Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1952-04-12
History Of Parrish
Street Branch
Y. M. G. A.

The local branch of the Young
Mems Christian Association was
organized in 1915 as a result of the
Council of Social Agencies effort
to reach out to more of the citizens
of Jackson. 1t is an outgrowth OF
the efforts and thinking of many
| civic minded men and women OF
this city, both white and colored
The first building which housed the
Association was purchased by con.
tributions of $500 each by 10e
men. This building is located at SOC
North Parish Street. Furnishings
for the building were secured by
purchasing all Of the equipment
of the U.S.A. which operated here
during the war. Since then, the
adjacent lot has been purchased
thereby increasing the area owned
by the Branch.
A major portion of the initial
financing and the continuing OPP
Grating budget of the Parish Street
Branch Y.M.C.A. has been sup
piled by the Community Chest of
Greater Jackson. Approximately
one-third of the budget has been
secured each year in the annual
membership efforts.
j. R. Buck, Jr. of Vicksburg
Mississippi was elected the first
executive secretary. He was sue
ceeded by F. w. Barker who serv-
ed the Association until December
/, 1851. C. c. Moore of this city
served the Branch as acting execu-
tive secretary for three months;
and. as of March l, 1862 the staff
of the Branch has been headed by
o. c.. Statham of Chattanooga
Tennessee.
The Association has grown num-
erically from 100 charter members
at the outset to 720 members ir
! 1851. The budget has increased
from $3.50 in 1947 to $9,687 il
1851. |. S. Sanders was elected the
first chairman of the committee Of
management. He was succeeded ir
1948 by B. B. Dansby who is still
heading the committee.
The growth of the Association
has been rapid due to the very
fine cooperation of the people OF
the community and the interest
which has been shown by its con
stituency and friends.
The citizens of Jackson anC
Kinds County will be contacted il
early May for funds OF build {
Branch YM.CA. building for thu
use of the Negro Community.
Y.M.C.A. President, Zach T. He'd
erman, announced that E. j. DER
ry) Craigo had accepted the tol
leadership as General Chairman O
the Drive to secure total subscrip
tions Of $150,000. Other leader.
enlisted include the two section
leaders, w. P. McMullen for tn,
Central "Y" and Earl w. Bank:
for the Branch "Y".
The Campaign has been approx
ed by the Jackson Appeals Review
Board and is to be concluded May
20, 1862. 1t being conducted by the
Parish Street Branch Y.M.C.A
with the cooperation of the Contra
Y.MC.A.
The Parish Street Branch WV.
CA. was organized in 1915. Al
that time committee of one hun.
dred leaders of the Negro Com.
munity enrolled as charter mem.
bers. More than eight hundred
members are now being served by
the Branch Program which has the
basic ideals of development OF
Christian personality and a Christ.
ian Community" 1t is a member
agency of the Jackson Community
Chest and was aided vitality by
the chest in its organization.
The land for the proposed new
building is fully paid for by the
members and is centrally located
at 806 North Parish Street. Or
ganization plans are being develop.
ed which call for nearly three hun.
dred workers in the two sections
Names of other division leaders
and workers will be announced in
the near future. The Y.MC.A
Board of Directors has anticipat.
ed the improvement of the Branch
: "Y" for some years. 1t was felt
however, that the completion of the
Central Y.M.C.A. building was the
first job and the announcement OF
the May Campaign places the drive
at the earliest time following the
i opening of the New Central "Y".
Members of the joint campaign
executive committee are President
Z. t. Hederman, E. M. Jones, YM.-