Westside Family Branch ChildCare history

1880 – First “Railroad Y” is established on State Street.

1890 – The South Avenue YMCA – the first YMCA building in Rochester – opened with a gymnasium, swimming pool, locker rooms and meeting rooms.

1892 – Summer camping is established with 12 boys and two leaders camping in tents on Sodus Bay.

1915 – George Eastman pledges $250,000 to a new YMCA fund drive to build a central YMCA operation and satellite branches, provided the city would raise an additional $500,000 in order to finance the projects.

1916 – Central YMCA and Maplewood Family YMCA were completed and dedicated.

1920 – Camp Cory opens on shores of Keuka Lake as resident camp for boys.

1922 – A special building fund drive raises $450,000 in nine days, enabling the construction of Arnett and Monroe Family branches.

1960 – Camp Arrowhead day camp facility is established.

1961 – The YMCA of Greater Rochester acquires Camp Gorham in Adirondacks thanks to generous donation of Gorham Family.

1972 – To address suburban growth, the YMCA opened three suburban facilities – Bay View, Northwest and Southeast.

1982 – The Chester F. Carlson MetroCenter YMCA opened in heart of downtown Rochester, replaced the Central Branch. $2.5 million from the Carlson Family.

1998 – Two new facilities opened – Southwest Family YMCA* and Victor Family YMCA.

2001 – Lewis Street Child Care Center opened to address the child care needs of hundreds of inner-city families.

2004 – The Westside Family YMCA opened, marking the first new branch in more than 20 years.

2005 – Camp Northpoint opened.

2006 – The Eastside Family Branch opens.