20060719 KDDC April 1979 YMCA

April 1979 YMCA

The bottom picture posted above is of the Carroll County YMCA when it was located in the former “Keefer’s Fine Foods” store opposite from the old Westminster Post Office on Main Street in Westminster.

While I am posting old photos, the top photo is of this area around 1910 or so? The middle photo is this area around 1920?

On June 21st, 2006, my column in the Westminster Eagle was on the very early beginnings of the YMCA: "45 years ago, when residents said 'Y,' our community leaders said, 'why not?'

45 years ago, when residents said 'Y,' our community leaders said, 'why not?'

06/21/06
By Kevin E. Dayhoff

Forty-five years ago on June 29, 1961, a group of 16 community leaders met at the old Davis Library to begin the formation of one of Carroll County's premier institutions - the Carroll County Family Branch of the YMCA.

The YMCA has been a basic building block in the social fabric of our community for so many years that many have come to take it for granted.

It all started with a grand total of $22. A "group of teenagers" donated $12.00 and Charles Mooshian, editor of the then-Westminster Times, chipped in another $10.

As with the formation of most groups that have become critical components of our county (others coming to mind include the Carroll County Farm Museum, Carroll Hospital Center, the Carroll County Agriculture Center, the Historical Society of Carroll County, Carroll Community College), it was not easy.

Westminster has its dreamers, its dream keepers and its dream slayers.

The dreamers and the dream-keepers are the stuff that make the community a home; a great place to live, do business and raise a family.

The dream-keepers are citizens, not spectators. They say, "let's do it," and then roll up their sleeves and get it done.

Read the rest of my column here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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