History  

The Lafayette Naturalization Club was founded on November 4, 1896.

The building that Lafayette Naturalization Club is now located in was previously owned by the Amesbury YMCA.  From October 1 through November 10, 1918 the top floor of the this building was set up by town selectmen as a emergency hospital for an influenza epidemic which caused the deaths of four people in twenty-four hours.  The selectmen decided this because the epidemic had closed Anna Jaques Hospital, had four local doctors ill and had no nurses available.  During its forty-one days of existence the hospital admitted seventy-nine patients, thirty-four pneumonia patients and forty-five influenza patients.  Five of the patients admitted for influenza developed pneumonia afterward.  The total number of deaths was fourteen with one coming from a patient admitted originally for influenza.*   Below shows an undated photo of the YMCA Building looking down High Street.  The picture's origin is unknown.

At some date (1930's?) the Lafayette Naturalization Club purchased the YMCA Building.

1980's photo by the Amesbury Town Assessor's Office looking up High Street.

To begin the new millennium in 2000, the Club performed some extensive renovations to the lounge. 

*  Charles I. Pettigell - Amesbury's Part In The World War