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YWCA of Asheville |
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| CHRONOLOGY | |
| 1906 | YWCA founded in "Henrietta House," a Patton Family home
on Biltmore Ave Later sites: Cherokee Inn on Woodfin and Oak and the Platt home on Merrimon Ave |
| 1907 | Articles of Incorporation (May, 1907) |
| 1922 | Phyllis Wheatley Branch for Negroes founded, outgrowth of the Employment Club, a group that found work for members and sponsored recreational programs |
| 1924 | Administrative and activities building at 13 Grove Street opened (12-3-24) |
| 1934 | Moorehead House residence at 23 Grove Street opened for
guests (11-21-34) A home for working girls and students for 36 years, it was built with $100,000 bequest from Samuel E. Moorhead, father of Asheville YWCA Board Member, Mrs. Charles S. Bryant |
| 1936 | Negro Branch "will not conform to the policies and
regulations of the Central Association" Phyllis Wheatley Branch becomes the Phyllis Wheatley Center |
| 1938 | Phyllis Wheatley Center asks to be re-admitted as a
branch of the national YWCA Secretary Adele Ruffin resigns |
| 1938 | $10, 000 renovation and addition to Phyllis Wheatley Branch at 272 College Street. Includes only fully equipped gymnasium for Negroes in the South |
| 1939 | Dedication of renovated Negro Branch on College Street (2-5-39) |
| 1943-45 | YWCA entertains servicemen |
| 1954 | Lucille Burton attended YWCA Board Meetings as a representative of the Board of the Phyllis Wheatley branch |
| 1961 | Wheatley building on College Street torn down for
expressway construction Negro branch moves to 123 Asheland Avenue |
| 1962 | Groundbreaking for a new Negro Branch at 185 South
French Broad (1-14-62) New executive director Thelma Caldwell, looking ahead to integration, insisted 1. that the branch NOT be located in a Black residential neighborhood and 2. that the branch name be South French Broad rather than Phyllis Wheatley |
| 1963 | YWCA holds a series of workshops on "The Challenge of
Integration" (11-12-63).
Report recommends adult education and job training for both Negro and white First integrated swimming classes held in Grove Street pool |
| 1968 | Two branches are integrated "on paper" |
| 1970 | YWCA board votes to close the Grove Street YWCA for
financial reasons Swimming pool to be added to South French Broad building. Decision to merge branches is met by strong criticism with racial overtones.Petition against merger with 2,500 signatures presented 11/12/70 |
| 1971 | HUD awards Asheville YWCA a $24,000 grant for program to improve race relations |
| 1972 | YWCA sponsors continuing education for pregnant teenagers |
| 1973 | $60,000 grant funds YWCA day care program to help young mothers stay in school |
| 1974 | Capital campaign to raise $425,000 for a new pool, activity room and club rooms |
| 1976 | Former YWCA board members organize the Booster Club |
| 1980 | Under interim director Elizabeth McCubbin, debt is reduced from $26,000 to $4,000 |
| 1996 | The United Way put the YWCA on financial probation
because of $54,000 debt Under new leadership the YWCA was able to recover and to continue vital programming |
| 2006 | YWCA celebrates 100 years |