Ponce YMCA Building

Ponce YMCA Building
Ponce YMCA in Barrio Canas Urbano, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Location 7843 Calle Nazaret, Urbanizacion Santa Maria,
Nearest city Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates 18°0′21.46″N 66°37′0.84″W / 18.0059611°N 66.6169000°W
Area Lot: 6,349 square meters[1]
Built 10 Sept 1953 - 22 February 1955[2][3]
Built by Lopez & Perez Builders[4]
Architect Pedro A. de Castro Gaya[5]
Architectural style Modern[6]
Sculptor Rafael Ríos Rey (muralist)[7]
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 12000331[8]
Added to NRHP 4 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.[9] It is the only YMCA building in Puerto Rico so listed in the Register.[10]

History

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.[11]

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 state-wide YMCA organizations was sought in 1944, and again in 1947. The Ponce YMCA was founded in 1947, partly as a result of these affiliations.[12] Its architect was Pedro A. de Castro Gaya. On 10 September 1953 the new Ponce YMCA building broke ground. It was inaugurated on 22 February 1955.[13]

National Register of Historic Places

The Ponce YMCA was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on 4 June 2012.[14] It is the only YMCA building in Puerto Rico so listed in the Register.[15] Its listing was made possible in part for its interior mural by Rafael Rios Rey titled "El Hombre" (English: Man).[16]

Today

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.[17] It also holds regular summer camp programs.[18] The Ponce YMCA oftentimes works in conjunction with the Ponce Region Boy Scout movement in order to help the boys' programs with growth.[19] The building is heavily used for its sports facilities.[20]

See also

Coordinates: 18°0′21.456″N 66°37′0.840″W / 18.00596000°N 66.61690000°W

References

  1. ↑ Carlos A. Rubio Cancela. "Ponce Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Page 6. Submitted 23 April 2012. Received 27 April 2012. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Form prepared by Juan Llanes Santos, Historian, Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, 17 April 2012.)
  2. ↑ Arrasa Ponce YMCA en Youth Basketball. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Carlos A. Rubio Cancela. "Ponce Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Page 6. Submitted 23 April 2012. Received 27 April 2012. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Form prepared by Juan Llanes Santos, Historian, Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, 17 April 2012.)
  4. ↑ Carlos A. Rubio Cancela. "Ponce Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Page 6. Submitted 23 April 2012. Received 27 April 2012. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Form prepared by Juan Llanes Santos, Historian, Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, 17 April 2012.)
  5. ↑ Carlos A. Rubio Cancela. "Ponce Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Page 6. Submitted 23 April 2012. Received 27 April 2012. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Form prepared by Juan Llanes Santos, Historian, Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, 17 April 2012.)
  6. ↑ Carlos A. Rubio Cancela. "Ponce Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Page 6. Submitted 23 April 2012. Received 27 April 2012. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Form prepared by Juan Llanes Santos, Historian, Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, 17 April 2012.)
  7. ↑ Carlos A. Rubio Cancela. "Ponce Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Page 6. Submitted 23 April 2012. Received 27 April 2012. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Form prepared by Juan Llanes Santos, Historian, Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, 17 April 2012.)
  8. ↑ Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/04/12 through 6/08/12. National Park service. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  9. ↑ WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 6/04/12 THROUGH 6/08/12. National Park Service. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  10. ↑ List of YMCA buildings
  11. ↑ HISTORY OF YMCA INTERNATIONAL WORK IN PUERTO RICO. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  12. ↑ HISTORY OF YMCA INTERNATIONAL WORK IN PUERTO RICO. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  13. ↑ Carlos A. Rubio Cancela. "Ponce Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building." National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. Page 6. Submitted 23 April 2012. Received 27 April 2012. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Form prepared by Juan Llanes Santos, Historian, Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Office, 17 April 2012.)
  14. ↑ WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 6/04/12 THROUGH 6/08/12. National Park Service. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  15. ↑ List of YMCA buildings
  16. ↑ Un monumento para cada pueblo. Ileana López Avilés. El Nuevo Dia. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  17. ↑ Arrasa Ponce YMCA en Youth Basketball. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  18. ↑ YMCA: Anuncia sus campamentos de verano. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  19. ↑ HISTORY OF YMCA INTERNATIONAL WORK IN PUERTO RICO. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  20. ↑ Commemoracion del Sexagesimo Aniversario de la Ponce YMCA. Saludos PR: Cultura y Sociedad Puertoriqueña. Retrieved 3 October 2013.

External links