History of the Bessemer YMCA

  • 1919 Bessemer Memorial YMCA Committee was formed.
    • R.L. Coons employed as the first General Secretary and served until 1925.
  • 1920 Permanent Board of Directors elected.
    • Articles of Incorporation papers were filed.
    • Land purchased on 4th Avenue North for $11,500.
    • First Memorial Drive conducted.
  • 1924 Second campaign conducted to complete building, raising $100,000.
  • 1925 First YMCA building was completed.
  • 1926 Borrowed $75,000.
  • 1931 Building formally opened to serve the Bessemer and surround communities.
    • Foreclosed on building loan.
  • 1935 Board of Director obtained use of the building.
    • YMCA reopened to serve the Bessemer and surrounding communities.
  • 1946 Final loan payment was made to pay-off $180,958.07 of debt.
  • 1959 Y-Wood Field site secured from Woodward Iron Company.
  • 1962 Y-Wood Field formally dedicated.
  • 1971 27 acres of land purchased for the construction of a new facility.
  • 1974 Earl S. Usher employed as General Director.
  • 1976 Capital development program raises $1,098,000 to expand programs and services.
  • 1979 New family YMCA facility dedicated with 1,000 charter members.
  • 1982 Planned facility completed with 5,000 members enrolled.
  • 1985 Auxiliary gymnasium and fully equipped fitness center constructed.
  • 1988 Completed $200,000 expansion project to include additional program rooms and wellness space.  
  • 1989 Completed $300,000 expansion to include the dedication of the Fischbach Memorial Swimming Pool and bathhouse.
  • 1990 Wayne Chapman became full-time director of the Y-Wood branch.
  • 1991 General Director Earl S. Usher retired.
    • YMCA name officially changed to the Earl S. Usher Bessemer Area YMCA.
    • 7,800 members enrolled at year end.
  • 1992 Joey Rosser employed as General Director.
    • New multi-user computer system installed.
  • 1993 Bank drafts for membership were computerized through Y-Ware and posted directly to the operating account for the first time.
  • 1994 3,800 square foot expansion of YMCA facilities completed using $550,000 from Reserve Fund.  Included multi-purpose rooms, aerobic center, restrooms and child care space.
  • 1996 Wayne Chapman retired after 40 years of YMCA service.
    • Renovations completed to fitness center and tennis courts.
  • 1998 Lighting added to outdoor multi-purpose field.
    • Tony Adams serves as interim General Director/CEO.
  • 1999 Charles Trammell employed as General Director/CEO.
    • Partnership developed with Caraway Medical Center to develop “Total Wellness” program.
  • 2000 Long Range Planning Committee is organized.
  • 2001 Y-Wood Field facility sold.
    • New youth program building added and 45 additional parking spaces added.
  • 2002 Strategic Planning Committee organized.
  • 2004 Southcrest YMCA community pool and tennis courts opened.
    • 3 acres of land cleared at Earl S. Usher YMCA to expand programming.
  • 2005 7.6 acres of land purchased on Parkwood Road for future building.
  • 2006 Board of Director adopts the new corporate name of Legacy YMCA.
  • 2007 John R. Kirkland employed as Chief Executive Officer.
  • 2016 Michael A. Talerico employed as Chief Executive Officer
  • 2017 Board of Directors approves the transfer of $475,000 from reserves to pay off remaining organizational debt.
  • 2019 Board of Directors approves purchase of Hueytown Swim Club for future program expansion.  YMCA enters into formal agreement with the City of Hueytown to develop and operate a youth center to serve Hueytown and Pleasant Grove communities.  YMCA is awarded a $10,000 grant through Y-USA to continue work addressing child hunger in the Bessemer community.
  • 2020 Legacy YMCA receives $312,000 in grant funding to support its’ work during the early onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.  YMCA’s Hueytown Youth Centers opens and provides childcare to emergency workers and offers eLearning days for local students.
  • 2021 A capital campaign kickes off to raise $150,000 for renovations needed to reopen the Hueytown swimming pool.
  • 2023 Completed $145,000 renovation project of the free weight room and indoor track.
  • 2024 Completed $190,000 renovation of the Hueytown swimming pool and reopened the facility on Memorial Day.  Invested $83,000 in the transportation fleet with the purchase of two (2) new activity buses.

Our Mission – Our Reason For Being

To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

Our Cause – Our Mission In Action

Strengthening the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.