Ponce YMCA Building

Ponce YMCA Building
Ponce YMCA in Barrio Canas Urbano, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Locator map
Locator map
Location of Ponce and the YMCA Building in Puerto Rico
Location7843 Calle Nazaret
Urbanización Santa Maria
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°00′21″N 66°37′02″W / 18.005888°N 66.617149°W / 18.005888; -66.617149
Area6,349 m2 (68,340 sq ft) (lot)[1]
Built1953–1955
Built byLopez & Perez Builders[1]
ArchitectPedro A. de Castro Gaya
MuralistRafael Ríos Rey
Architectural styleModern[1]
NRHP reference No.12000331
Added to NRHP4 June 2012

The Ponce YMCA Building is a historic structure located in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is located at 7843 Calle Nazaret, Urbanizacion Santa Maria. The structure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on 4 June 2012.[2]

History

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The history of the Ponce YMCA dates back to 1917 when the YMCA was organized in San Juan. In 1919 efforts and surveys were made to start YMCA work in Ponce. In 1934, Manuel Bueno became General Secretary of the Puerto Rico YMCA, the first native Puerto Rican to hold the post. Hurricanes in September 1928 and again in 1931, prevented the Ponce work to move forward once more, as money that had been obtained for the International YMCA Committee had to be used by the San Juan YMCA to help towards repairs to the San Juan YMCA building after these storms. In 1934, however, the YMCA of Puerto Rico became self-supporting.[3]

YMCA building in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the early 20th century

The Great Depression of the 1930s, however, made it very difficult once more to move forward with plans to build a YMCA building in Ponce. The General Secretary, for example, received no salary for six months. As a result of these difficulties, affiliation with various statewide YMCA organizations was sought in 1944, and again in 1947. The Ponce YMCA was founded in 1947, partly as a result of these affiliations.[3] Its architect was Pedro A. de Castro Gaya, the son of architect Pedro Adolfo de Castro. On 10 September 1953 the new Ponce YMCA building broke ground. It was inaugurated on 22 February 1955.[1]

National Register of Historic Places

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The Ponce YMCA was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on 4 June 2012.[2] Its listing was made possible in part for its interior mural by Rafael Rios Rey titled "El Hombre" (English: Man).[4]

Current use

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The building has been in continuous use since its inauguration, and sees heightened activity during the summer months with the addition of summer camp programs. During the year it caters to children and adolescents. Over 400 children use its programs.[5] It also holds regular summer camp programs.[6] The Ponce YMCA oftentimes works in conjunction with the Ponce Region Boy Scout movement in order to help the boys' programs with growth.[3] The building is heavily used for its sports facilities.[7] The Ponce YMCA executive director in 2019 was Maritza Correa.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Llanes Santos, Juan (17 April 2012), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Ponce Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Building (PDF), retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b National Park Service (15 June 2012), Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/04/12 through 6/08/12, archived from the original on 25 November 2015, retrieved 17 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c University of Minnesota Libraries (13 June 2012), YMCA International Work in Puerto Rico: An Inventory of Its Records, archived from the original on 4 October 2013, retrieved 9 July 2012.
  4. ^ Un monumento para cada pueblo. Archived 2013-02-15 at archive.today Ileana López Avilés. El Nuevo Dia. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Arrasa Ponce YMCA en Youth Basketball" [Ponce YMCA on a rampage in youth basketball], La Perla del Sur (in Spanish), Ponce, n.d., archived from the original on 6 April 2013, retrieved 26 June 2012.
  6. ^ "YMCA: Anuncia sus campamentos de verano" [YMCA: Announces summer camps], La Perla del Sur (in Spanish), Ponce, 2011, archived from the original on 4 October 2013, retrieved 9 July 2012.
  7. ^ Commemoracion del Sexagesimo Aniversario de la Ponce YMCA. Saludos PR: Cultura y Sociedad Puertoriqueña. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  8. ^ Orgullo ponceño: YMCA reconoce la trayectoria del árbitro Jorge Vázquez. Junior Lugo Marreo. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La PErla del Sur. 2 October 2019. Year 36. Issue 1870. 2 - 9 October 2019. Page 22. Accessed 2 October 2019.
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  • Summary sheet from the Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office (in Spanish)
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