On Thursday, February 19, the Walnut Street YMCA will mark its 85th year with a celebration and documentary screening at Chase Center on the Riverfront. “Passport to Possibilities” will chronicle the profound impact of the Walnut Street YMCA on the Wilmington community over the past 85 years.
The original YMCA building was designed in 1939 by Wilmington architect G. Morris Whitehead II as a community center for the city’s African American population. A gift from Mr. and Mrs. H. Fletcher Brown funded construction. The Walnut Street YMCA featured a gymnasium, auditorium, pool, library, bowling alleys, and billiard room. The original building was demolished in 1998, and the current YMCA building was constructed on the same site. While most of the building is brand-new, the friezes that paid homage to Marion Anderson, Booker T. Washington, Paul Robeson, and George Washington Carver still adorn the building today.
During segregation, the Walnut Street YMCA served as a gathering place and cultural hub for Wilmington’s African American community. From educational programs to an award-winning basketball team and expansive swim program, the YMCA opened the door to a wide range of opportunities. Since then, the Walnut Street YMCA has served as a safe haven for people of all backgrounds in Wilmington…