The Mason City YMCA is a historic building located in

Mason City, Iowa Mason City is a city and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,338 in the 2020 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Go ...

, United States. The local YMCA was organized in 1892 and it was housed in a variety of places in the city. Various attempts were made to build their own building and properties were acquired and traded before this location was acquired from St. John's Episcopal Church. Charles McNider, a local community leader, led the campaign to build this structure. The

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

architectural firm of Tyrie and Chapman designed the

Colonial Revival The Colonial Revival architectural style seeks to revive elements of American colonial architecture. The beginnings of the Colonial Revival style are often attributed to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which reawakened Americans to the archi ...

style building that was built by Madsen Construction Company, also of Minneapolis. Many of the materials used in its construction were produced locally. Even though it was completed late in 1926 it sat empty until all the pledges to complete its construction were fulfilled. with The building contained room for athletic facilities, a restaurant, offices, and dormitory rooms on the upper floors. Local legend has it that two members of

John Dillinger John Herbert Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an American gangster during the Great Depression. He led the Dillinger Gang, which was accused of robbing 24 banks and four police stations. Dillinger was imprisoned several times and ...

's gang stayed here while they cased the city before, Dillinger,

Baby Face Nelson Lester Joseph Gillis (December 6, 1908 – November 27, 1934), also known as George Nelson and Baby Face Nelson, was an American bank robber who became a criminal partner of John Dillinger, when he helped Dillinger escape from prison, in Crown P ...

, John Hamilton and Tommy Carroll robbed the First National Bank in 1934, which was owned by McNider. Track star

Jesse Owens James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games. Owens specialized in the sprints and the long jump and was recognized in his lifet ...

starred in a basketball exhibition held here in 1937. It was also the host of a variety of community activities over the years, including weekend teen dances held in the 1940s nicknamed "Hi-Dive." The building was individually listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 2002, and as a

contributing property In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic distri ...

in the

Mason City Downtown Historic District The Mason City Downtown Historic District is a nationally recognized Historic districts in the United States, historic district located in Mason City, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. At th ...

in 2005. with

References

{{NRHP in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Buildings and structures completed in 1926 Buildings and structures in Mason City, Iowa National Register of Historic Places in Mason City, Iowa Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa Colonial Revival architecture in Iowa YMCA buildings in the United States Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Iowa