bureau of jfWemortal SlutlDings ®23ar Camp Community H>erbice 33 ^ QyOB Lsuimru bulletin J2umber jfour €xigttng Community Community House at Perryville, Md. Community ffiutlhingg ag War Jflemoriate A series of bulletins published by the Bureau of Memorial Buildings of War Camp Community Service, 124 East 28 th Street, New York, N. Y . Number 4 1919 existing Community Rouses ANNOUNCEMENT The National Committee on Memorial Buildings, established to assist in the promotion and guidance of the nation-wide movement to erect Community Buildings as war memorials, has merged its activities with those of War Camp Community Service. This Com¬ mittee, composed of one hundred representative men and women from all parts of the country, has become the Advisory Committee on Memorial Buildings of War Community Service. The Bureau of Memorial Buildings is designed to serve as a clearing-house of information and service in regard to planning, erecting and administering community houses, auditoriums, recrea¬ tion centers and other “living” memorials. The Bureau does not undertake to erect or finance memorials anywhere; but by means of bulletins, exhibits, speakers and personal advisory service, it is ready to aid state and municipal memorial committees. The Bureau, through its Advisory Committee and through co¬ operation with national community service bodies, art and archi¬ tectural associations, etc., has brought together a large amount of expert opinion and knowledge concerning community buildings. This material is being published in the series of Bulletins entitled “Com¬ munity Buildings as War Memorials.” A list of these publications appears on the back cover. Note: —The article in this Bulletin was written by Albert S. Bard, President of the Municipal Art Society of New York, and was first published in the National Municipal Review, to whose editors thanks are due for permission to reprint. LIBRARY OF THE HWYER8ITY OF ILLINOIS Community House, Manchester, Conn . existing Community Rouses POWER PLANTS OF COMMUNITY HAPPINESS Even before the war it was apparent that the tide of community effort was rising rapidly and overflowing its existing boundaries. The church, the Y. M. C. A., the lodge room, the Chamber of Commerce and the town hall were being called upon continually to lend their facilities for various community activities. Dif¬ ferences of creed or point of view or policies proved but feeble barriers to insistent demands for such coop¬ eration. The schoolhouse was a special boon, and its cramped school seats or kindergarten chairs hardly daunted the organization eager to hold a meeting or concert, produce a play, or invite a lyceum circuit. In many communities schoolhouse plans have been drawn with special reference to their provisions for civic use, in the hope that the inadequacy of existing facilities might be overcome. The war brought this matter to a crisis. Never be- Community JgutlbtngS as 380ar iWemortalS fore were there so many activities, organizations, cam¬ paigns, meetings; never before had the improvidence of a community in not supplying means for civic development revealed itself so clearly to its citizens. Patriotic or¬ ganizations eager to aid in war work found themselves “in the predicament of a poor family with many chil¬ dren looking for rooms at reasonable prices.” We have many instances indeed of the conversion for temporary public use of private homes, and a host of humorous anecdotes have been gleaned as to the many grotesque selections of location forced upon war groups, as, for instance, that of a Red Cross work room in a loft whose entrance was through a saloon below. As the diffi¬ culties of “making bricks without straw” in civic work impressed themselves upon citizens, there was awakened a tremendous interest in the securing of proper central facilities for communal endeavor. That interest, coming from many sources, joins its streams in a vast movement for the erection of com¬ munity houses. From memorial commissions especially, eager to find the most fitting way to perpetuate the spirit of service that inspired those who fought in the war, have come requests for information and advice con¬ cerning the community houses that are in existence, and their functioning. The community house is looked upon not merely as an aid in the preservation of existing bonds of association for civic purposes, but as an instru¬ ment that will promote even greater cooperation and organization among the citizenry, and foster social con¬ tact and friendliness as well. The community house Existing Community has come to be regarded as a power plant for the genera¬ tion of civic happiness. In the attempt to meet this demand for further enlightenment concerning existing community houses, this bulletin has been prepared. In it are described a number of successful community buildings representing types which may prove suggestive either in their archi¬ tecture or in their provision for community activities. Some, such as museums, schools, church buildings, etc., which have been forced into use, will indicate some of the functions filled by these institutions in the absence of real community houses. One and all, the examples indicate the value of a common meeting-place and a communal clubhouse, for every individual and every organization in the community. A NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE THAT SERVES ALL THE PEOPLE Locust Valley, N. Y. Locust Valley, N.Y., is a small community. The Matinecock Neighborhood Association, an organization of citizens formed for mutual civic and social purposes, draws on a district population of only two thousand. When the people came to the realization, however, that the one thing needful was a community house, the mere fact of population was not allowed to stand in the way. Caught by the vision of greater community progress through the creation of adequate central facilities, thirty^ five thousand dollars was raised by popular subscription Community JlutUitngS as ®0ar Jfflemoriate The Com¬ munity House at Locust Val¬ leyi, N. Y. A building which acts as a com¬ munity house for the 2000 inhabitants . and spent for the erection of a building to be known as the Neighborhood House. The work developed by leaps and bounds. The yearly income, as shown in the 1918 report, reaches $14,000. So large a sum in so small a community be¬ tokens the wide usefulness of the club. From the busi¬ ness profits and proceeds of such activities as moving- picture shows, dances, pool, bowling, etc., about $2,150 was obtained, but an even healthier sign is the amount of over $7,000 from membership dues. These dues range from one dollar a year to two hundred, depending on classification, but the members have the power of a single vote only, no matter what they pay. The Neigh¬ borhood House, thus democratically organized, is under the control of a Board of Directors elected for five-year terms by the dues-paying members. An excellent Year (Existing Community Rouses Book of the Matinecock Neighborhood is published, summarizing its work for the year and reporting its financial standing. One of the reasons for the success of the Neighbor¬ hood House is the fact that it is equipped with the many facilities required for adequate service to a community. It has meeting rooms and offices, bowling alleys, an excellent library and reading room, an assembly room, a modern stage, a billiard room and a motion-picture booth. A section of the building is used by the Fire De¬ partment. The social hall has a fine, homelike atmos¬ phere and suggests solid comfort—especially around the large fireplace on winter nights. Both its big clubhouse and its grounds were planned with a view towards many kinds of service. COMMUNITY HOUSE ACTIVITIES REMAKE TOWN LIFE The chairman of the house committee tells of his work in this cheery fashion: “Someone recently re¬ marked that it made no difference what time of the day or night a person went to the Club House; something was always going on.” While this statement is an exag¬ geration, yet it indicates the many activities which are finding their headquarters at the club. These activities cover a wide field—we are told of the perpetual motion of the Boy Scouts since the club was offered as head¬ quarters, and the work of the Camp Fire Girls. The Triangle Club, recently organized at the House, held a big Father and Son Dinner, and presented the “Bum Bum and Ding Ding Brothers’ Mammoth Circus,” play- 5 Community ISutltnngs as> ®20ar ifflemorials ing to packed houses. The Winter Sports Committee makes us long to visit Locust Valley at the time of its next Annual Ice Carnival. We are told of a Halloween Celebration, among others; of a Community Fair, of monthly smokers for the “mere” men, of frequent dances and of dramatic performances, including a presentation of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Of great civic significance, too, are the nine open forums or community assemblies held during the season, at which speakers of prominence brought their personality and their message to the people of Matinecock. “Plight of the small town indeed.” A Locust Valley citizen will say: “We are having as good a time as you can have anywhere, and we are all working together for it.” Among the many activities not purely social and civic are included that of the Village Nurse, who made over 1,000 calls and assisted in numerous cases of illness; of relief work for those in distress, of a law and order campaign, and of many efforts for the improvement of the locality. The library reports that 8,000 books were borrowed and many new books added, and according to recent advices its work has so developed that the erection of a separate building is being planned. LARGE ATTENDANCE AT COMMUNITY HOUSE The reports of attendance at regular activities dur¬ ing a typical week—the one ending Saturday, February IS, 1919, will demonstrate how large a part in the life of the community the Neighborhood House is filling. existing (Community Rouses A ttendance Sunday school. 103 Community Assembly and Forum.. 243 Father and Son Dinner. 128 Boy Scouts’ Meetings. 56 Dance.. 72 Red Cross Committee Meeting. 11 L. V. Pioneers’ Meeting. 14 Motion Pictures. 156 Bowling . 108 Pool. 19 910 NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOCIAL CONTACT This report tells only a part of the story. It shows the number interested in particular forms of recreation. It does not include those who come to the Club merely to rest or to chat, or out of sheer friendliness or socia¬ bility, and who sat around the fireplace in that cold week and enjoyed the company of fellowmen. It does not tell what a bleak, barren time it might have been in Locust Valley if there had been no Neighborhood House and no Matinecock Neighborhood Association to sup¬ port it. To the wideawake citizen of a small community it indicates that what Matinecock did is not impossible in his own community. It suggests that similar benefits may accrue to any village or town if it catches the vision of the bettering of the world for which this war was fought, by erecting and organizing a Community House as its living memorial. Community JlutltnngS as ®2Uar iMemorialS THE COMMUNITY BUILDING AS A CLEARING HOUSE OF COMMUNITY ENDEAVOR Elgin, Nebraska The farmers and town-people of Elgin organized a community club for mutual benefit in 1917 and incor¬ porated it. In a comparatively short time a sufficient amount of stock was sold at $100 per share to start in business under the corporation law. Over $25,000 was raised, although Elgin’s population is only about 1,000, because support from the nearby farmers was obtained for the project. A home was then wanted, and the Elgin opera- house was purchased. At that time the building was little more than four brick walls, forty by eighty feet in dimensions, with a basement and two stories. An archi¬ tect was employed and elaborate plans were made for remodeling the building. Nothing like it had ever been attempted in the small village, and many were the knocks and stumbling blocks along the way. Despite the predictions of many that “it couldn’t be done,” and “there ain’t no such animal,” Elgin now has a club build¬ ing which is the pride of the community. Among the features of the Community House are an auditorium which is used for picture shows, home en¬ tertainments, road shows and public entertainments of all kinds that are approved by the directors; a ladies’ rest room which is open, clean and comfortable every day of the year; a gymnasium, banquet and dance hall and a well-furnished kitchen; a game room which is lo- 8 existing Community Houses cated in the basement and contains two bowling alleys, two pool tables and a billiard table; a library which is open to members at all times, and adjoining the library a directors’ room and a business office. Wash rooms are on all floors, and there are shower baths in the gymnasium. A HEADQUARTERS OF CIVIC EFFORT The work and usefulness of the club are broad and the building itself is nothing less than a clearing-house for the entire community. All matters of general inter¬ est are referred to the club. It handles Chautauquas, lecture courses, carnivals, sports and public improve¬ ments when not under the control of village or township officers; it promoted Red Cross work and encouraged the purchase of Liberty Bonds; it looks after solicitors with a view of keeping out “grafters.” It has organized a company of home guards, gives plays with home talent, and provides clean public entertainment. The rooms are given free for meetings of a public nature, such as those of the village board, the fire department, the Red Cross and the home guards. MEMBERSHIP BASED ON FAMILY PLAN There are 244 members of the club, including fam¬ ily membership. Of this number thirty-two families reside on farms adjacent to Elgin. The rates for yearly membership are as follows: Class A, $15 for family membership, including children under twenty-one years of age; Class B, $12, comprising single men; Class C, $5, youths under twenty-one years Community Jguiltimgs as ®3SJar jWcmorials of age whose parents are not members; Class D, $4, women over twenty years of age; Class E, $5, non-resi¬ dents ; Class F, $2, girls under twenty-one years of age whose parents are not members. Each shareholder has a vote per share. All parts of the building are accessible to members, but fees are charged for admission to enter¬ tainments and for game-room privileges. A plan of membership dues similar to the above, based on families, is used in other places, as for example, Norwood, Mass. THE FORTNIGHTLY COMMUNITY DINNER Twice a month, on Thursday evening, the club gives a dinner in the banquet room to members at fifty cents a plate. The serving is preceded by a short musical or literary program, and after dinner the business meeting is held. Entire families attend, and the finest feeling of community friendship and betterment is generated. This is a great feature of the work. Any business re¬ lating to the club or the welfare of the community may be brought up at these meetings and discussed. How¬ ever, the officers and the board of directors are held responsible for all transactions coming under the direct transactions of the corporate body. Excellent advice is contained in a recent letter from the secretary of Elgin Community House. NO FAILURE POSSIBLE He says: “There are no failures. Our work is an experiment; we always expect a reaction of some sort and it always 10 existing Communttp^ouSeS comes. Many times it assumes entirely unexpected forms and surprising ones. Many times we drop a given program because the reaction is not what we expected, but we do not consider the experiment a failure. Rather we tried it out in order to find out what it might lead to, and even though results were unpleasant, the experiment was a success because of its revelations to us. The great reason why so many communities are really failing is because they are constantly in fear of failure. They want to be so everlastingly sure of success that they never try anything and hence never attain to the very thing of which they desire to be certain. “the everlasting dance question” “For instance: The everlasting dance question. In a multitude of instances on which I have addressed in¬ stitutes, some one was sure to raise the propriety of per¬ mitting it. We frankly confess it is a problem, but we contend that it has to be reckoned with and will not be disposed of with mere high sounding phrases. Instead of merely trying to prohibit it absolutely, we tried to find the greatest objections, and shaped our course ac¬ cordingly. We feared that if we closed down on it al¬ together the dancing element would go and put up a cheap dance hall and we would have the same old trouble. I have many interesting experiences to relate, but among them the following reactions: “When our policy and rules were announced, cer¬ tain members of a fraternal organization said: ‘We’re not going to stand for a Sunday School method of telling us what to do, we’ll show them we can dance just as we m Community Jguilbtnes; as 3®ar jWemorialS please without dictation from anybody.’ They prevailed on the lodge to install a high-priced piano in their hall with a view to capturing the dancing patronage of the community. They had just one dance in their hall, and that was enough to prove that the dancers really pre¬ ferred to take their folks to our building where we had made such attractive provision for them. We have had no trouble about competition since. However, there is still a greater surprise than ever. Under our policy of a family membership, a man’s wife and daughters have just as much right to bowl and play billiards as he has. They are using that privilege, and time and again they have had to coax the young people away from the bowl¬ ing alleys in order to have enough folks for the dance sets. I submit for your reflection whether or not that is a wholesome result. * UNEXPECTED RESULT OF A MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN “Again we planned a membership campaign and ex¬ pected a certain farm neighborhood about ten miles away to come in with us. But this was the surprising reaction. Our plan was so successful that they didn’t want to come in, but organized one themselves, centering around their church and schoolhouse. “As a result of the activities of the two organiza¬ tions a strip of fine highway between the two neighbor¬ hoods was constructed across a sandy waste at an ex¬ pense of almost $5,000 raised by popular subscription. In view of these facts, I raise this question: Was the membership campaign a failure?” 12 Cxfetmg Community Rouses The La Jolla Community House, San Diego, Calif., shows an admirable adaptation of California mission architecture A COMPLETE PLAYGROUND PLANT AND COMMUNITY HOUSE COMBINED San Diego, California. In July, 1915, Miss Ellen B. Scripps of La Jolla, a neighborhood of San Diego, California, authorized Mr. Frank Marsh, Superintendent of Playgrounds in San Diego, to build as complete a “plant” as possible without regard to cost, as a gift from her to San Diego. This city has a population of 85,000 and is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Miss Scripps is intensely interested in the recreation movement and is one of the Board of Directors of the Playground and Recreation Association of America. 13 Community $uittitngs as ®Har Jttemorials The kitchen of the La Jolla C o m m unity House contrib¬ utes largely to the success of the ban- q u et s, chil¬ dren’s Christ- m a s parties and similar entertainments held in the as¬ sembly room. Floor Plan of La Jolla Community House. The large assembly room has a stage, and is used for theatricals, as well as banquets, dances and conferences. 14 existing Community Rouses The La Jolla plant is said to include one of the most complete playgrounds and community houses in the country. Mr. Frank Marsh, Superintendent of the “Community House,” declares that he believes, after visiting some 35 cities, that his plant is one of the best. The size of the site is 570 by 300 feet, and the value of the plant is $180,000. The value of the land of this playground is estimated at $100,000 and $80,000 was spent in construction and equipment. It took eleven months to build. The building is designed in the California mission style of architecture and is especially attractive in ap¬ pearance. It has functioned throughout the war period as a center for civic war work, and has been successful as a recreational center. A community drama organ¬ ization has developed in the community house theatre and the social and recreational rooms are constantly in use. Reports indicate that this is one of the most suc¬ cessful buildings of the kind in the country. Mr. Marsh says: “Every one who can do so ought to visit the La Jolla Community House of San Diego.” FACILITIES EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO PLEASE EVERYBODY “Some special features of the plant are the concrete wading pool, the concrete tennis courts, colored with chrom-oxide (green) to take off the glare of the sun. The entire playground is so brilliantly lighted with 500 and 1,000 watt nitrogen lamps that all activities are carried on at night as well as in the day time. “The Community House is provided with a large auditorium, a stage completely equipped with scenery, 15 Community JSutlbtngs as ®®ar Jltmortals colored lights and dimmers; club rooms, reading room, pool room, locker and shower rooms, separate offices for the men and women workers, and a manual training room; a hospital ward, which is headquarters for a dis¬ trict nurse, and a kitchen completely equipped with stoves, cooking utensils, dishes, silverware, tablecloths, with the necessary tables for serving and cooking any kind of a meal for one hundred and fifty people. We also have a complete, up-to-date lantern room, equipped with a motion-picture machine, double dissolving stere- opticon and spot-light machine. We feel that we can take care of any phase of the recreational life of the community.” Large numbers of people' are using the facilities constantly. Mr. Marsh, in speaking of the house, says optimistically: “Henry Curtis says it is the last word in playgrounds. But it is not going to be the last word.” He is no doubt right, for among the memorials of this war there are destined to be a number of community houses which may excel that of San Diego. There will be no “last word” in this field. As communities reap the advantages of the edifices they have built, they will inspire other communities to even greater efforts. A COMMUNITY HOUSE SAVES A TOWN MONEY Holden, Mass. There are many uses community houses have served that were not contemplated originally, and many of these are emergency uses. Often substantial* savings 16 existing Community Rouses have been made possible because of the facilities of the community house. Holden, Mass., a town of 2,100 population, has had frequent occasion to make use of its community house in ways that were not thought of when built. We are leaving out very interesting material concerning Hol¬ den’s busy Community House in order to show the special services it has rendered. AN AID TO THE SCHOOLS The particular need for the Community House of Holden was demonstrated in the winter of 1917-1918. The School Committee of Holden had for some time been convinced of the need for adding a course on Household Arts to the high school curriculum. How¬ ever, there were no facilities in either the high school ' or the town buildings. For a long while they were hin¬ dered in their plans. This situation suggested an idea to the directors of Community House, and they offered the use of the kitchen on the second floor. This was at once accepted and the course in Household Arts established. Prac¬ tically every girl in the high school who was eligible, has selected the course, and sixteen periods a week are held at the Community House. This has meant a material saving to the town, for practically no expenditure was necessary for equipment,—a merely nominal rental be¬ ing charged the town. THE COMMUNITY HOUSE AIDS THE CHURCHES The value of the Community House was further emphasized when the coal shortage struck Holden. 17 Community Jgutftring# as: Mfar Jfflemortate Some of the churches having large heating plants found it impossible to hold their services and others could do so only at a very great expense. At this juncture the community house was offered to each church society. This offer was accepted the churches and led, in fact, to the uniting of mid-week meetings in the assembly hall, thus saving an appreciable amount of fuel in their own buildings. COMMUNITY HOUSE AIDS THE TOWN GOVERNMENT Matters grew worse in that cold winter and heat became more and more of a problem. It became impos¬ sible to use the heating plant in the Town Hall at one time, and all meetings scheduled there were transferred without charge to the Community House. These in¬ cluded the Holden Grange meeting and an all-day ses-. sion of the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Club. The policy of the directors of the Community House is to serve the people of the town in every way and to depend upon their appreciation for their continued support. TOWN’S EMERGENCY NEEDS MET BY THE COMMUNITY HOUSE Many emergency needs were met by the Com¬ munity House in addition to those outlined above. The building was of great service during the epidemic of in¬ fluenza, becoming an annex to the local hospital for two weeks. In every emergency Holden has seen an added demonstration of the benefits from its Community House. 18 existing Community Rouses The clerk of the Holden Community Corporation adds valuable comment to our account. He states: COMMUNITY HOUSE BROADLY FINANCED “Perhaps the two most important reasons for our success have been that in financing the proposition we have endeavored to secure as many individual subscrip¬ tions as possible, and have not encouraged large giving by any, thus spreading the interest in the House as far as possible. The second reason for our success seems to be in serving the Community in every possible way and in anticipating its needs.” A PURELY VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION. “We have had no real failures—through our gen¬ erosity some years have not seen revenue enough to pay expenses from rentals, but we have always had our stock sales oversubscribed. “We have absolutely no connection with any part of the town government. We are an incorporated body and all our affairs are under direct control of the stock¬ holders through our directors. Our relations with the various officials are most pleasant, and we have had many favors from their hands, such as free illumination on fete nights, adjustment of power charges while the Red Cross were using the building, extension of grano¬ lithic walk near our property, etc. “We have no endowment but believe that our ven¬ ture is so well established that we may hope for aid from this source. Our revenue comes from rental of 19 Community Jiuilbings afi OTtar jWemortalS quarters to various organizations, also from use of as¬ sembly hall for teas, dances, club meetings, etc. In nor¬ mal times this is sufficient to cover our expenses.” URGES COMMUNITY HOUSE AS A MEMORIAL “Fortunately we have not felt the need of changing our original plan of operation, and I feel that if a simi¬ lar one were followed elsewhere it could serve very suc¬ cessfully as such a memorial.” A COMMUNITY HOUSE INCREASES A TOWN’S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE Kentfield, California. • “How big need a community be,” it will be asked, “in order that a community house may be a success?” Experience demonstrates that a successful community house serves not merely its own town but the surround¬ ing neighborhood as well. Thus, the Tamalpais Center, a Community House in Kentfield, California, serves not only the population of Kentfield, some 400, but draws on a district population of about 4,000. One need not urge the point that such support from neighboring com¬ munities adds considerably to the financial success and the opportunity for broadened service. THE COMMUNITY HOUSE DONATED Kentfield was very lucky, for the building was a gift of Mrs. A. E. Kent. It is a beautiful structure built especially for this purpose by the donor in 1909 at a cost of $22,000. It contains among other features an audi- 20 (Existing Community Rouses torium, with stage scenery, kitchen facilities, a shop for manual work and club rooms, which are used by such organizations as the Tamalpais Center Woman’s Club, the Kentfield Civic Association and the Marin County May Fete Association. The latter holds a big annual May festival which alone brings in from $350 to $450. The official statement of the Tamalpais Center Association gives the following as the basis of its existence: TO MAKE LIFE MORE WORTH LIVING •‘It is the purpose of‘Tamalpais Center to en¬ courage the establishment of facilities for public recreation and education to the intent of making life more worth the living for old and young of this community.” Tamalpais Center is a legal corporation organized in 1908, primarily for the purpose of holding title to certain property which had already been dedicated or which will in future be dedicated to social purposes at Kentfield. Thus far this property consists of twenty- nine acres of land together with the improvements, including the club building, 90x100 feet, and the playground apparatus. A FORTNIGHTLY PROGRAM OF A COMMUNITY HOUSE Purchase, N. Y. The William A. Read Memorial House, at Pur¬ chase, N. Y., is a gift intended for the use of all its citizens. 21 (Community JBuiltungs as ®Sar jWemorials; The Read Memorial Community House at Purchase, N. Y. The use of native gray stone as a building material of¬ fers sugges¬ tions to other communities. One of the chief attractions of the Purchase building is the well-laid-out groups surrounding it. 22 Cxtgttng Community %ougeg The Assembly Hall, as can be seen from the second floor plan {left), is the full height of the building, with a spacious gallery extending across one end. The basement plan below shows the gymnasium. Detail,showing the rear entrance to the Read Memorial Community blouse. 23 Community JSuiltrings! as OTiar jWemortalS The fortnightly program shown in facsimile here is published by the House as an announcement of ap¬ proaching events. In the hot weeks of July, when activ¬ ities were at a low ebb everywhere, Purchase seems to have been unusually well provided for recreationally, and the interest shown during the mid-summer month indicates how much more the Read Memorial means to the town in other seasons. “THE PURCHASE COMMUNITY” PURCHASE ST. North of Harrison Ave. PURCHASE, N. Y. WM. JUSSERAND DE FOREST, Director Telephone, White Plains 2636 LOUIS B. ROLSTON, President WILLIAM MULDOON, DONN BARBER, Vice-Presidents MRS. STEPHEN V. BRITT, Secretary CARL PFORZHEIMER, Treasurer Tuesday, July 1st—3.00 P. M. Girls’ Folk Dancing Class. 7.30 P. M. Boy Scouts’ Meeting. Rev. G. F. Wells, Scout Master. 8.30 P. M. Movies. Title to be announced on Community House Bulletin Board. Admission 23c., children 17c. Wednesday, July 2nd—2.00 P. M. Red Cross. 8.30 P. M. Men’s Association. Monthly Meeting and Athletics. 8.30 P. M. Library Committee Meeting. Thursday, July 3rd—3.00 P. M. Girls’ Folk Dancing Class. Friday, July 4th—11 A. M. Independence Day Celebration. Exhibition by Boy and Girl Scouts. All men of the town of Harrison who served in the war are especially invited to be present and are asked to wear their uniform. An army officer will speak. Name will be given later on Community House Bulletin Board. 8.30 P. M. Dance. Admission 50c. a couple. Ladies 25c. Ice cream and cake served at 10 P. M. Saturday, July 5th—2.30 P. M. The Golden Rod Troop has invited all the Girl Scout troops of Northern Westchester to the Spring Rally on the circle “Hill- crest.” All the neighborhood is invited to attend. 4 to 6 P. M. Open house. Tea served. Girls’ Roadside Market. Sunday, July 6th—Church services. Monday, July 7th—3.15 P. M. Girls* Domestic Science Class. 3.00 P. M. Monthly meeting Woman’s Association. Tuesday, July 8th—3.00 P. M. Girls’ Folk Dancing Class. 7.30 P. M. Boy Scouts’ Meeting. 8.30 P. M. Movies. Title to be announced on Community House Bulletin Board. Admission, adults 23c., children 17c. 24 existing Community Rouses Wednesday, July 9th—2.00 P. M. Red Cross. 8.30 P. M. Men’s Association. Athletic Practice. 8.30 P. M. Library Committee Meeting. Thursday, July 10—3.00 P. M. Girls’ Folk Dancing Class. 8.30 P.M. Concert under the auspices of the Woman’s Association. Ad¬ mission 35c. Friday, July 11th—8.30 P. M. Dance. Admission 50c. a couple. Ladies 25c. Ice cream and cake served at 10 P. M. Saturday, July 12th—Afternoon. Girls’ Roadside Market. 4 to 6 P. M. Open house. Tea served. Sunday, July 13th—Church services as stated below. Monday, July 14th—3.15 P. M. Girls’ Domestic Science Class. 3.30 P. M. House Committee Meeting. Capt. H. Esberg, Chair. Tuesday, July 15th—3.00 P. M. Girls’ Folk Dancing Class. 7.30 P. M. Boy Scouts’ Meeting. 8.30 P. M. Movies. Title to be announced on Community Bulletin Board. Admission 23c., children 17c. Library open for circulation of books Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2 to 4. P. M. Donation of books and periodicals solicited. Mrs. Clarence N. Peacock, Librarian. The Girls’ Roadside Market took in over seventeen dollars on the first Satur¬ day afternoon. The girls are glad to receive fresh fruit, flowers and vegetables to be sold on a ten per cent, commission. It is hoped that there may be a large attendance at the concert to be given by the Woman’s Association, the evening of July 10th. A fund to purchase equipment for the gymnasium is being raised. Two hun¬ dred dollars is needed, of which one hundred is already promised. Contributions for this may be sent to the Director. The Tennis Court has been put in order, a net and balls purchased, and is now open free. Mrs. Whitelaw Reid has generously installed electric light in the Chapel on her estate, which she permits the Community to use and has also arranged for the services of a professional organist at the Sunday services. NOTICE—Bulletin will be published on the 1st and 15th. Notices must be in hands of Mrs. P. H. Goodsell, Chairman, on or before the 20th and 5th of the month. 25 Community JButUitngS as ®8Sar jWeniorialS AN INDUSTRIAL RECREATION CENTER BECOMES A COMMUNITY HOUSE Ludlow, Mass. The Ludlow Athletic and Recreation Association is a club of men and women organized in 1896 for the encouragement of athletics, recreation and social gath¬ erings among the employes of the Ludlow Manufactur¬ ing Associates, an organization of industrial firms of the locality. The membership has not been restricted, how¬ ever, to employes and consequently has widened until many citizens not in industry, have been included. In the belief that such an association would prove of benefit to the whole community, the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates found room for housing its activities, and in 1906 constructed the Stevens Memorial Building, turn¬ ing it over for use, free of rental, with light, heat and water furnished as well. This reduces the expenses of upkeep considerably, and the building thus finds it possible to meet expenses by very low dues which are $2 annually for the men, $1.50 for the women, and only sixty cents for those under fourteen years of age. In addition, small fees are charged for lockers, for the use of pool tables or bowling alleys, and for attendance in the special classes of cooking, sewing and millinery. About $6,500 is raised this way every year. There are about 1,500 members, and as the total population of the town is only 6,000 this membership is rather a conclusive indication of the wide service which the Stevens Memorial Build¬ ing is giving. Many patrons of the building use it of course who are not members. Sixty per cent of the mem- 26 (Existing Community Rouses bership consist of men and boys, and the other forty per cent of women and girls. The management of the Association is vested in a board of sixteen directors, twelve of whom are men and four women. These are elected by ballot by the annual members, any of whom is eligible for office. There are few paid officials, for the directors have tried to organize the leadership on a volunteer basis. The following com¬ mittees are among those annually appointed: Gymnas¬ tics, Dramatics, Dance and Music, Domestic Science, Social, Finance, Field, and Membership. The club house is excellently equipped and has been a source of great pleasure to its patrons. It is a brick building three stories that cost $75,000 to build. In the basement there is a pool forty-eight feet by seventeen feet in dimensions, also locker rooms, shower and tub baths, and three bowling alleys. The first floor is divided into two parts with separate entrances, one side of the building containing the men’s reading and smoking room, and a pool and billiard room with eleven tables, the other having the' women’s club room, an office, and smaller rooms in which are conducted classes for the women. The second floor contains the large assembly hall, eighty by sixty feet with a good stage and is used as a gymnasium. The running track is used as a balcony, and the hall may thus accommodate 800 people. This gymnasium is the arena for many basketball games and athletic contests. It is very popular also for its dances, which are held under instructors once a week during the season, and at other times under the auspices of various fraternal and social organizations. On other 27 Community JBuilbutgs as ®2Har ^Memorials nights there are moving pictures, lectures, amateur theatricals and similar social affairs. The Stevens Memorial Building is taxed to capacity because of the wide interest in its activities. The pool is used by young and old and some of the regular classes in swimming have as many as a hundred members. Classes in dress¬ making, millinery, cooking, etc., are well attended, and the social facilities constantly used. A park and playground of seven and one-half acres adjoins the building and is a mecca for outdoor sports in the summer. In addition to two baseball diamonds and a cinder track there is a well-equipped children’s play¬ ground that is organized to attract large numbers of children and succeeds in bringing them out even on the hottest days. A WINTER SPORTS’ PALACE AND COM¬ MUNITY CENTER Eveleth, Minn. In January of this year (1919) Eveleth, Minn., had a celebration which was not only one of the biggest ever held in that city, but one which attracted the attention of municipalities all over the country and made a pro¬ found impression on the Northwest. This celebration marked the opening night of Winter Sports’ Palace, a project for all the 10,000 people of Eveleth, that cost approximately $125,000 to build. The history of the building is interesting. It origi¬ nated with the need for more adequate facilities for a game known as “curling,” played on ice or an ice rink. 28 existing Community Rouses While it is not known to those in Southern climes, it is played much in Canada and in the Northwest. The local curling club found that it w r as at a disadvantage in not having the right kind of rink, and began to consider building a new rink. In the meanwhile, the project broadened in their eyes and the plan evolved until it centered on having the city erect a building which would be suitable for a general recreational institution. The city saw the advantage of this and decided to make pro¬ vision for a really modern recreational building, that could be used throughout the year, and provide for such gatherings as that of the Commercial Club, Woman’s Club, etc. The building has facilities for banquets, mass meet¬ ings, displays, farmer’s market, dancing, roller skating, ice skating, and, of course, curling. The unobstructed floor is used in other seasons for games and for big meet¬ ings. Many small committee rooms are included as well as provisions for rest and comfort of all the people who might want to use the building. No institution in the city compares in patronage with that of the Winter Sports’ Palace. The success of the building may be at¬ tested by many tributes, of which the following is an example: “It is the opinion of the majority of the people that no better action could have been taken. The morals of the children are better maintained by the means of having such a place of recreation. The saloons being closed, it serves as a public gathering place for young men and old. It is a municipal in¬ stitution that has long been needed in Eveleth.” 29 Community JSutllnngS as WLav jWemonalss COMMUNITY HOUSES IN BIG CITIES Community houses in very large cities, serving central needs of the whole population, are as yet rare and the form taken is rather that of centers in neighbor¬ hoods or boroughs. Such neighborhood community houses are often located near playground and other out¬ door facilities and serve the varied interests of all of the people in that section of the city. Neighborhood memorials have often been erected in important subdivisions of big cities and several of these are being considered now. A description of some of the existing neighborhood houses will, therefore, be an aid to those who see the advantages of establishing similar community centers. A RECREATION CENTER AND COMMUNITY HOUSE Peoria, Illinois. Not many communities will have the good fortune of securing a community house established by a dona¬ tion from one citizen and endowed by him so as to take care of its annual needs without the scramble for funds. The John C. Proctor Recreation Center of Peoria, Illinois (population 80,000) is so endowed. It was built in 1913 at a total cost of $238,000, of which $40,000 was for the grounds and $13,000 for the furniture and equipment. Except for receipts of $4,000 from slight charges made on certain services for the purposes of control and moral effect, such as two cents for a bath 30 Existing Community Rouses or swim, the budget of $20,0GQ is supplied from the en¬ dowment fund. A self-perpetuating board of seven trustees is in charge. With so much money at command when it was built, it is to be expected that the building has ex¬ ceptional facilities. Among other features are two gym¬ nasiums 40 feet by 71 feet each, two large entertainment halls, two complete bath sections, a library, a bowling and billiard room, a laundry plant, a swimming pool 40 feet by 96 feet, three playgrounds, tennis courts and baseball diamonds. PEOPLE RESPOND TO COMMUNITY HOUSE PROGRAM This extensive “plant” is well patronized and its superintendent is enthusiastic over the responsiveness of the people. Much pleasure is afforded in summer through the swimming pool and playground, and during all the year through bowling, billiards, entertainments and socials, as well as through the gymnasium facilities. The center is well located, being in a congested part of the city. Games among the adults have proved very popular, and have awakened the instinct for play and recreation. Bowling seems to be especially appreciated by the young people. The total number of times the center has been used is recorded as 1,320,000 for the last five years, this being the known aggregate of occa¬ sions when individuals came to the center for some form of recreation. COMMUNITY HOUSES ARE POPULAR One of the great doubts in the minds of those in¬ terested in Community Houses is whether the people 31 Community jSUnlbtngs as tStar jWemorials The John C. Proctor Recre¬ ational Center of Peoria, III . —one of the best buildings of its kind in existence . An endowment fund provides adequately for its m a i n t e - nance . View of the Women y s Loggia . A corner of the swimming pool court . 32 existing Community Houses! End view of building. The second floor contains an au¬ ditorium with a stage and dressing room for theatricals . The building is. so arranged that all its departments are easily accessible from the rotunda and office. The arrangement of the swimming pool is such that it is in the open air al¬ though entirely en¬ closed by the build¬ ing . The end of the circulation cor¬ ridors provide waiting places for bathers when the pool is crowded. The corridors also serve as spectators' gal¬ leries. 33 Community JShitlbtngs: as ©0ar JWemortate will really use them. They are obsessed with the fear that they might build a handsome and worthy structure or edifice only to find it isolated in the community’s activities and serving only occasional and casual pur¬ poses. Evidence, however, from almost every com¬ munity house establishes the constant use of the club’s facilities. Wherever reasonable judgment has been used in the location and planning of a community house, popularity is likely to be too great rather than insuffi¬ cient, and the trouble of the secretary will more likely be that of adjusting the many requests for use of the building rather than that of finding patrons. Superintendent A. H. Hyatt of the Proctor Recrea¬ tion Center writes: “The Community House as a war memorial is a fine idea. Moreover, many communities seem to be looking into the matter, judging from in¬ quiries we have received.” PARK COMMUNITY CENTERS Columbus, Ohio. In a city of the size of Columbus, Ohio, with a population that exceeds a quarter of a million, it is natural to find some good community centers. The Glenwood Park community center, built in 1915 at a cost of $25,000 is deservedly popular in that section of the city. It is a municipal project, financed by taxation, and is under the jurisdiction of the Recreation and Park Department, but a co-operating committee of citizens has been appointed, in order that many phases of com¬ munity endeavor may be undertaken. 34 (Existing Community Rouses Many activities are carried on in the Center, rang¬ ing from kindergarten classes for the infants, and gym¬ nasium and club work for children to folk dancing and lectures for the adult population. Adults are interested also in special gymnasium work, orchestral work and community singing, and attend the entertainments arranged frequently. A Married Women’s Gym. Club is very popular. The directors have seen the value of intensive organization and of competition. They have organized teams in the various churches, schools and in¬ dustries in the neighborhood and arranged contests among them that have brought out a great deal of en¬ thusiasm. The Glenwood Park Community Center is suffering from too small a budget. It is badly in need of rooms for quiet games and facilities for other recreational in¬ terests. Its finances have been inadequate for its pro¬ gram, and it has thus been unable to open its pool for swimming. With a liberal budget, the Center could serve the neighborhood much more efficiently. This point suggests a very important provision for a memorial community house. THE WASHINGTON PARK CENTER In another section of Columbus there is the Wash¬ ington Park Community Center, which was constructed in 1917 at a cost of $40,000, and supported by the city government. Its program of activities is similar to that described above for the Glenwood Park Community Center. One of the excellent features of the work is the organization of the South Side Civic Association, a 35 Community JBuilbingS as ®0ar jfflemortalS who know of the work being done there that perhaps a Memorial Community House will be built to help in meeting the problem. THE GARFIELD LODGE AT GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. Another example of a park neighborhood house is the Garfield Lodge, on the Garfield-Fletcher Playground voluntary group of citizens that has given a great deal of moral support and assistance to the Community Center, in which it feels a genuine interest. As in the case of the Glenwood Park Community Center, the one at Washington Park has proved inadequate for its large clientele, and it has become the hope of many of those The great popularity of GarfieldLodge, Grand Rapids, Mich, {right ), as a gathering place for lo¬ cal organiza¬ tions has re¬ quired the in¬ troduction of a car e fully planned book¬ ing system. 36 (Existing Community Houses in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was built eight years ago as the gift of Mrs. H. E. Garfield to the city of Grand Rapids. The building cost $6,800 and is constructed of cement plaster. Among its facilities are meeting rooms, a restaurant and a very broad cement veranda of nearly the area of the Lodge itself, which is an ex¬ cellent adjunct to the meeting rooms in summer. The Lodge is used every day of the year, and has become so busy a place that a regular booking system was installed in order to accommodate all the people who made requests for dates for meetings and gather¬ ings. Many societies of girls have come from all parts of the city for parties and socials because the Lodge is so well supervised under the Park Board. The success of the Garfield Lodge has lead to a desire on the part of the people to multiply the benefits of the building for different sections of the municipality by furnishing community houses, to be placed upon parks and playgrounds. COMBINING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY A SOCIAL CENTER IN A HIGH SCHOOL La Salle-Peru, Ill. In the absence of real community houses, specific¬ ally built for that purpose, varied are the forms which communities have adopted in working out their plans for housing its leisure-time activities. Of particular in¬ terest is the account of the combination High School and Social Center described below by its director and principal, Mr. Thomas J. McCormack. It is suported 37 Community Putlbingsf ass Wiar jWcmortalss by public taxation through the Township High School and the school directors are the trustees of it. Mr. Mc¬ Cormack tells a big story very briefly: The Social Center of the La Salle-Peru Township High School of La Salle, Illinois, was made possible by the munificence of the late Mr. F. W. Matthiessen of La Salle. Mr. Matthiessen gave $75,000 originally for the erection of a recreation building, containing a gym¬ nasium, club rooms, and swimming pool. This was followed, just before his death, by a sum of about $75,000 for the erection of an addition to the Recreation Build¬ ing and improvements in the main High School building. Mr. Matthiessen also gave an outdoor swimming pool. The township Board of Education also made consider¬ able contributions to the new enterprise and the citizens of the community donated money for the erection of a concrete grandstand, costing $2,500 on the athletic grounds included in Mr. Matthiessen’s gift. The cost of maintaining the Social Center is borne entirely by the Township Board of Education, which is an educational taxing body, representing the cities of La Salle, Peru, and Oglesby, and the country districts, with a total population of 30,000 people. The Center is situ¬ ated in the western part of the City of La Salle, near the line of the city of Peru. Owing to the unfavorable topog¬ raphy of the town at this point and to the distance of Oglesby from the Center (five miles), the equipment is not equally accessible to all the population and the Center is accordingly tised more largely by the districts near at hand. Primarily, it is for the use of high school students, but the completeness of the equipment and its 38 €xtsting Community Rouses The Social Center of the La Salle-Peru Townsh ip High School. large facilities enable it to cater to an adult and juvenile public manyfold larger than the high school attendance. The cost of running the center is about $8,000 a year, which is paid out of the educational high school funds. EXPENSIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAM CARRIED OUT The auditorium is for the use of the school and public. The fee for its use is merely nominal. In it are held all high school events, many of the town’s edu¬ cational entertainments, and many of the entertain¬ ments of churches of all denominations. As to activities, there are indoor baseball league games of all kinds, medal contests, club socials, story-telling classes, folk dancing classes, track meets, card parties, dances, com¬ mittee meetings, sewing classes for girls, First Aid lec¬ tures, lectures on physical culture, story-telling instruc- 39 Community Jlmltringsi as ®Har JWemortalsi tion for girls who are to teach in the country, boys’ ban¬ quets, parents’ nights, wrestling classes, swimming meets, physical examinations, military drills, adult men’s and women’s gymnasium classes, and so on. These activities are not all carried on at the same time, but vary according to the season and interest. In the summer we have tennis playing, girls’ classes in making doll clothes and in cutting for scrap books, outdoor base¬ ball league games, swimming contests, Social Center pic¬ nics, amateur theatricals, soccer games, horseshoe games, hikes, community singing, etc. The success of these groups varies according to the season and other factors. Our attendance in July was over 23,000 and in August over 31,000. In the other months it goes as low as from 10,000 to 12,000. MANCHESTER’S SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY CLUB Manchester, Connecticut A combination of school and community center run on a different plan exists in Manchester, Connecticut. It was built in 1917 and is modern in its equipment, as it includes a swimming pool, four billiard and pool tables, two bowling alleys, a good-sized gymnasium, reading rooms, smoking rooms, etc., all of which are well patron¬ ized. The cost of the original building which exceeded $200,000 was met by a donation from Cheney Brothers, a local firm. Many social activities are carried on that serve the people. During the war practically all the war work activities centered about this building. 40 existing Community Rouses Policies are determined by a committee of five serving three years, two of whom are appointed by the School Board and three elected by the School District. It has no voting membership, but there is a membership fee for patrons, the dues being $5 for men and $3 for women and girls and boys under 18 years of age. The total annual budget is met principally by public taxation in the school district. THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL BUILDING AT WHEATON, MINN. The combination of school and community center is found frequently, and the lack of a central community house is thus bridged temporarily. Wheaton, Illinois, is proud of its “Community School Building,” and calls it “The Wheaton Idea.” One of the advantages claimed for such a wider use of the school building is that of bringing the school and the community in closer rela¬ tionship than ever before. One official of Wheaton says enthusiastically: “ ‘The Wheaton Idea’ develops the proper com¬ munity spirit and has brought town, country and school into closer touch and cooperation than anything else for the advancement of the human family.” A MUSEUM FORCED INTO USE AS A COMMUNITY CENTER Santa Fe, New Mex. The new community spirit in America will not be balked in seeking means of making its efforts effective. 41 Community Jlutlbitigs as ©iar dFWtmortals When the city of Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, found that it needed a community house and could not build one especially for the purpose, resourcefulness found another way. There is a fine new museum building in Santa Fe. This was pressed into use and soon proved to be one of the most valuable assets in the state. The secretary of the museum, Mr. Paul A. F. Walter, describes the suc¬ cess achieved in such a striking way that we quote some striking passages from a recent letter written to the Bureau of Memorial Buildings: “Contrary to impression, the new Museum Build¬ ing is a typical community center. In the first six months after its dedication 43 meetings were held in its auditorium, attended by 21,000 people—three times the population of Santa Fee. Anglo-Saxon, Spanish-Ameri- can, Indian, officials, artists, writers, composers, clergy, all mingled at these gatherings. In addition there were many small meetings around the big fire-place, in the library, in the social rooms, in the women’s reception rooms. Events ranging from the inauguration of the Governor to the Roosevelt Memorial Service, from In¬ dian dance dramas to Community Theatre perform¬ ances, from union Thanksgiving Service to school and college commencements, from patriotic rallies to a McDowell recital by Mrs. McDowell, were beautifully and effectively staged in the auditorium. The community loves to gather in the building and the State regards the structure with loving pride. The Red Cross, the Councils of Defense, the Woman’s Club, the Cave Dwellers, the various other civic organizations 42 existing Community Rouses make it their meeting place. The beautiful patio re¬ sounds with out-of-door frolics, and the attractive read¬ ing room and art galleries are never without visitors. Of course, the fact that the building is situated on the town plaza, right in the midst of the community life, that it is so well adapted to all sorts of purposes and that it is typical of the traditions, the history, the an¬ tiquity, the genius of the people, that it fits into the environment and has grown out of the soil, so to speak, all combine to make it a throbbing, pulsing, inspiring part of the community life. “In addition, of course, it is the focus for the visit¬ ors who come to Santa Fe and there you meet them from all ends of the earth. Last year we had 30,000 visitors from outside of Santa Fe—four times the population of the town. COMMUNITY MEMORIAL SHOULD BE CENTRALLY LOCATED “It seems to me that the memorial that is to serve as a community center should be located in the center of population, where the tides of people sweep by and can sweep in; that its architecture should be expressive of the environment and history of the community; that it should be adaptable to house the civic societies with serious purposes and also be available for expressions of the play spirit; that it should have a bit of the out-of- doors within its protecting walls, something like our patio, and that it be beautiful without and within, and house beautiful things.” 43 Community JSutlbtngs as WLav Memorials THE WAR BRINGS BATTLE CREEK A COMMUNITY HOUSE Battle Creek, Mich. When the War Department decided to send large numbers of troops to Camp Custer, near Battle Creek, Mich., a city of 32,000 souls, the state of Michigan appropriated $300,000 for a building to be erected at the entrance of the camp, and turned over the keys to War Camp Community Service for manage¬ ment and control. During the war and the demobilization period that followed, the Camp Custer Community House proved of immeasur¬ able value to the men in service, their rela¬ tives and friends. The building is one of the unique insti¬ tutes in the country, being built entirely of Michigan prod¬ ucts. Hemlock and 0ne °f the big fireplaces in the Battle , , Creek Community House, showing some III a p 1 Winch are of the “made in Michigan” furniture . 44 €xt£ Rouses offices and a kitchen that have served many of the rec¬ reational needs of the munitions workers, for whom it had been built. The municipality saw the advantages of turning the building into use as a Community House, and when the Du Ponts offered it for this purpose free, on condition that it would be maintained by the citizens, they promised to have a financial campaign early in 1920 for its support. In the meanwhile the Y. W. C. A. War Work Council is in charge and working it up as a community center. After January 1st a special com¬ mittee or board will be elected to take charge of the Community House. A COMMUNITY HOUSE COMBINED WITH A A COMMUNITY HOUSE FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS Peabody, Mass. Ordinarily, the term “community house” embraces all elements of the community, but in Peabody, Mass, (population 18,500), we find a successful organization known as the “Peabody Community House, Inc.,” which aims solely to engage the leisure time activities and pro¬ mote the welfare of the younger set, with especial refer¬ ence to the boys and girls. A campaign of eight days in February, 1916, netted the sum of $22,000. A building was remodelled and fitted up at a cost of $9,000 and made to contain a gymnasium, an auditorium and stage and other popular features. In a recent report of the success of the build- 49 Community JSutlbtngg ad