Since 1886
Our History
The Buchanan YMCA Timeline
Built by community. Serves the community. Now, we invite you to scroll through the people, places, and moments that shaped our YMCA.
Hello, World!
1886
The begining
To meet the needs of a growing Japanese immigrant population, The Japanese YMCA was organized in 1886; out of a Presbyterian Mission.
1916
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In 1892, the Japanese YMCA moved into the vacated SF Theological Seminary that was located at 121 Haight St. In 1916, the Japanese YMCA merged with the San Francisco Metropolitan YMCA thus aligning itself with the other YMCA’s in San Francisco.
1918
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Mr. Kiyoshi Tomizawa was appointed the executive of the Japanese YMCA in 1918 and shortly thereafter, set out to raise funds to build a larger facility in order to serve the continually growing Japanese population that moved to the Western Addition after the 1906 earthquake.
1920s
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In 1926, a former residence at 1409 Sutter St., was officially named and adopted as the new Japanese YMCA. By 1928, the Japanese YMCA was only able to raise $28,000 for new property. Mr. Tomizawa’s advocacy for a new Japanese YMCA was fruitful in securing a commitment from the YMCA of the USA to give $75,000 to the project as a matching to the Japanese YMCA but only if they could raise $75,000 on their own.
1930s
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In 1929, the Japanese YMCA purchased the land at 1530 Buchanan St. for approximately $29,650. Groundbreaking took place in May of 1930 with Japanese Ambassador Katsugi, Mayor Rolph and other community leaders taking part. The building was erected in 1935 with the formal opening on September 30, 1936. Mr. Kyoshi Tomizawa stayed on at the new Japanese YMCA until his retirement in 1939
1940s
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A few years later, during a dark time in our history, the Japanese YMCA became the site where the Japanese were forced to register for and bused out to internment camps. The Tanforan Race Track in South San Francisco was the first stop where they were housed in horse stables where they stayed and eventually moved to internment camps in the interior of the United States. The internment created sudden vacancies that were quickly filled by Jewish immigrants and African American GI’s during and after the war.
1940s
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Just prior to America’s involvement in World War II in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to unite several service associations into one organization to lift the morale of our military and nourish support on the home front. This became the United Service Organizations or, the USO. In 1946, the USO turned the building back to the YMCA where the staff quickly set out to serve the needs of the returning Japanese and African American population. The community, now known as the Western Addition, became San Francisco’s first multicultural neighborhood.
1950s
Expanding programms
Community-building programs continue through the decade (Hobo Banquet, Dec. 1950; Model United Nations; Jones Gulch pool).
1950s
A big change
Japantown selected as one of the first large-scale urban renewal projects in the nation — mass clearance via eminent domain; SF Redevelopment Agency begins acquiring properties in the late 1950s.
1960s
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Fillmore District becomes a post-war hub for jazz, arts, and activism; the Y expands programs for youth, families, seniors.
1966
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1966 — Yoritada Wada becomes Executive Director (serves until 1992); remembered for tireless work making the Buchanan Y "a neutral zone for children," taking hundreds of kids to camp.
1970s
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1980s
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Renovation led by YMCA of SF and the Buchanan board (chair: Dr. Richard Caesar — Tuskegee Airman (WWII), neighborhood dentist, community leader; instrumental in fundraising to keep the Y open.); fitness center added — weight training, group exercise, senior exercise classes, community health education. Growth of fitness/health programs nationally and locally.
1990s
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Exercise programs continue growing to serve a community in need of healthier lifestyles. A preschool opens, serving parents seeking affordable, safe, caring child care. Chip Rich and the Urban Services Y move into the building (late '90s); forges relationships with SF city departments and grants — Beacon program at Ella Hill Hutch, teen programs, Youth & Government, Model UN.
2000s
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2010s
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2020s
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Our Future
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