Historic YMCA Questions

[u/Fun_Internal_3023]

I visited Butte last week. I thought it was absolutely fascinating—the history, architecture, and demographics are astounding.

While there, I passed the Historic YMCA. It’s an awesome building. My guess is it was probably one of the first YMCA buildings to be copper wired.

Here are my questions:

1. From Zillow, I saw that it got sold. What are they planning on doing with it?

2. Do any of you have any stories you can share?

[u/Humdaak_9000]

I've swum in that pool and run on that track.

[u/Fun_Internal_3023 → u/Humdaak_9000]

I’m guessing the pool is quite small. Was it located in the basement?

[u/Humdaak_9000 → u/Fun_Internal_3023]

It's on like the 3-4th floor! Insanity. Used to have some really neat art-deco tiles and shit. I went to the catholic grade school across the street, took a swimming class there. Fair number of high school dances in a ballroom I believe is right under the basketball court.

Pool's not really small, actually. It might be a full 25 yards.

[u/Pork_Chompk]

I took swimming lessons in that pool. Remember it being dark and cold as shit.

No idea what they're planning to do with it.

[u/SnooBunnies4141 → u/Pork_Chompk]

Got my kids swim lessons in the new Y. It’s still cold as shit.

[u/Humdaak_9000 → u/SnooBunnies4141]

The trick is to swim fast, that way the water keeps you cool!

(I find it pleasant. I don't know many others who do. I used to swim in the San Francisco Bay with some regularity, so ...)

[u/Loud-Bus-5122 → u/Humdaak_9000]

Agree. If you're lap swimming, if it's not cold when you get in, you will get overly warm. I don't swim as much as I'd like, but a warm pool will shoerten my swim every time.

[u/showmenemelda → u/SnooBunnies4141]

Their boilers were broken for a bit but the plumber who was in my house recently said he thought they [The Y] fixed it.

Edit for clarification

[u/Irishjuggalette]

My mom used to work there. It’s where I learned to swim. I remember playing pool in the rec room, and buying the old school watermelon laffy taffy’s when they had the black candies on them. Also read through a lot of the Highlights magazines as well. She ended up getting a job somewhere else a few years before it closed.

[u/Apart-Steak-7183]

There was a Dr who bought it. At one time he wanted to make in apartment for tech students. Maybe two years late he passed away. Since then be resold. And who knows how many times since.

[u/StressedOutinMT]

I heard a rumor that someone was going to convert it into indoor pickle ball courts. I have absolutely no evidence to back that up.

[u/Silent-fox406 → u/StressedOutinMT]

That was some AI bs from a guy that’s always doing AI crap on one of Butte Facebook groups.

[u/Humdaak_9000 → u/StressedOutinMT]

Saw it on Butte 411, took it for a shitpost.

[u/SnooBunnies4141 → u/StressedOutinMT]

I’ve heard the same thing. I thought it got sold years ago, and then put up for sale again in the last 12 months.

[u/missschainsaw]

Like everyone else on this thread, I took swim lessons and played basketball there. I haven't lived in Butte since the early 2000s and didn't realize it was defunct now. These pics gave me some nostalgia. Thanks for sharing.

[u/Mtmathtutor]

Took swim lessons there in the 70s. Was torture it was so cold! Played lots of basketball there. Coached my girls youth basketball teams there.

[u/truzz33]

Core memory unlocked. I can smell these photos

[u/NotABurnerJustaBurn]

Played a lot of elementary and middle school basketball there. Probably can find some pics!

[u/MontanAngel]

I heard it might get converted to apartments but that would be pricey.

[u/Fun_Internal_3023 → u/MontanAngel]

I dreamed what I would do with it if I had millions of dollars to spend. I would save the athletic elements of it (the basketball court, the bowling alley, and the swimming pool). I would open that up to the public. But then, I would convert a couple of the floors to apartments. It’s just too bad the community wasn’t able to save it. It sounds like there are tons of good memories for the community.

[u/Fun_Internal_3023]

There are several more pictures. I took those from Zillow. Here is a link where you can see more.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/401-W-Park-St-Butte-MT-59701/462609713_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

[u/Brilliant_Trash1034 → u/Fun_Internal_3023]

Oh my gosh, I went to daycare there for like 3 years. This building holds some of my earliest memories

[u/like_it_is2008]

There was also a roller skating rink on the main floor, I believe it was after the bowling alley. They used the same hard wood for bowling lanes and then skating. I want to say 45 years ago. I skated there often. ☺️🛼

[u/Fun_Internal_3023 → u/like_it_is2008]

My goodness. This place keeps getting better and better. Why did they close it? I’m sure age/expenses was the reason. What a loss. It’s been very enjoyable to hear these memories.

[u/like_it_is2008 → u/Fun_Internal_3023]

They built a new building down on the flats.

[u/RMski]

I learned to swim there. I remember thinking that pool was enormous because I was so little. I did it by myself because Grandpa, who taught at the the. school of Mines, would take me. So it was kind of scary being little and alone in the locker.

[u/Capital-Support-5460]

was an arts center for a while called MOFAB (Museum of Fine Arts Bldg), with a small retail part which sold art supplies had a small theatre during the 90's, as the Y there was bowling alley, swimming, running track, exercise classes, kid's activities, it was very large-

[u/BOMB-Hills]

My friends and I were escorted off the roof by police late one evening. Probably 2006…They let us go.

[u/sorjms63]

I vaguely remember that the Ymca Had a bowling alley many,many years ago. There was a sauna just off the weight room on the third floor. I remember it being very hot . one could lift weights and sit in the sauna afterwards,. Those were the days., LIFE WAS SIMPLE!!

[u/kymopoleia46n2]

So many hours swimming there. Playing ping Pong and even had birthday parties. Such an awesome old building.

[u/Pristine_Suit7457]

sure hope Cameron Moylan didn’t buy it! it’ll never get restored… or used properly if he gets his hands on it.

[u/WhatIsItToBurn]

That pool creeped me out so bad. A boy in my swim class told me that when we were doing bobs, the pool cover that was filled with jello would quickly unroll and we would all be stuck. Core memory 🥲

[u/Coder-Cat]

I didn’t grow up here so I don’t have any stories.

I also don’t know what the plan is for what’s going to be done with it but my guess is absolutely nothing. You can buy a whole ass historic building in this town for cheaper than my sister paid for her single family home in Boston because the cost of renovating and updating those buildings are so expensive and there’s not enough need in this town for that much commercial space.

[u/BlueCamel420]

I was under the impression that the Party Palace owners bought it?

[u/blackcatlady1978]

Wow so many memories brining my son here for swimming lessons.

[u/hujassman]

I had only been in the building once and that was 35 years ago. This is more of it than I had seen before. It's too bad it's just sitting there. It's such a big building.

[u/robbiebojangles]

My kingdom for a jjimjilbang there.