About Us

Downtown Hartford saw its first structure built in 1892. It included the first indoor swimming pool in Hartford. Other structures were built in 1938, which housed locker rooms and a swimming pool, and 1974 the “Fit Zone, residence and offices.

The Industrial Management Club was established in 1939 and gave mid level and line managers of the many manufacturing firms in Hartford a place for continuing education and socialization.

In 1977 the branch established its first emergency shelter, Jewell House, for teenagers.

Recognized that the YMCA was not doing enough to provide programs and services to families in Hartford’s other neighborhoods we began expanding beyond our walls. We started Minority Achievers in 2003. Downtown YMCA Urban Initiatives program offers activities for kids and families at the Learning Corridor in Hartford’s south end. These were first steps in building opportunities for Hartford residents.

In May 2006, the YMCA on Jewell Street closed its doors and the new Downtown YMCA, located at 241 Trumbull Street, opened. The new Downtown YMCA was designed for working adults offering classes from indoor cycling and power walking to yoga and Read to Succeed, an adult literacy program. The Jewell Street building was sold in order to divest resources to the local neighborhoods with new family centers. We expect to open the first building in north Hartford in late 2008.

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