long Houston Street, near the East end of the Simpson Drill Field, stands a monument to a bygone era at Aggieland. Indeed, today's casual visitor would never discern the structure's original purpose. At the time of construction, over eight decades ago, Texas A&M was a small school with few amenities to soften the sharp edges of an all male military school and the isolation of rural Texas.  What was needed was a central meeting point where students could entertain guests and former students could gather on visits to the campus. What was needed was something to provide a homelike atmosphere on campus.

    In January 1910, Col. Edward B. Cushing '80 of the Southern Pacific railroad loaded one of the company's private rail cars, the San Jacinto, with prominent former students from the Houston area and paid a visit to the campus. The sole purpose of the visit was to convince the administration, students and faculty that together with the alumni they could raise the funds for campus life. Early alumni groups had wanted a 'home' on the campus for years but had never been able to get the project started. Now, with the popular Y.M.C.A. movement sweeping the nation, Cushing saw a golden opportunity to combine two needs for the good of Texas A&M. Cushing became chairman of the committee and began immediately to raise funds for construction. He quickly secured a $30,000 pledge, almost half the cost of construction, from none other than John D. Rockefeller.
With success seeming assured, students, faculty and alumni all promised to contribute. Despite numerous problems and halts in construction, the new Y.M.C.A. opened its doors early in 1915. 

In all, the Y.M.C.A. cost about $75,000. To the late architect Ernest Langford '13 there was not another like it. 'No building on the campus, ' he stated,' surpasses the Y.M.C.A. in excellence of detailing or the use of materials.  This is particularly noticeable in the brickwork of the exterior and in the interior of the chapel, in the carefully detailed woodwork of door and window frames, and in the meticulously detailed stonework.'
   The classical structure provided the students with a multitude of services and facilities, not the least of which was something hitherto unheard of on campus - a women's restroom. In addition there were reading rooms, Bible study rooms, an ornate tiled swimming pool, dining room, kitchen, alumni association rooms, auditorium and bowling alleys.  Two large fireplaces added to the overall ambiance of what came to be thought of as the campus parlor. As predicted by Cushing, the new 'Y' became the center of campus social life. This was especially true after the addition of what was to become a most popular campus hangout, 'Casey's Confectionery.' Here students could buy fountain drinks, ice cream and candy.
   In the early 1920's a third story was added to the building to provide additional guest rooms for the campus. From this point until the construction of the Memorial Student Center in 1950, the 'Y' served the campus well. As the MSC absorbed more functions and services, the Y.M.C.A. was gradually converted over to badly needed office space. Sadly, major modifications made to the interior of the building in the 1960's left little of the building's original grandeur.