CLC YMCA Board of Directors President Dennis Anderson announced on Monday that the CLC YMCA has received a substantial gift to be used for the construction and maintenance of a new swimming pool at the Damariscotta facility.
“A Boothbay woman with no heirs passed away and left all her resources to us, earmarked for the pool,” Anderson said.
The woman, Josephine Merritt, was born in Boothbay, grew up in Boothbay, and returned to Boothbay as an adult to live with her husband, Norman Merritt, who was a well-known artist. Norman Merritt passed away about a decade ago. Josephine Merritt died June 18 at The Lincoln Home, where her grandmother was a founding member.
The money has passed through probate, and although a final figure is not available, it is “approaching $2 million,” Anderson said. The gift will make it possible for the Y to carry on with its plans to build a swimming pool in the near future.
The Y is currently undergoing changes in leadership, with interim executive director Bob Young temporarily replacing Craig Wilson, who resigned suddenly in May.
“We are taking a few steps backward to be thorough, to build the right aquatic center. We are meeting with engineers, contractors, and architects. We want to make sure everything is what we think it is and needs to be,” Anderson said.
The Y board is double checking all the figures and fine-tuning the exact cost, looking into air and heat exchange and sprinkler systems. Currently the Y is not connected to town water and sewer. “Part of the project is to hook up to town systems,” Anderson said.
The fundraising goal for the new pool was $3.5 million to $3.6 million. The Y has raised $1.9 million, not counting the Merritt gift.
“We want to be responsible with the gift. A portion of the gift will be earmarked to endowment” to maintain the pool, Anderson said. “It is all about sustainability.”
Because some of the Merritt money will go toward an endowment for pool maintenance, the Y still needs to do some fundraising for the project.
“It is a game-changing gift. The mystery and wondering if (a pool is) ever going to be built are answered,” Anderson said.
The Y is cautiously moving forward. “We need to take incremental steps backward, in order to move forward quickly. We have to fine tune the nitty gritty of all this. The community and our membership will receive a pretty steady diet of exactly what we are building and why,” Anderson said of double checking all the details of the project.
Y board members have traveled around the state visiting with Y’s that have recently built new pools and asking them “if you had to do it all again, what would you do differently and why?” Anderson said.
“It would be nice to say we could break ground in the fall, but the spring is what is realistic for groundbreaking and construction. We still have work to do. We are still actively fundraising. This gift helps ensure our credibility in the community with past donors and potential new donors,” Anderson said.
“Josephine wanted to do something in the community. She and her husband wanted to do something with their money and leave a lasting memory. We are very grateful for this gift. The Merritt name will be attached to the pool,” Anderson said.
