920

COMMUNITY CENTERS.

[By Edward L. Burchard, associate editor the Community Center.] Community centers are a grouping at one central place in a neighborhood, particularly as park in a publicly owned building, such fieldhouse or public school, of all the facilities the local community may need for recreation, instruction, neighborhood community organization for general welfare and even, as during the world war, for national service.

They are an outgrowth of the university extension movement, initiated in England seventy-five years ago, that eventually led to the founding of university or social settlements to improve welfare and especially cultural condepressed districts of the ditions in the larger cities.

The influence of these settlements in Chicago, notably of Hull House (1889), and the initiative of the park commissions, especially of the south park board in the World's Fair year, 1893, inaugurated the recreation centers commodious and attractive in parks with buildings and manifold activities that have These, in been the admiration of the world. turn, stimulated similar centers in the schoolhouses, using the gymnasiums, assembly halls leisure time hours, and classrooms during late afternoons and evenings.

a

Other conspicuous milestones in the progress of the movement have been: The establishlecture system ment of the public-school (1889) in New York city, reaching now million and a half people each year, and a little later the recreation centers in its schools: a nationwide campaign by the Playground and (1904), Recreation Association of America and the use of school facilities by self-governing groups (1907), developed in the Rochester (N. Y.) schools by Edward J. Ward. This is the origin of the present community center idea. Also should be mentioned The Daily News public lectures in Chicago school buildings, which began in the year 1901 and have been a drawing feature every season.

PROGRESSIVE INCREASE.

The spread of community centers has been rapid. The number of school centers in the country, estimated at 300 in 1911, had tripled in ten years and the number of cities with a definite wider use of the schools program, the same 100 in year, had estimated at doubled in a decade, according to Clarence A. The Wider Use of the Perry, author of School Plant" and of many bulletins on the subject.

The attendance at these leisure-time occawas put at 10,000,000 by the United sions States bureau of education, which has issued several bulletins on school extension statistics. The bureau was in contact in 1919 with more than 1,000 communities where community center organizations had begun,

The outstanding gain of the movement, according to Perry in his ten-year review, is the increased hospitality of schools to neighborhood life, the increase in size of the operating staffs and number of neighborhood groups using the buildings, the better adaptation of these buildings to community uses and the growing specialization in community center activities.

"School boards realize that gyms, swimming
pools and recreation rooms, closed after school,
are a wasted resource," states a recent number
of the Journal of the National Education Asso-
ciation. Another indication of the popular
of school
demand for the leisure-time
buildings is the rapid increase in attendance
at the public evening schools.

use

PROVISION IN CHICAGO.

The public community centers in Chicago housed in thirty-nine park fieldhouses and fifty-two school buildings (including the

are

evening schools), both supplemented by numer-
ous well-equipped and supervised playgrounds.
The fieldhouses, open approximately from
10 a. m. to 10 p. m. with some exceptions.
include social rooms, assembly halls, club-
rooms, separate gyms for men and women
with lockers and showers, swimming pools.
domestic science room (in one case). branch
The outdoor equip
library and reading room, refreshment room.
children's playroom, etc.
of playgrounds, playfields, athlete
ment, the use of which is also free, gives a
fields, outdoor gyms, pools, toboggans, skating
choice
ponds, etc.

recrea

In the school community centers, of which there are eighteen, the activities may be marktional. The evening school instruction cesedly instructional or predominantly of the same types of classes, have frequent ters, of which there are thirty-four, have many social occasions or entertainments, and civic or neighborhood meetings are likewise often held in connection with them. They are open There are fiftyas a rule from 7 to 9 p. m. five school playgrounds under supervised direc tion of the school playground department opea to the public from 1 to 9 p. m. Many of these are operated in conjunction with the school gymnasium, sometimes afternoons only and sometimes evenings. the school activities in The recreational centers are much like those of the park fieldhouses, such as social dancing, plays, games, swimming, gym, contests, singing, motion pie tures, public lectures and entertainments. The subjects taught in the classes range dramatics. music, sewing. millinery. from manual training, languages, academic studies struction generally. to technical, commercial and occupational in

IN OTHER CITIES.

school

Among other cities noted for their community centers are: Milwaukee, where and park centers are both under the direction of the board of education; Washington, D. C. distinguished for the civic type of school centers; New York city, with sixty-eight centers and phenomenal use of school buildings by tended use of the schoolhouse committee of neighborhood groups; Boston, where the exthe board and director have promoted intensive programs and active civic development.

Other prominent community center cities, according to Perry's report, are: Detroit, fortytwo centers; Minneapolis, thirty-eight: Pittsburgh, twenty-eight; Cincinnati, fourteen; not to mention many with five or more.

or

In the rural districts the consolidated school in many states is rapidly displacing the little one-room country school with a modern upto-date "grade school" building and appointas assembly hall, lunchroom. ments, such sometimes social rooms. gym and club This is introducing the community surrounded by an agricultural demonstration farm. center to the open country and more isolated Community councils are farming districts. giving to these centers coherence and sup port from the environing districts.

STATEWIDE PROMOTION.

State promotion and supply service to community centers or organizations is given by the extension departments of various universities, as in Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Oragon, Washington, Pennsylvania, New York, Kan The University of Wisconsin's extena bureau of community sion division has sas, Texas. development of municipal service, lectures, motion films, headquarters of state conference of social work and takes the lead in fostering com. munity centers, community institutes and serv. ice to local organized civic and social welfare.

ALMANAC AND YEAR-BOOK FOR 1925.

man, Columbia university). Succeeding the first national social and civic center conference at Madison, Wis., in 1911, annual conferences have been held by this association and its fifth joint meeting with the American Sociological society occurred during the Christmas period of 1924 at Chicago.

State superintendents of public instruction are increasingly co-operating in the movement, especially in North Carolina, where the bureau of community service formed by the state institutions of learning and state departments of government has registered thirOther organizations cover the ramifying spety-six communities whose activities are reguJarly reported and has given motion film and In Wis- cializations so conspicuous in the community other service on a county unit basis. consin last year the state superintendent, with center movement, among them the Playground the assistance of the state university extension, and Recreation Association of America, Comset up recreational institutes in twenty coun-munity Service, Incorporated; the World Assoties to train local leadership, the paramount ciation for Adult Education (London), the In Virginia National Education association, the National Extension association, the Civic need of the movement to-day. the Co-Operative Education association, with University the aid of the educational authorities, has Music association, the Boy Scout and Camp Fire Girls and Y. M. C. A. groups, National helped to erect 1,000 community leagues cenfor instruction. Better Films committee and National Congress at tering the schoolhouse of Parent-Teacher associations. community betterment. recreation and Massachusetts the state board of education has made a remarkable showing in Americanization centers among the foreign born. Other state departments, as in Washington and Colorado, emphasize community centers.

In

LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. The stress now given to the community organization side of the community center grew out of the success of the world war development of the community councils of defense, on the school-district primarily organized basis by the council of national defense, state The civilian population and county councils. was mobilized by this means to aid the war operations of the government in such matters disseminating information, conserving sources, gathering of supplies or subscriptions and executing other requests of the government, soldiers' aid work, Americanization and patriotic education.

as

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Community organization is being pushed in rural districts by the farm bureaus as a deto many economic and other sirable way More than 200 have forms of co-operation. been created to this end in Illinois alone. associations, cities neighborhood In the meeting at the schoolhouse and managing the community centers, supplement the free use and maintenance of the building by charging They can thus support a dues, fees, etc. large number of instructors and many unique social activities that they themselves choose. This form of bureaucratic decentralization and Co-operative local autonomy for cultural purposes is growing.

In Chicago, for example, the Woodlawn Community Center at the Hyde Park .high school was evolved and is managed by a joint committee of business men's and women's clubs, church, parent-teacher, fraternal society and other local associations, is now in its ninth suc cessful year, raises over $3,000 annually, has an enrollment of over 1.000 members paying small fees, and engages instructors conducting twenty-two classes, clubs, social dancing, entertainments, etc.

asso

In the Cincinnati East Side High School Community Center a similar neighborhood constituent organizations, ciation of twenty according to a late report, has 2,463 enrolled in groups or committees, 5,409 associate members paying dues, twenty instructors, an attendance of 76,549, and shows receipts of $15.542 from these local sources and devoted to the maintenance of the center.

The People's Institute of New York city (Brooklyn) employs paid organizers to initiate and foster in its vicinity such community center organizations, some thirteen in all, of the self-supporting type. Other cities have made progress in this new field, the possibilities of which are now seen to have such wide scope. To this aspect is largely devoted the NaCenter association, ortional Community E. Park. (President Robert ganized 1917 University of Chicago: secretary, L. E. Bow

COMMUNITY CENTERS IN CHICAGO.

For neighborhood recreational, educational, social and civic activity in public buildings or grounds open to the public for leisure time use, including schoolhouses, assembly rooms, park fieldhouses and playgrounds operated under the direction of trained instructors.

Note-The north side comprises territory between Lake Michigan and the river: the northwest side is north of North avenue to the north branch of the river; the west side is south of North avenue to the south branch of the river; the southwest side is west of South Halsted street to the south branch of the river, and the south side is east of South Dates of opening or closing may be changed Halsted street to Lake Michigan. the hours indicated usually prevail. subject to season or other circumstances, but

School Community Centers.

avenue,

as

For recreation, instruction and meetings of neighborhood clubs; open approximately from Oct. 15 to April 30; under general supervision of school principals and of Morgan G. Hogge, assistant superintendent of schools. Director. street, corner Greenleaf avenue. North Side-Armstrong school, 7051 Pingree Catherine Closset; open Tuesday and Thursday evenings; 10 cents admission to classes Assembly hall and gymnasium or movie. Gymcombined, seating 1,000, with stage. nasium and instructional classes, dancing (Friday). pictures (Monday). motion Neighborhood club. Hoyt school, 1518 West Granville corner of Greenview avenue (Rogers Park). Principal, E. L. Klitzing: for Community Center association; open Tuesday and Friday evenings, 7 to 10, free; classes, gymnasium, glee club, motion pictures: sembly hall seating 444. Kinzie school, 150 West Ohio street, corner LaSalle street. (Italian and Syrian neighborhood.) Branch of J. A. Sexton school. Director, Mrs. E. N. Paradis: open Tuesday and Friday evenings; 10 cents admission to building: assembly hall seating 225, with stage. Classes in beadwork; English for playforeigners: dancing, gymnasium, ground, dramatics: neighborhood work. Waters school, 2519 Wilson avenue, corner Principal. of North Campbell Esther Morgan: open Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:30 to 9:30; gymnasium. social dancing, Camp Fire Girls; orchestra, first aid class, club meetings; assembly hall and gymnasium combined seating 495. avenue, corner Ashland avenue: Lithuanian, Director, Northwest Side-Burr school, 1621 Wabansia Polish, Greek neighborhood.

avenue.

Annie McClement; open Friday evening;
evening school four previous evenings: 10
Assembly hall
cents admission to building.
seating 450; classes, games, dancinge
public dancing.

922

Falconer school, 3000 Lamon avenue, corner
(not ap-
Principal
Wellington avenue.
pointed); open Thursday and Friday eve-
nings; $1 membership dues and admission
fee to movie; classes in sewing, millinery,
dancing, public
music. dramatics, social
dancing, gymnasium (Thursday evening);
motion pictures (Friday evening); assem-
bly hall seating 1,000, with stage.
Kelvyn Park school, 4343 Wrightwood ave-
nue, corner North Kostner avenue. Princi-
pal, Charles H. Ostrander; chairman of asso-
ciation, Alfred L. Gottschalk; open Tues-
day, Thursday and other special evenings;
$1 membership dues; assembly hall with
stage, seating 1,500. Boy Scouts, gymna-
sium, games, neighborhood club; motion
pictures (Friday evening); refreshments at
the end of each evening.
Norwood Park school, 5900 Nina avenue,
Principal. Wil-
corner Nickerson avenue.
liam L. Smyser; open Tuesday and Friday
evenings; classes in agriculture, English for
foreigners, dramatics, singing, gymnasium,
social dancing, Boy Scouts, band; parent-
teachers' meetings, neighborhood club: mo-
tion pictures, assembly hall seating 788,
with stage.

West Side-Clarke school, 1310 South Ashland
avenue, near 13th street. Principal, George
A. Beers; open Wednesday and Friday eve-
nings: 10 cents admission to gymnasium: 5
cents to "movie" (Friday evening); club-
rooms, dancing, gymnasium, neighborhood
clubs, assembly hall with 850 seats.
avenue.
2510 S. Kildare
Corkery school,
Principal, George F. Cassell: open Thursday
neighborhood
evening: social-civic
playground, assembly hall and gym with
350 seats.

club.

Gladstone school, 1321 South Robey street.
Muriel Daley,
corner Washburne avenue.
acting principal; open Monday and Thurs-
10 cents admission
day evenings:

playground,

to as

building: library, gym,
sembly hall with 500 seats; games, basket
ball, boxing, public dancing.

Greene school, 3537 South Paulina street,
corner of West

36th

street. Principal,

Elizabeth B. Letzkuss: open Tuesday and 7 to 9: 10 cents Thursday evenings, building admission: games, social dancing, community singing: classes in cooking, sewing. weaving, English: assembly hall and gymnasium combined seating 550. Minnie Southwest Side-Ryder school, West 88th street avenue. Principal, and Lowe

M.

Tallman: open Tuesday and Thursday eve-
social dancing.

nings,

7

to

10:

free

Camp Fire girls: programs Thursday eve-
ning arranged by school's higher grades. in-
mo-
cluding stereopticon travel lectures,
admission OC-
(10 cents
tion pictures
assembly
to cover expenses);
casionally
hall and gymnasium combined seating 525.
Sawyer Avenue school, 5248 Sawyer avenue,
corner 53d street. Principal, Robert G. Jef-
frey; open Tuesday and Friday evenings;
assembly hall, entertainments, Boy Scouts.
gymnasium; classes in sewing; English for
foreigners, neighborhood club.
South Side-Clay school, 13231 Burley_avenue,

corner 133d street (Hegewisch). Director,
Josephine L. Quinn; open Tuesday and
Friday evenings; classes in dramatics, type-
English;
writing. manual training and
gymnasium; assembly hall seating 1,000,
with stage.

Colman school, 4655 South Dearborn street.
corner 46th street. (Colored neighborhood.)
Principal, Frances G. Rogers; open Tues-
fee except
day and Friday evenings: no
for movies. Classes singing, public dane-

avenue,

ing, gymnasium, games; assembly ha seating 900; motion pictures, neighborho clubs. Gallistel school, 10347 Ewing avenue, c ner 104th street (South Chicago). Pre cipal, James H. Henry; open Tuesday a Friday evenings; 5 cents admission to buil ing; dances or plays. Assembly hall an gymnasium combined seating 700. WILL stage; public dancing, motion pictures. public lectures, welfare meetings; clas sewing, boys' club, neighborhood clubs. (Wood Hyde Park high school. 6220 Stony Island corner East 62d street. lawn Community Center.) Principal, H. F Loomis; director of center. Mrs. Henry W Cheney; open Friday evening: $2.50 membership entitles to course of twelve lesSONS and to public dancing; twenty-two classes in standard or popular subjects, manual arts, foreign languages, commercial arts auto mechanics, radio telephony, civics, law and public speaking; woman's gymnasing and swimming for women; social hour after classes; assembly hall seating 2.000 Recreation Centers in Park Fieldhouses. Open the year round 10 a. m. to 9:30 p. m as a rule; gymnasium classes, entertainments club meetings, contests, etc.; park playground North Side-Hamlin park, Barry and Hoyne avenues (Lincoln park commission); fieldhouse with assembly hall, clubrooms, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, playfields and apparatus, toboggan, skating pond. Lake Shore playground, East Chicago avenue and Lake Michigan (Lincoln park commis gymnasium, assembly sion); fieldhouse, room, playfields, swimming pool. Seward park, Elm and Sedgwick streets (Lincoln park commission); fieldhouse, assembly hall, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, playfields, clubrooms, library, wading pool skating pond.

directors in charge.

Stanton park, Barber and Union streets (Lin-
coln park commission); fieldhouse with
shower, outdoor
assembly hall, library.
gymnasium and playfields, swimming and
wading pools, skating pond.

Welles park, Western avenue and Montrose

boulevard

fieldhous

(Lincoln park with assembly

commission): hall. outdoor

gymnasiums and playfields.

Hamburg avenue
commission);

Northwest

hall.

Side-Holstein park. Oakley and

(West Chicago park fieldhouse with assembly club. library and reading

rooms.

rooms, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums showers. children's playroom, playfields. skating pond. Independence park, Irving Park boulevard and Hamlin avenue (Irving Park commission); fieldhouse with assembly hall. li and outdoor indoor brary, clubrooms, gymnasiums, showers, swimming and wading pools, playfields. Kosciuszko park, Diversey and Avers are nues (Northwest park commission); field house with assembly hall, library and clubshowers, play field. rooms. gymnasiums, wading pool.

Kelvyn park, Parker and Kostner avenues (Northwest park commission); fieldhouse with clubroom.

Mozart park, Dickens and Avers avenues (Northwest park commission): fieldhouse with clubrooms, playgrounds, wading pool Rutherford and Sayre park, Oak Park, New land and Belden avenues (Northwest park commission): fieldhouse with clubrooms social room, bowling alleys and handball

Davis square, West 45th street and Marshfield avenue (South park commission); fieldhouse with branch library, clubrooms, assembly hall, gymnasium, outdoor swimEvening School Instruction Centers. ming pool. gymnasiums, playfield and Open 7 to 9 p. m. Sept. 15 to March 15, children's playground. Monday to Thursday, inclusive; winter term of McKinley park, Western avenue from 37th ten weeks opens second week in January; to 39th street (South park commission); classes in occupational or academic subjects; fieldhouse, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, English for foreigners; recreational and athswimming pools, playfields, children's play-letic features and gymnasiums; social and enground, skating pond. tertainment occasions; large assembly halls Mark White square, West 29th and South with stage usually available; technical plant. Halsted streets (South park commission): with lathes and other tools or machines in fieldhouse with branch library, domestic the technical high schools; $2 deposit fee (rescience room, gymnasiums, clubrooms and funded to those attending three-fourths of the assembly hall; outdoor gymnasiums, play- evenings). fields, children's playground.

924

automobile driving, applied chemistry, all forms
foundry
of drawing, electricity, forge and
work, machine shop practice, pattern making,
education,
physical
woodworking,
printing,
tailoring, garment design, oxyacetylene welding.
agriculture, trade millinery and dressmaking.
Cooking and manual training are taught in the
evening elementary schools.

The commercial courses include bookkeeping,
stenography, typewriting, comptometry, com-
mercial English, business arithmetic, account-
Grammar and high
ing and secretarial work.
school grades can be completed by those em-
ployed during the day.

The list below indicates which school to attend for service desired:

At High Schools.

of athletic fields

or

For permit for use playgrounds, apply to real estate or community center department.

nue, corner

North Side-Senn High, 5900 Glenwood ave-
Evening
Ardmore avenue.
Gaffney: classes in
James T.
principal,
grade, high school and technical subjects;
English for foreigners; assembly hall, seat-
ing 2,000, with stage; gymnasium, play-
ground and athletic field.

for day school only.)

lin P. Fisk; business courses only: lund
room (day school); gymnasium. (SWI
ming pool for day school only.) Assen
bly hall, seating 1,300.
Side-Lindblom

Southwest

H Technical street. Principal, Har 6130 Lincoln Keeler: classes in technical, high scho ha assembly and elementary subjects: with stage, seating 1,900; public librar station; two gymnasiums (swimming po for day school use only); auto mechanics sheet metal and other shops; no play grounds.

South Side-Bowen High, 8860 Manistee ave nue, corner 89th street. Principal, Fra W. Stahl; classes in technical, high school. elementary subjects, English for forein ers; assembly hall with balcony, seat y 800; gymnasium.

Fenger High, 11535 (Swimming pool

Lane Technical High, 1225 Sedgwick street,
Evening principal,
corner Division street.
Albert W. Evans; classes in grade, high
Agriculture
school and technical subjects.
and oxyacetylene welding, tailoring and gar-
ment designing taught here only; assembly
hall seating 400, with stage; gymnasium.
Waller High, 2007 Orchard street, corner
Evening principal, Charles
Center street.
and
elementary
classes in
Winslow;
S.
high school subjects; English for foreign-
ers; assembly hall, seating 500; gymna-
sium. (Lunchroom for day school.)
Lake View High-See Greeley branch in ele-
mentary school list, below.

near

Northwest Side-Schurz High, 3601 Milwaukee
Evening
Addison street.
avenue,
principal, C. A. Pettersen; classes in tech-
nical, high school and elementary subjects.
English for foreigners, assembly hall seat-
Two gymnasiums.
ing 950, with stage.
for day school only.)
(Swimming pool
Classes to complete high
Athletic fields.
Lunchroom
school courses' until June.
(for day school).
other shops.

Auto mechanics and

West Side-Austin High, 5417 Fulton street.
Evening principal,
corner Lotus avenue.
James H. Smith; classes in technical, high
school and elementary subjects; English
for foreigners; assembly hall with stage,
(Swimming
Playground.
seating 1,579.

pool for day school only.) Gymnasium,
technical shops.

Crane Technical High and Junior college,
2246 West Van Buren street, corner Oak-
Evening principal, Charles
ley boulevard.
H. Perrine; classes in technical and high
Gymnasium, recre-
school subjects only.
ation rooms.
Harrison Technical High, 2850 24th Street
Marshall boulevard.
boulevard,
Principal, Frank L. Morse; classes in tech-
nical and high school subjects only; assem-
bly hall with stage, seating 2,000; two
playgrounds and athletic field; two gymna-
siums. (Swimming pool for day school
only.)

corner

Medill high and junior college, 1326 West

14th place, near Throop street. Principal,
Avon S. Hall; classes in high school and
commercial subjects. junior college of com-
and administration; gymnasium.
merce
Tuley High, 1313 North Claremont avenue.
corner Potomac avenue. Principal. Frank-

Englewood High, 6201 Stewart avenue, cr
ner 62d place. Evening principal, Will-
E. Tower: classes in high school and ele
mentary subjects, English for foreigners:
assembly hall with stage, seating 1,900.
two gymnasiums (swimming pool for day
school use only); playgrounds.
South State street
Evening principal, Arthur G. Deaver: classes
in high school and elementary subjects,
English for foreigners; assembly hall with
stage, seating 532; gymnasium.
Tilden Technical High, 4747 Union avenue
Principal, Edward C. Rosseter; classes ir
technical, high school and elementary sub-
jects, English for foreigners; gymnasiun
(swimming pool for day school only);
trade shops.

ner

Phillips High, 244 East Pershing road, cor
Evening
(colored).
Prairie avenue
principal, Chauncey C. Willard; classes in
high school and elementary subjects. Eng
lish for foreigners: tailoring and garment
designing taught here only; assembly ha
(level floor); gymnasiu
seating 1,000
(swimming pool for day school only):
playgrounds.

At Elementary Schools.
Elementary classes and English for foreigners,
7 to 9 p. m.; cooking, sewing and manus
training equipment as a rule at these schools
playgrounds operated under supervision of di
rectors from 1 to 10 p. m. where there is
Assembly halls available at special
apparatus.
rates Monday to Thursday.
North Side-Franklin, 226 West Goethe street.
Principal, Etta Q. Gee:
near Wells street.
and expert
apparatus
playgrounds with
direction.

Greeley branch of Lake View High, Shef field avenue and Grace street. Evening principal, Albert W. Schrader: business courses only; assembly hall and gymnasium combined; playground.

Northwest Side-Burr, 1621 Wabansia avenue Principal, Samuel corner Ashland avenue.

R. Meck; assembly hall with balcony, seat
ing 450; playgrounds.
Goethe, 2236 North Rockwell street, nes
Fullerton avenue. Principal, Albert C
Moeller: assembly hall and gymnasium
combined, seating 600; playgrounds.
Stowe, 3444 Wabansia avenue, corner Ballou
street. Principal, Frank A. Larck; play
grounds; assembly hall, seating 789: gym
nasium.

West Side-Burns, 2514 South Central Park
Prin
avenue, corner West 25th street.
cipal, Robert Nightingale: playgrounds:
assembly hall (3d floor), seating 400.
near Wood
Cregier, 1820 Yeaton street.
Principal, Mary E. Tobin: assem
bly hall with stage, seating 540; play
grounds.

street.

1