YMCA Western Branch
1601 Clark Ave, Detroit, MI 48209
-Abandoned 2000
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History of YMCA Western Branch
The YMCA Western Branch as it stands today was built in 1927, it replaced a earlier building that was housed in a office building on Scotten st. As the population of the west side of Detroit continued to grow into the early 1920s to over 178,000. A newer a larger facility was needed, in the mid 1920s the YMCA's Executive Board, asked the community for donations to go towards a much larger building. Ultimately a donation by Edsel and Eleanor Clay Ford of $750,000, provided the complete cost of a new building located on Clark St. of which the building stands today. Construction began in 1927, and was designed by Malcomson and Higginbotham, which are well known as the architects that built most of the schools in Detroit, from the late 1800s to the mid 1920s. Interesting the Western Branch of the YMCA was also built by the same group.
Recollection from the author
Upon Entering Hutchison it was the start of a new adventure for me. This was officially me completing my long term goal of Urban Exploration, to explore a Detroit Public School which I thought were all secured heavily but I soon found out some were owned by the lank bank. Of which Hutchison was one, upon entering the school for the first time it was a sense of into the dark wide open, A new frontier of sorts of something I truly had never seen before. Going in I knew the abandoned schools of Detroit were some of the best gems of the abandonment of Detroit but it wasn’t till I entered were I saw that come to light.
Main Lobby shot 1
Main Lobby shot 2
Main Lobby shot 3
Main Lobby shot 4 (Note the tile detail on the floor)
Main Lobby shot 5
Main Lobby shot 6
Main Lobby shot 7
Main Lobby shot 8
Main lobby shot 9 (A unique tile basin shaped design in the main lobby)
Gymnasium shot 1
Gymnasium shot 2
Gymnasium shot 3
Gymnasium shot 4
Gymnasium shot 5
Gymnasium shot 6
Gymnasium shot 7
Gymnasium shot 8
Gymnasium shot 9 (The indoor track)
Gymnasium shot 10
Gymnasium shot 11
Gymnasium shot 12
Gymnasium shot 13
Pool area shot 1
Pool area shot 2
Pool area shot 3
Pool area shot 4
Pool area shot 5
Pool area shot 6
Pool showers
sub section next to showers
Community room in the basement under the main lobby, this room features a pool table and a kitchen area it is likely many more amenities would have been located down here that have been since stolen
Community room shot 2
The pool table has developed mold on the play area
Community room shot 3 (Fallout Shelter sign)
Community room shot 4 (Entrance to Kitchen)
Community Room looking from the Kitchen
Back room in Kitchen
Kitchen serving area
One of the main areas aside from the many amenities in the YMCA building is the housing units which add 4 stories of housing space to the building
Courtyard area of the the inner section of the YMCA
2nd floor hallway of housing unit
A interesting unknown section of the 2nd floor houses a unique set of rooms with arched windows separate from the front facade windows in the far background, a small corridor lines this space about 8ft in width
That same room
another part of the same room
Hallway leading to racquetball courts
2nd floor room
The 3rd floor is largely gutted with many walls missing
3rd floor hallway
4th floor hallway
5th floor hallway
5th floor hallway shot 2
5th floor hallway shot 3
Room 557
A 5th floor room
5th floor hallway
Boilers in the basement