National Register of Historic Places

Greenwich YMCA

Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Listed
November 7, 1996
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83004541

About this property

Greenwich YMCA is a historic building at 50 East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut. Built in 1916 as a gift from Mrs. Nathaniel Witherill, it is a distinctive example of Colonial Revival / Georgian Revival style with Beaux Arts flourishes. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Greenwich YMCA is located at the northern end of the Greenwich's business district, it occupies the southeast corner of East Putnam and Mason Streets. The building is centered on the corner, where there is a central rotunda from which four-story rectangular wings extend, with a large gymnasium/swimming pool complex set in the area between the wings. The rotunda rises above the hip roofs of the wings, topped by a shallow dome and octagonal cupola. The rounded central section has a porch area supported by Doric columns, whose ceiling is finished with Guastavino tile. Separate entrances for men and boys are set near the rotunda on each wing, framed by paired Doric columns and topped by pedimented gables. The building was designed by M.L. and H.G. Emory, two virtually unknown architects from New York City, and built in 1916. It was a gift to the community of Mrs. Rebecca Witherell, given in memory of her late husband Nathaniel, a major local real estate magnate. Typical of YMCAs of the time, the facility offered athletic facilities, as well as short-term housing that was seen as a more wholesome alternative to seedier boarding houses of the time. National Register of Historic Places listings in Greenwich, Connecticut

Location

50 E. Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut
41.03212, -73.62515

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Greenwich YMCA

This page lists Greenwich YMCA. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Greenwich YMCA report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Methodist Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fourth Ward Historic District
Civil War
0.2 mi
Little Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.3 mi
Greenwich Avenue Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Putnam Hill Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Greenwich YMCA listed on the National Register?

Greenwich YMCA was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1996.

What type of historic resource is Greenwich YMCA?

Greenwich YMCA is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Greenwich YMCA?

The period of significance for Greenwich YMCA is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Greenwich YMCA?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Greenwich YMCA will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Fairfield County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Fairfield County.

Explore FairfieldCounty ›

More historic places in Connecticut

Browse all historic places in Connecticut.

View Connecticuthistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Connecticut history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Connecticuthistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Greenwich YMCA will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report