Designed by Parr & Aderhold
1951
616 NE 4th, OKC
For years, Oklahoma City was the only major metropolitan area in the Southwest to not have a branch of the YMCA that served the African-American community. After WWII, community leaders, both black and white, came together to raise funds for two new buildings, the downtown YMCA and this one. Here’s an image of the groundbreaking:
The beautiful $460,000 building on Northeast 4th opened in 1951 with over 2,000 people, including the initial organizer (below) coming to check out the new center:
The building remained an active branch until the YMCAs were all integrated. The International-style building is now the Henrietta B. Foster community center.
(Vintage photos courtesy of the OPUBCO collection at the History Center.)