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Local YWCA ready to mark milestone

Steubenville was a far different place 100 years ago. Big steel mills were growing but hadn’t hit their peak yet. The city was growing from an agriculture and commercial center into a 20th century industrial center.

With that came a variety of challenges for the city, challenges that hit everywhere in the industrialization of the nation a century ago.

Challenges that still are a part of the community on the other side of industrialization today, in the 21st century.

Spanning that divide is the YWCA of Steubenville, which is marking its 100th year of service to the community.

The YWCA will celebrate with an observance April 24 at its home at 320 N. Fourth St. The low-key event will feature jazz music from Steubenville High School students, and a luncheon is being offered in appreciation for the 100 years of service. The luncheon is $15 per person with a Wednesday deadline for reservations, which may be made by calling the YWCA at (740) 282-1261.

The YWCA organization is 159 years old, with 25 million members around the world.

It aims to eliminate racism and improve the treatment of women around the world. During the industrial revolution, women were often left lost as they moved from the country to the city to work in factories in mid-19th century England. The YWCA grew out of that.

In Steubenville, the YWCA organized in early 1913 as a result of a campaign by nationally famed minister Billy Sunday, and the volunteers in the organization have helped keep the organization current.

We salute the volunteers and staff who have helped the YWCA of Steubenville through its first 100 years.

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