Founded in 1901 as the Ninth Street Branch Young Men's Christian Association under the YMCA of Metropolitan Columbus, we had a beginning through the efforts of a small prayer group.  In its infancy,  Ninth Street's destiny was guided by a community of negro citizens of the community consisting of Mr. W. E. Clark, S.R. Marshall, S.W. Yarbrough and Dr. R. H. Cobb.  Much of the YMCA's work at that time was concentrated on young boys and men and was held outside a small frame building.  In 1907, Mr. George Foster Peabody and his brothers Royal Canfield Peabody and Charles Jones Peabody, donated a sizable monetary gift that resulted in the first constructed and fully equipped Negro YMCA in the country.  The facility housed a dormitory, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, cafeteria, office space and game rooms.  In 1925, additional improvements were made costing $12,500 - which was received from funds contributed from the Army and Navy Boards of the YMCA and local citizens. The guest speaker for the dedication was Mr. Booker T. Washington, guest soloist was Gertrude "Ma" Rainey.

On Tuesday morning, December 31, 1963 - at approximately 10:30 a.m., the gymnasium roof of the YMCA collapsed.  Columbus had received a trace amount of snow fall which produced ice on the roof.  The age and condition of the building had left the roof in a weakened state.  The Ninth Street Branch closed its doors three months later and was subsequently demolished.  For the next two years, the YMCA provided programs from a building owned by Dr. S. P. Charleston on Shepherd Drive in Columbus.

On Sunday, November 21, 1965 - 4:00 p.m., the new YMCA facility was dedicated as the Brookhaven Boulevard Branch YMCA.  In 1978, the YMCA was renamed the A. J. McClung YMCA in honor of former director Arthur J. McClung for his service to the YMCA and community.  In 1986, the board of managers elected to break away from the Metropolitan Association and became an independent association, and on June 2, 1986, was incorporated as the A. J. McClung Young Men's Christian Association, Inc.  Though the YMCA has seen many changes, one thing has remained constant:  providing programs that meet the needs of the community it serves. Throughout the years, new programs have emerged dealing with the problems of the day.  The A. J. McClung YMCA currently seeks to provide prevention programs regarding heart disease, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse and AIDS.

The YMCA is deeply  committed to improve the quality of life of all people.  The YMCA is in the "People Business".  The area in which the YMCA serves depends upon the expressed needs of those served.  Programs are designed to help achieve clearly defined goals and objectives.  Services are affirmed through memberships, endowment programs and the United Way.

To sum up the essence of a time-honored institution in a few words is difficult.  The objective of the YMCA is to promote honesty, caring, responsibility and respect for all.  The mission is to offer programs to youth and adults based on Christianity and to practice Christian principles that promote fair play, respect for others, honesty and the unity of man symbolized by the YMCA's triangle.

Through the years the YMCA has met the many challenges of changing lifestyles and diverse ethnic groups.  The focus of the YMCA has always been to offer programs and activities that build a healthy spirit, mind and body, for all.  A continuing vision of the YMCA is to be an organization that is inclusive and not exclusive.

As times have changed, so have program opportunities at the YMCA.  More activities are included to encompass children, boys and girls as well as programs for women.  Aerobics classes are a common feature as well as after-school programs, childcare for pre-schoolers, programs in the arts, tutoring classes, health and enhancement classes, computer classes, day camps in the spring and summer, teen dances, beauty pageants, king and queen contests, talent shows, boxing, swim meets and much, much more.

In January of 2001 - the A. J. McClung YMCA merged with the YMCAs of Metropolitan Columbus to become a Branch under the one umbrella of the YMCA association.  Under the leadership of Mr. David Steele, President for the Metro Association and Mrs. Ernestine Ramsey, Branch Director for the McClung Branch, the YMCA has continued to move forward.  The YMCA has outreach programs in two Columbus Housing Authority complexes as well as in Smiths, Alabama.  They are reaching the community with one goal in mind -- to provide programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all the citizens of the Columbus, Georgia; Fort Benning, Georgia; Harris County, Georgia; Phenix City, Alabama and Russell County, Alabama region.  The YMCA is committed to Christian principles  while meeting the needs of the community.

Sources:  Mrs. Ernestine Ramsey, A. J. McClung YMCA Branch Director; Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, Georgia; Brian McClure, Meteorologist, WTVM-TV, Columbus, Georgia