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Although Ira McDowell had no children of his own, he had a great love and concern for young people. After doing extensive research, Mr. McDowell gathered a group of men together in 1959 to raise the money necessary to buy property and build a Boys' Club. This group included Harrison Weatherford, who later became the first President of the Board. On September 29, 1959, the Albany Boys Club Board of Directors voted to purchase the Hill Street site for $7,500. The Board minutes of that year state, “It became apparent that a building to suit the needs of the organization on the property we now own would leave little room for expansion and outside athletic facilities.” (Little did they know!) In January 1960, adjacent property was purchased from Mr. J.C. Reed for $6,500.

Ground breaking was held on March 19, 1965. Two different executive directors were hired but then left before the Club officially opened. In September 1966, Ron Loney, formerly Athletic Director of the Bellevue Boys & Girls Club and Director of the Snohomish Boys & Girls Club, was employed on a temporary basis to help get the building finished and to operate a program.

From September to December, the Board, under the leadership of Building Chairman Rex Casey, worked at a frantic pace, holding painting parties and putting the finishing touches on the building. As a Christmas present to the community, the Albany Boys Club opened its doors on December 27, 1966, with 488 boy members.

In 1979, two events took place that made a significant impact on the Albany Boys Club. The Club took over middle school athletic programs and the Y-City Girls Sports Program. Not only did the membership dramatically increase, but girls, for the first time, were allowed membership in the Club. The Albany Boys Club became the Albany Boys and Girls Club to reflect that change - much ahead of its time.

With a membership of over 2,000 boys and girls, the need for more space and for locker rooms for girls became apparent. From a sketch on a napkin drawn by Executive Director Ron Loney, the plans for a new addition started forming. Just as the earlier Board of Directors had done, the current board sought donations and volunteer labor to construct the new 15,800 sq. foot addition. In order to accommodate the new building, the baseball field was moved to the back of the property, lights and all!

On March 2, 1984, Governor Vic Atiyeh and National Boys Clubs of America President Bill Bricker dedicated the new addition. The Albany Boys & Girls Club facility was approximately 33,000 sq. feet with the addition of a larger gym, girls' shower, restrooms, offices, boardroom, upstairs gymnastics room, and lobby. In 1993, a middle school program was established. With funds from Willamette Industries and from the Bob Richards Memorial Fund, the former upstairs gymnastics room was remodeled and readied for use by sixth, seventh and eighth grade members.

In 1998, the Board began another chapter in the Club’s history. A feasibility study illuminated the need for more programming space. In June of 1999, a Capital Campaign raised $3,950,000 to fund a 35,000 square foot expansion to be joined to the existing facility. Completed in the fall of 2001, the new addition was built on the remaining ball field space and contains two full-sized gyms, classrooms, offices, a high school area room and new lobby. Other areas were modernized and remodeled, most notably for a Computer Tech Center.

Ira McDowell's dream is a reality three times over. Little could he have imagined the success, the growth of programs, and thousands of children who have been served over the past 40 years. A painting of Mr. McDowell is displayed in a lighted frame at the end of the hallway in the original building.

This history information is from the Boys & Girls Club of Albany website. To visit where this information was found click the following Link:
History of a Dream

	Although Ira McDowell had no children of his own, he had a great love and concern for young people. After doing extensive research, Mr. McDowell gathered a group of men together in 1959 to raise the money necessary to buy property and build a Boys' Club. This group included Harrison Weatherford, who later became the first President of the Board. On September 29, 1959, the Albany Boys Club Board of Directors voted to purchase the Hill Street site for $7,500. The Board minutes of that year state, “It became apparent that a building to suit the needs of the organization on the property we now own would leave little room for expansion and outside athletic facilities.” (Little did they know!) In January 1960, adjacent property was purchased from Mr. J.C. Reed for $6,500. Ground breaking was held on March 19, 1965. Two different executive directors were hired but then left before the Club officially opened. In September 1966, Ron Loney, formerly Athletic Director of the Bellevue Boys & Girls Club and Director of the Snohomish Boys & Girls Club, was employed on a temporary basis to help get the building finished and to operate a program.
From September to December, the Board, under the leadership of Building Chairman Rex Casey, worked at a frantic pace, holding painting parties and putting the finishing touches on the building. As a Christmas present to the community, the Albany Boys Club opened its doors on December 27, 1966, with 488 boy members. In 1979, two events took place that made a significant impact on the Albany Boys Club. The Club took over middle school athletic programs and the Y-City Girls Sports Program. Not only did the membership dramatically increase, but girls, for the first time, were allowed membership in the Club. The Albany Boys Club became the Albany Boys and Girls Club to reflect that change - much ahead of its time.
	With a membership of over 2,000 boys and girls, the need for more space and for locker rooms for girls became apparent. From a sketch on a napkin drawn by Executive Director Ron Loney, the plans for a new addition started forming. Just as the earlier Board of Directors had done, the current board sought donations and volunteer labor to construct the new 15,800 sq. foot addition. In order to accommodate the new building, the baseball field was moved to the back of the property, lights and all! On March 2, 1984, Governor Vic Atiyeh and National Boys Clubs of America President Bill Bricker dedicated the new addition. The Albany Boys & Girls Club facility was approximately 33,000 sq. feet with the addition of a larger gym, girls' shower, restrooms, offices, boardroom, upstairs gymnastics room, and lobby. In 1993, a middle school program was established. With funds from Willamette Industries and from the Bob Richards Memorial Fund, the former upstairs gymnastics room was remodeled and readied for use by sixth, seventh and eighth grade members.
In 1998, the Board began another chapter in the Club’s history. A feasibility study illuminated the need for more programming space. In June of 1999, a Capital Campaign raised $3,950,000 to fund a 35,000 square foot expansion to be joined to the existing facility. Completed in the fall of 2001, the new addition was built on the remaining ball field space and contains two full-sized gyms, classrooms, offices, a high school area room and new lobby. Other areas were modernized and remodeled, most notably for a Computer Tech Center. Ira McDowell's dream is a reality three times over. Little could he have imagined the success, the growth of programs, and thousands of children who have been served over the past 40 years. A painting of Mr. McDowell is displayed in a lighted frame at the end of the hallway in the original building.