The Phoenix index., 1940-02-03
New WPA Frederick Douglass
Center Dedicated In Ohio

TOLEDO, Ohio--A 2G-year-old
dream of the late hlbertus Brown,
noted civic leader, came of age
on Sunday, January IA, 1910, when
the new Frederick Douglass Com
munity Center auditorium was
dedicated here with impressive
ceremonies.
Grove Patterson, Editor of the
Toledo Blade, devoted a recent
issue of his column, THE WAY OF
THE WORLD, to a discussion of
the new center and the possibilities
it provides for community ad-
vancement. Mr.. Patterson pointed
out that the fulfllment of Mr..
Browns dream was made possible
by the Work Projects Administra-
ton. The new center was also dis
cCssed in a WPA broadcast over
station WSPD on Saturday. jan
uary 49,
Clarence L. Thomas, executive
director of the center, said during
the baoadcaat: +'Cur new audi
torium would still be in the dream
stage without help from the WPA.
It would probably have been many
years before that dream could
have been realized without this
help"
RECORD GROWTH
The radio program traced the
work of the community center
from 1919 to the present. When
Mr.. Brown founded it he had only
ten members, while today the
Frederick Douglass Community
Center renders service to some
5000 children and adults living in
densely populated areas of the city.
Indeed, it was because the CEN
ter eXerted such an influence
upon so many peoples lives that
The city sponsored the WPA eX-
tension program, and thus made
it possible for ground to be broken
for the new auditorium on July 5,
1880.
Today, the structure stands as
unit measuring 90 feet in length
ana 81 feet in width On the first
floor is a gymnasium and social
center. In addition to a stage
there are dressing rooms and stor-
age rooms for scenery and stage
props. A projection booth pro-
VideS equipment for motion pic
lures. A large modern kitchen ade-
quate for preparing meals for any
number of people is also a part
OF the new auditorium. In the
basement of the Frederick Douo-
lass Community Center there are
boys and girls lockers and show
er rooms, a large combined lounge
ana waiting room for men, bowl
ing alleys, workk shop and q
boys game room.
Inc old building is now devoted
exclusively to the activities of
girls and pre-school age children
WPA funds have provided this
building with fine library and
music room so that the entire
Frederick Douglass Community
Center now has ample space fo,
wholesome and healthfUl leisure
time activities.
MANY ORGANIZATIONS
Among the groups organized IN
the center are boy and, girl scout
troops, sewing an6. handicraf'
classes, dramatic art ana gymna-
SUM classes, high school glee clubs
fraternitieS. hiking clubs, a band
an orchestra, baseball and basket
ball teams tennis groups, boxing
classes, and reading groups.
With the erection of the audi
torium a new community spirit
has been aroused. Citizens in all
walks of life are beginning to real
ize the obligation they owe the
coming generation.
Mr.. Thomas stated Ii his b"oad-
cast that the work a. the center
would have been greatly limited if
it had not been for WPA recrea-
tion workers assigned to conduct
an effective program.
-. I'VE now have five experienced
WPA instructors assisting our staff
at the center" he said. Their
work has been indispensable, es-
pecially when you consider the
fact that our center is open daily
except Sunday from 900 a. m, TO