Background:
In 1812 a Greek Revival structure was built on this site as Germantown's First Presbyterian Church. In 1873 after First Presbyterian constructed a new building on Chelten Avenue, the YMCA moved to this location from its previous location on Market Square. The Greek Revival building was replaced in 1892 by the larger structure in the second picture. Further expansion plans in 1911 led to the purchase of adjacent properties on Germantown Avenue and Haines Street (including the sites of Coulston's house and of the old Methodist cemetery).

Additional Sources:

• GHS: Handsome Homes of Germantown, Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy & Pelham (Germantown: Independent-Gazette, 1899), p. 19: "Young Men's Christian Association" (photograph).

• GHS: Johnson, George Clarence. "Pictorial Germantown Road...," p. 88 (text).

• GHS: Keyser, Naaman. History of Old Germantown. Manuscript notes for v. 2, p. 30 (unpublished typewritten text on the YMCA).

• GHS: Photo Box 11, envelope 8: "First Presbyterian Church, old Blg-5847-5851 Gtn Ave." (photographic print #641 pos. 433 featured in "spaces and Places" exhibit, 1980. Shows the upper end of Potter's Row as well as the three buildings above the YMCA/Presbyterian Church).

• GHS: Photo Scrapbook 5, p. 46: "Building of the Germantown Young Men's Christian Association, 1873-1892. Formerly the Building of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown. East Side of Germantown Avenue, South of Haines St. (same photographic image as in Photo Box 11, envelope 8; however, this image includes slightly more of Germantown Avenue on either side of the YMCA).

• HSP: Campbell Collection, vol. 33, pp. 147-152: 1872 YMCA Building and 1911 Expansion Plans (photographs, drawings, and newsclippings).

• HSP: Shoemaker Collection, folio 19: Young Men's Christian Association Hall (former First Presbyterian Church) (photograph and manuscript text, dated 1890).

• Hotchkins, Rev. S. F. Ancient and Modern Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill. Philadelphia: P. W. Ziegler and Co., 1889, pp. 138-141 (text and above engraving).