Former YMCA has a past and a future

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • May 20, 2013
  • 361
                        
Summary: A building with a rich history for residents in the region has once again been repurposed to serve families. 307 N. Tuscarawas Ave. at Dover once served as the community YMCA from 1927 until 1971 when the organization outgrew the aging building. Structurally sound the building was repurposed and became the local Moose Lodge until it too moved to a new facility and the building was shuttered once more. Ryan Armstrong of Dover along with a few other investors purchased the building and last August began the process of repurposing the building once again, this time as the Recreational Activities Center or R.A.C., a family entertainment center that will include Armstrong’s business, Battlefield Live Ohio, a team oriented battlefield simulation game as well as a gymnasium complete with artificial turf, video arcade and banquet facilities in the area that was once the pool. Armstrong has some early memories of the building and recalled getting caught with his arm in a vending machine around the age of four. “My dad came down those steps,” said Armstrong. “In my memory those steps were big, expansive steps like the steps to a big southern mansion. He was the physical director of the Y at that time. He caught me with my arm stuck in the vending machine trying to get a pack of cookies or something. My older sister Polly saw me first and then went to find my dad.” Armstrong’s parents, Tom and Karen Armstrong of Dover have even more memories of the building that was an important part of their youth. Even before he worked at the YMCA Tom Armstrong like most teenagers in the region hung out at the facility that was also home to Club Co-Ed, a teen social club that was in the basement. “It was the place to be,” said Karen Armstrong. “It wasn’t just kids from Dover either. Kids from all over the region came here to hang out, to dance and to listen to music. “I met Mrs. Armstrong at Atwood Lake and we were also in the choir together,” said Tom Armstrong. “But it was here at Club Co-Ed we had our first dance.” “There was never any trouble here,” said Karen Armstrong. “Kids could feel safe here. If there was a fight they took it outside. Ryan has turned our dance floor in to party rooms and the other room with the Pepsi machine is where they used to play records.” “When I was physical director here the gym was always full,” said Tom Armstrong. “We had classes all the time. On Saturday mornings we’d have 60 or 70 boys lining up at the buzzer door waiting to get in. They’d go to the gym. They’d swim.” While no longer functional the buzzer door was salvaged and it will be on display in the new facility. Former YMCA executive director Tom Patton served the community for 40 years and currently resides at New Philadelphia shared numerous photo albums from his time at the facility. The hope is the photos can eventually be displayed in a collage that can be enjoyed by visitors to the facility. It is a new era for the 86 year old building. Families can once again enjoy it and make new memories. The grand opening of the R.A.C. will be May 24-26 during the annual Canal Dover Festival. For hours and rental information call 330-364-6446.


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