Selma is home to Alabama’s first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) that was founded in 1858, and this is the oldest YMCA building still standing in the state. Built in 1885, the historic structure was in danger of demolition when it was purchased by the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society in 2012. Since then, the building has been stabilized by replacing the caved in roof, shoring up of all exterior walls, rebuilding floors that had collapsed as the roof caved in, and making the building water tight. Future plans are to create apartments in a portion of the building and to rent space on the ground floor.
This building is a contributing property to Selma’s “Old Town Historic District” that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is also included on Selma’s Architecture History Tour (A Self-Guided Driving Tour). This building is located at 217 Broad Street in Selma (GPS coordinates 32.409597, -87.021144).
Sources: 1) Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society (historicselma.org); 2) NRHP “Old Town Historic District” Registration Form.
Date: 12/21/14
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