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Vandalia YWCA reunion recalls programs, classes and forging life-long friendships

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By Beth Anspach, Contributing Writer 2:17 PM Wednesday, December 2, 2009

In the fall of 1958, a small group of women from Vandalia decided to approach the Dayton YWCA about an outreach program.

“About 43 of us participated in the first classes offered by the YWCA,” said Nikki Smith, one of the original members of the program. “The first program was a ‘Mama’s Morning Out,’ held at what was then St. David’s Episcopal Church.”

The program eventually grew to serve hundreds of Vandalia women and their children; and according to Mary Ellen Case, former director of the Vandalia YWCA, it continued until 1991, when the competition from local recreation programs coupled with women’s exodus into the full-time workforce spelled the end of the program.

Case looks back on her time as director fondly; and so in mid-November, she hosted a reunion in Butler Twp. for former YWCA instructors and participants.

About 30 women attended the reunion to reminisce about the program many said defined their time as young mothers.

Wanda Lee, who taught home decorating classes for years, talked about the humble beginnings of the program that brought many stay-at-home moms together in the 50s and 60s.

“Mary Ellen gathered people from local garden clubs,” Lee said. “And most women who came over the years stayed. It was an outlet for us since we all had children and none of us worked outside of the home.”

And what began as a half-day per week grew quickly to a five-day program with evening offerings.

Classes such as toll painting, flower arranging and sewing were offered as the program took off. “A lot of practical classes were also offered, like social graces,” said Lee.

As the program grew, interest in exercise classes and other athletic offerings also grew.

“We grew quickly from about 50 to more than 600 members over the years,” said Case, “And swimming and tennis were always popular up until the end.”

Former Y employee, Sandy Gregg, said the program began offering night classes in 1976, to allow for working women to attend.

“We also gave historical tours and pretty much whatever else came into our minds,” Gregg said.

According to Case, the program was always self-sufficient, paying for itself each year and eventually opening an office location on North Dixie Drive in Vandalia.

Several of the women in attendance at the reunion remember bringing their children to classes and maintaining friendships over the years.

“It was a great program for young mothers, because in the beginning, it was really the only place they had to socialize with one another,” Gregg said. “We could meet other people with common interests.”

Pat Battiston remembers joining the Y for classes when she first moved to Vandalia decades ago.

“I took classes first and then started working for Mary Ellen,” Battiston said. “I brought my son, Ken, to swimming and tumble tots classes – I call him my Y baby!”

Case, now retired and in her 80’s, stays busy creating greeting cards with pressed flowers from her garden, but said she always has time for her life-long friends.

“I majored in chemistry in college and I never thought I’d end up in a job that I loved so much,” Case said. “It was like being president of a place everyone wanted to come to!”

Former members, instructors and participants of the Vandalia YWCA program who are interested in attending an upcoming reunion, may call Linda Breidenbach at (937) 898-6693.

Contact this columnist at (937) 475-8212 or banspach@woh.rr.com.

HEREABOUTS beth anspach

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