Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-29
OPEN COMMUNITY CENTER
MANY OFFICIALS PRESENT
AT CEREMONY IN FULTON
Recreation House for C"Iorcd Ursidcuts
Begins Career with Addresses
by Charity Workers..

Representatives OF state and city
health departments. prominent social
workers, public health nurses and about
$50 colorcd people OF Fulton crowded
IN" Colorcd Community House. at Sec
on! and Denny streets, yesterday at
tcrnoon at o'clock at the formal
opening of the new community center.
Reorganization of tho hoard of di
rcctors OF the new institution Will be
recommended At the next meeting OF
tho Richmond Council OF Social
Agencies. 1t is understood that twelve
colorcd people or Fulton interested in
the work viii bc recommended as mem
bors of the board, and as many or more
white people Of Richmond who are in
people, and who are familiar with the
problems which. it was stated. would
facc new venture of this character.
The address of Rev. Father Charles l..
among the negroes of Richmond. fc.l-
turcd the program yesterday after
noon.
Describes Opportunities.
Father Hannigan emphasized i'm do
tails easily understood the advantages
ot having such a community center
~ Fulton for the colored people. par
tiCularly the young people. and of the
value of clean and legitimate recreation
under proper supervision. He outlined
definite plan of organization. and
cooperation and patience in the face
~ difficulties and discoura gemcntS,
which he declared to be inevitable in
starting an establishment of this char
acier.
Judge J Hos4 Kicks of the Juvenile
and Domestic Relations Court. who
Father flanagan in a brief talk. touch
iuv mainly on the Importance OF. play
and OF having some place OF recreation
for the children of Richmond. and par
;icularly for those of Congcsted Sec
tons like Fulton.
He cited the instance of a number
N 1,n, l,r t,,tr ..,..
Crutchfeld's court, charged with be-
ing d.sordcrly They had becp arrest
ed for playing football in tic street
IN residential section. one OF tho
boys stepped forward. Judge Kicks
statsd. and said to Justice John:
But, judge where are we to play"
Neduces Juvenile delinquency.
And that question" declared the
Juvenile delinqucncy.' continued Judge
Kicks, will be cut in half by provid-
, ing , some place for children to play
move ONT
The fact that there were no longer
any vacant lots where the children
could play ball or that they We're not
allowed TO play in the streets was en-
phasizcd by Judge Kicks in calling at
'ention to the value of a community
would he provided for the youngsters.
Miss Blanche Webb, of the state
Health Department, who has been
for a colored community house in Full
ton In the interest of the fight against
tuberculosis in the State, also spoke.
Mss Nora Spencer Hammer. cNccu-
tive secretary OF the Richmond Anti
tuberculosis Association, was also
present as representative of the inter
csts of the local association in tho
success of the community center in
Fulton.
Clinics Arc Planned.
4 room has already been reserved in
the Colored Community House for a
tuberculosis clinic later on, where the
colored people can come to be cX-
amined for symptoms of tuberculosis
and instruction and treatment given.
I'D SUBWAY, song and cheer leader
for the War Camp Community Service
activities. opened the program yeStcr-
day. afternoon with the singing OF
Christmas carols.
members of a chorus. OF colorcd
voices. under the direction of one or
their own number. also sang Il spccial
number. Joy. TO tho World"
"a tail Christmas tree. banked with
and decorations. hllcd the center or
ing had been scrubbed until il sho.e
and newly papcred. New curtains were
at tho windows and big new drug
get on one Of The floors.
Mary Pitman colorcd, was master OF
ceremonies. Speakers referred with
praise and encouragement to the un-
firing efforts Of Mary and her associ-
ates In getting the Community House
started