Sumter YMCA history

Sumter was one of the first counties in the state to undertake a countywide system of hard-surfaced highways, according to Cassie Nicholes’ Historical Sketches of Sumter County: Its Birth and Growth.A referendum in 1920 saw the approval of $2.5 million in bonds to construct paved roads.

The Sumter County Cultural Center brings art, music, dance and more to the site of the former Edmunds High School, built in 1939.

Then, in 1963, the Board of Directors, realizing that a complete renovation program would be a much too costly venture, secured 13 acres of land located between Willow Drive, and what is now Miller Road for the proposed new YMCA building , the original portion of our present day location.

The new building was open to the public December 15, 1965.

On October 6, 1966, a resolution was approved to change the name to “Sumter Family YMCA”.

In June 1969, plans were made to add an additional new gymnasium with an indoor running track, new racquetball courts, a new exercise room, and two new clubrooms (fitness centers). Bobby Richardson, the great 2nd baseman of the New York Yankees was asked to help with the campaign.

In February 1985 the Sumter Family YMCA began a $400,000 fund drive known as the “New Horizon” campaign designed to pay off the debt on the new additions to the building, expanding the old locker room and adding a fitness room.

These projects were completed in the winter of 1993.

The center was named after 1995 Board President Steve Barwick’s mother.