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.

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.