Port Edwards YMCA Main Building Being Demolished

PORT EDWARDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – Demolition is underway on the Port Edwards YMCA main building.

In 2024, a committee met to discuss next steps for the facility that closed on Jan. 1. The committee included community members, Port Edwards Village board members, and YMCA staff. They discussed the substantial amount of funds needed for upgrades and asbestos abatement to reopen the facility. Committee members expressed concerns about the return on investment. “…our main building needed anywhere from $5-$6 million dollars worth of work just to get it back to par.” says South Wood County YMCA CEO Erin Hess.

Next Steps

The committee decided the best next step is to demolish the main building and invest in upgrading and modifying the Youth Center on the property. This second building, built in the 90s, is currently being used for gymnastics. Hess said the plan is to rent space at Lincoln High School for gymnastics classes while they transition the Youth Center to a Community Center. This retains the YMCA footprint in Port Edwards. It also enables YMCA members in Nekoosa to have closer access than the newer facility in Wisconsin Rapids.

The Legacy Foundation is funding close to three-quarters of this project, according to Hess. Demolishing the main building is far more expensive than the refurbishment that will take place on the youth center. However, once demolition is complete, the area will be clear and ready for redevelopment. According to the agreement with the Alexander Foundation and the YMCA dating back to the 1950s, if the building is no longer affiliated with the YMCA, ownership goes back to the foundation. Hess says they are having conversations with the Alexander Foundation and the family and will make that information public when a decision is made. 

Upgraded Community Center

The upgrades for the newly dubbed Community Center will include resurfaced floors with basketball and pickleball courts and an indoor walking track. Some walls will be knocked down to accommodate a wellness center with free weights, seated weight plated machines, and a restroom area. The building will have 24/7 access for members who pay the additional fee for the fob. The additional fee is $5.00 per membership unit, not per person. Ages 13 and up are eligible to have 24/7 access, however, ages 13-17 need to be accompanied by an adult.

History

According to the History of Port Edwards, published by the village in 2002, John Edwards Jr. took over his father’s lumbering business in 1871. In 1890 he and Lewis Alexander reorganized the business that would eventually become the Port Edwards paper mill. Lewis Alexander married the only surviving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, Lida Edwards. Their son, John E. Alexander founded the South Wood County YMCA. It began by Alexander affiliating Camp Alexander on Nepco Lake with the Y in 1947.

John Alexander and his father Lewis Alexander invested heavily in the Village of Port Edwards over the years. They are credited with the creation of Nepco Lake and Recreation Area, the development of Alexander Field, construction of many community buildings in Port Edwards, and donating land for village parks and churches. You can read a more detailed history here from the South Wood County Historical Museum.

The Port Edwards YMCA facility broke ground in 1957 and held their grand opening in 1958. As staff went through all the historical records to clear the building before deconstruction, they found the original program guides and rates. They also found the sign-in book for the first walk-through of the facility. Hess said there’s no time period included, but the records show the new building saw 20,000 people walk through the facility during the grand opening.

Looking Ahead

As long as all goes to plan, the demolition should be completed by the end of September. Hess says the YMCA staff is excited to see the legacy of John Alexander continue in the area. “It’s one of the things I’m most proud of with our Y,” Hess explains. “Whether it’s in Adams, Port, or Wisconsin Rapids, it’s about how we work together with our area partners and how we grow together. It’s about what our community needs.”  

The completion of the YMCA Community Center in Port Edwards should be done within the next six months. South Wood County YMCA staff look forward to inviting community members to a grand opening in 2026.