Nashua YMCA Branch

Officially founded on October 6, 1887 as the YMCA of Nashua. Elijah M. Shaw was the first board president. Bible studies and mechanical drawing were the first classes offered by the Nashua Y. They were held in rented rooms on Main Street. The YMCA Women’s Auxiliary was formed in 1889 and was active through 1980. In 1899 a lot on the corner of Temple and Spring Streets was purchased with a residence for the Y’s first facility. On March 19, 1912 President William Howard Taft laid the cornerstone of the Y’s building. In 1924 a camp site was purchased on Lake Naticook in Merrimack. It became a Y overnight camp for boys and named Camp Sargent in honor of Eaton D. Sargent who was Mayor of Nashua and also the Y board president at that time. In 1961 Camp Sargent was changed to a day camp for both boys and girls. In 1964 the YMCA and YWCA combined efforts to build a joint facility at 17 Prospect Street in Nashua. The Y purchased the former Merrimack Athletic Club in December 1992.  The facility became the Merrimack Y, a branch of the YMCA of Nashua association. Darlene Stromstad became the first woman to hold the office of Y board president in 1993. In the summer of 1995 the Nashua Y renovated its facility on Prospect Street following the relocation of the YWCA. Sadly, in November of 1997 Frederic E. Shaw passed away.  He had played a significant role in the Y’s history, especially in the development of Camp Sargent.  He was a lifelong Y member, board president, volunteer, and contributor. In 2004 the Y board approved an association name change to the YMCA of Greater Nashua to best reflect the overall service area. The Y’s mission was updated at the same time. May 18, 2010 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Nashua Y location. May 21, 2011 the new Nashua Y location opened at 24 Stadium Drive.