I recently found a report on the first 50 years of the Austin YWCA, written by Helen Baird Vance in 1956. Faithful readers will see some familiar names in this excerpt:
"On a Sunday afternoon, May 26, 1906, a group of women met together in the Congregational Church to consider the possibilities of organizing a Young Women's Christian Association. Mrs. J. H. Skinner acted as chairwoman and Miss Molly Jahnke as secretary. Reports were heard of financial and moral support for such a venture. The actual organization did not take place until the following Sunday to permit volunteer workers to complete the canvass of the city. Then, on that day, May 28, the final vote was taken, the "Y" organized and a board directors named. On that first board were, Mrs. C. L. West, Mrs. P. A. Reilly, Mrs. J. P. Anderson, Mrs. William Todd, Mrs. W. R. Terry, Mrs. Will Earl, Mrs. F. I. Crane, Mrs. Boostrom, Mrs. D. H. Stimson, Mrs. John Hormel, Mrs. R. O. Hall, Mrs. George Anderson, Mrs. O. H. Hegge, Mrs. J. H. Skinner, Miss Hortense Robbins, Mrs. Hiram Smith, Mrs. A. N. Kinsman, Mrs. J. M. Hall, and Mrs. R. E. Shepherd.
Before the organization of the YWCA in Austin, Billy Sunday had had a series of revival services. A tabernacle had been erected for him at the present site of the Terp Ballroom [Editor's note: currently El Parral]. All paths, filled with men, women and children, led to the tabernacle. Mr. Sunday and his wife were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Hormel in their home (now the YWCA) during those weeks in Austin.
The religious fervor carried over long after the last appeal, the last prayer and the last hymn were heard. And so it was that the women of Austin decided to do something constructive, something to build character, something to give continuity and support of the teachings of Billy Sunday."
Photo below: library in George A. Hormel home in 1925, a few years before it became home of the YWCA in Austin
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