History

  • 1947 – The East Side YMCA began in two rooms over a business on Thayer Street as a satellite child-care program for the Greater Providence YMCA, providing recreation programs for children. 

  • 1954 – A fundraising campaign was conducted to raise money to purchase land and houses at the corner of Hope Street and Doyle Avenue. One of those houses was used as the Y building while the other was torn down. As programs grew, so did the desire to build a new home for the Y on this property.

  • 1964 – The Board of Directors conducted an extensive search for the right person to fulfill the stated goals of growth. Ray Baker was hired as Executive Director, a dynamic individual who made an extra effort to include everyone in his vision for the East Side Y, regardless of race, creed or social status.

  • 1971 – The house was torn down and office space was rented on the corner of Hope and Olney.  YMCA programs were conducted in several East Side locations, including The First Unitarian Church, Temple Emmanu-el, Friends Meeting House, Olney Street Baptist Church and Wheeler School.

  • 1975 – A need for a new facility prompted a capital campaign under the leadership of Robert H. I. Goddard and the generosity of the Hope Goddard Iselin Foundation. The original YMCA building was completed, housing the current lobby, pool, locker rooms and lower-level program space. The building was designed by the Providence firm of Sturges Daugh Salisbury, Inc. It won a design award from the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Ray Baker left the Y in 1975. Executive Director Bernard Kirchoff served from 1975 to 1979.

  • 1980s – The name was changed to YMCA Parent Child Care Center to reflect its new role as the Youth Services Division under the InTown Providence Y. From 1980 to 1987, the Y was under the leadership of Cezar Ferriera, then Yvonne Janet Butler and Mary Ellen O’Mahoney. Judith Manocchia came to the Y as Senior Program Director in 1987.

  • 1991 – The Y once again changed focus and programming and purchased workout equipment serving adults, teens and seniors as well as children. The name was changed to East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA to reflect the expanded area of the city that was being served.

  • 1994 – The City of Providence built the Vincent Brown Recreation Center on YMCA land, creating a condominium partnership. The Vincent Brown Recreation Center is currently under the operations of the Providence Recreation Department.

  • 1995-1996 – The original pool roof was replaced. The YMCA pool was closed for six months for this construction work. During this time the Y upgraded its Nautilus and cardio equipment.

  • 1997 – The East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA took over management of the Rhode Island Hospital Fitness Center on the 5th floor of the Gerry Building.

  • 2006 – Through generous donations of more than $1.2 million, construction was completed for the newest addition to the Y – new fitness center and aerobic studio, indoor cycling room and family locker rooms. Scott Smith took over the leadership reins from Judy Manocchia, becoming the first District Executive of Providence YMCA operations.