
In 1899, the Bristol Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) selected architect Wallis E. Howe to design this five-bay, gable-roof, Tudor Revival building as its headquarters. Architect Howe created a rich effect with red brick and white mortar in combination with Tudor half-timbers in green, and buff-colored stucco. The building is a rare example of the Tudor style in Bristol, but is one of the most successful in the state (in my opinion), due to its strong presence and massing working with the use of materials and colors. The large central archway led upstairs to a library and gymnasium for use by YMCA members, while the ground floor featured four small businesses. In 1967, a new entrance and lobby, was constructed, linking the original YMCA to the since abandoned Bristol Customs House and Post Office.
I am glad to see this photograph. Wallis E. Howe, the architect of this building, was my grandfather, and I have recently acquired a cache of letters he wrote to my grandmother (Mary Locke Howe), in which he mentions the Bristol YMCA.
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Oh wow! What a great find! You could look into getting them digitized for posterity as scholars and historians may find good use for them!
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