 1895 meeting.

On Thursday, August 13^th, hundreds of current Y leaders, volunteers, participants, and staff, along with others from the past, will gather at the regional Y’s Lewis Day Camp facility to celebrate the early years of the organization’s rich history. The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 7:00 pm.

“An organizing task force of volunteers and staff has planned a fun evening,” said Meeting Waters YMCA’s Executive Director, Steve Fortier.  “Participants will get to learn about our first couple of decades of impacts through interactive activities. We’re excited to celebrate this important milestone with volunteers, donors, staff members and program participants—all of whom have played important roles in sustaining and growing our organization over the years.”

Meeting Waters YMCA’s 52-acre Lewis Day Camp facility is located on Missing Link Road (Route 5) in Springfield, VT. It is just one-half mile off of Route 91 at Exit 7. For more information, contact the Y at your local phone number (Brattleboro area: 246-1036; Bellows Falls/Fall Mountain area: 802-463-4769; or Springfield area: 885-8131) or by emailing info@meetingwatersymca.org.

Meeting Waters YMCA is a charitable, social service organization serving the Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Springfield and Fall Mountain regions. It strengthens the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.