SJ Bill Talks About What Was Once The Chambersburg Community
Center, South Clinton Avenue, The Burg
SJBill said...
I was really hoping you'd feature this place, some day.
Back in the 50s, this was the old Chambersburg Community House.
It functioned as an after-school day care facility for kids
that were members. IIRC, the facility was divided for girls
upstairs, and for boys downstairs.
We used to enter via the Beatty St. entrance where there was
a stairway in that vesitbule.
A very vintage Coke machine sat to the left of the stairway,
where for a nickel, you could get a 7 oz frequently recycled
bottle. The smell of the carbonation inside these bottles was
great. Very refreshing! In the front room of ground floor
(to the left) was a play area and library.
IIRC, to the right was a kitchen area, and a huge open space
in the rear of the building which contained a small gymnasium
with rings, parallel bars, and mats. There were really good
instructors.
One time I was headed for home from Mrs. Goetz's 1st/2nd grade
class at Harrision School and I saw many kids entering the
Community Center in Halloween Costume. I hadn't heard of the
Halloween Party, so I ran home to get dressed. After returning
to the Community Center I discovered the party was upstairs --
and for girls! Oh, the humiliation!! ;-)
I guess the Community House closed its doors in the 50s.
Great Stuff SJ, Thank You:)
2 comments:
My parents bought this building after the community house closed and converted it into apartments where I lived on the 2nd floor for many years. the gym was various businesses - dance studio, etc. Then it was used for storage. sold the building to current owners in 2006.
We did a lot of plumbing & heating work for the last owners. It is really a great building! Back in the '30's and 40's there was a German school there. We have a photo of the class with my Dad, my Mom, by Uncle and Aunt! My maternal grandfather owned 1004 South Clinton Avenue, a few doors away, he had his jewelry store there, until 1950.
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