The East Toledo Family Center was the first institution of its kind in Toledo, and began serving the East Side in 1901. From humble beginnings in

Rev. H. W. Hoover

a mission tent a century ago, the Family Center today administers more programs and serves more people than at any other time in its long history.

On Sunday, Aug. 4, 1901, Rev. H. W. Hoover, former pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, held a tent mission on factory grounds owned by D. J. Nysewander at East Broadway and the NYC tracks near Oakdale. A list survives of those who contributed toward the “interest on loan, sidewalks, hymn books, lights, and piano-tuning” for this “Industrial Heights Mission.” Contributors included such well-known East Side names as Metzger, Rideout, Tracy and Hirzel.

The Mission lasted for several days, and then was enlarged into “settlement work” to help the many new immigrants in the area become adjusted to life in America. By the summer of 1902, property was obtained on Vinal Street, and adjoining lots were soon added through the generosity of Alexander Black, George Metzger, Isaac Gerson, and Mr. Nysewander. Rev. Hoover and his wife Nellie moved into a large shed on the grounds until more permanent housing could be built.

The land, which was originally a neglected dump, was quickly improved. Dirt from the streets was sown, East Side florists provided flowers, the Monroe Nurseries gave shrubs, and the old dump became a thing of the past. The Ohio Neighborhood Institute, commonly called the Neighborhood House, was incorporated, and the property at 1019 and 1027 Vinal Street developed rapidly.

A Depression in 1908 led to what foreign families called the “slim winter.” When no other sources of help were available to help the many people out of work, Mrs. Hoover and East Side businessmen stepped in to provide aid through the Neighborhood House. Before Oakdale School was built in 1922, the Neighborhood House held classes for children and also taught English to both children and adults who were arriving from other countries all around the world. At this time, another playground was established out Front Street in the Ironville neighborhood.

The Neighbor House had many bands throughout its history, which could be identified by the large drum that bore its name.

By 1927, the facilities at the Neighborhood House included the residence of the Hoovers, a caretaker’s cottage, and an enlarged building that held an auditorium, kitchen, classroom space, and music room. Some Jewish families contributed toward the park that had an improved playground and a new tennis court. An early article proclaims the benefits of the Neighborhood House, stating that “the number of boys loitering on street corners” had noticeably decreased, and they were now given “a means to stay away from the pool halls.”

The community programs and support offered by the Neighborhood House were perhaps never so valuable as during the years of the Great Depression. A letter from the 1930s vividly describes the “silent factory whistles,” the “rags and tears,” and the “discouragement” of those forced to be idle. The Neighborhood House helped pay utility bills, provided clothing and food, and offered free community entertainment programs to bolster people’s spirits during those hard years.

The enormous sandbox at the Neighborhood House could hold dozens of children at one time

At the end of World War II, as economic times improved, Warren Densmore became director of the Neighborhood House, and under his leadership, along with that of Vince Renda, Helen Corwin, and others, more and more programs were offered to the people of East Toledo. Dances were held, scouting troops were formed, a new swimming pool was built nearby in Navarre Park in 1949, playground activities increased, and sports teams of all kinds were started. By 1960, membership had increased to 436, with three-fourths of those between the ages of 4 and 18.

After 70 years at the Vinal Street location, the Neighborhood House needed larger facilities for all its programs. It moved a half-mile to its present site at East Broadway and Varland, and the lease for the new East Toledo Family Center was signed Sept. 9, 1971.

By the early 1980s, the retirement of Mr. Densmore and the City of Toledo’s financial problems led to a funding crisis at the Family Center. But it remained open even during those difficult years. A strong board of directors, United Way funding, and the hiring of Tim Yenrick in 1989 to be the new director gave the Family Center new life and a new spirit.

Yenrick began a quick turnaround of the center. The preschool was soon going strong and there were before- and after-school programs for elementary students, including tutoring and homework programs.

But the center was not all work and no play. Monthly teen nights, summer day camp and expanded soccer, softball, basketball and other athletic opportunities provided participants a chance to have fun.

The center began the last decade before the turn of the century by holding its first William Densmore Scholarship Dinner April 26, 1990. The dinner became an annual tradition.

There were three full-time and nine part-time staff members in 1990. In addition, there were 23 permanent volunteers, and an active board of directors.

Over time, the center’s offerings of programs and services changed and expanded to meet local families’ needs.

The Center operates an active Senior Center in the enlarged shelterhouse building at Navarre Park. Programs spilled over into schools and churches in the community. Hundreds of people of all ages are at the Center every day, participating in the dozens of activities offered from sports to pre-school to helping the elderly with household chores.

At the turn of the century, expansion into the various neighborhoods within East Toledo was a focus for the agency.

Satellite offices were opened in Weiler Homes and Birmingham, and the teen drop-in program was housed at St. Mark Lutheran Church.

The Family Center’s childcare program was the first school-aged program in Northwest Ohio to be accredited by the National School-Aged Care Alliance. The Center also created the Heffner Early Childhood Center in the former Heffner School and moved all ETFC program’s that served young children into this building.

In 2002, the Family Center building was rededicated and named the Warren Densmore Building to honor ETFC’s prior director.

After 15 years of service and to close the year 2003, Tim Yenrick left the East Toledo Family Center. In 2004, the board of trustees hired Kim Partin to become the new director of the Center. Partin had been the Family Resource Director for the agency for a number of years and the board saw her compassions and love for East Toledo and knew the Center would continue to thrive under her direction.

Partin has continued her predecessors’ commitment to collaboration by bringing in Phoenix Academy, Heartbeat, HEAP and WIC. Grant funding was secured to purchase 10 vehicles, including two school activity buses. The Help Me Grow Program expanded to include four service coordinators to 10.

An Annual Neighborhood House Reunion was started to bring together those who attend the Neighborhood House as a children to relive old memories.

In addition, $70,000 in donations and grants was raised to renovate the kitchen at the Senior Center.

As the economy began to decline in the more recent years, difficult decisions had to be made to ensure the stability of the Center. Last year, the Board of Trustees underwent a fundraising assessment and implementing the recommendations from the assessment is the priority to ensure success in the years ahead.

Kim Partin, executive director of the East Toledo Family Center also contributed to this historical account.

From its humble beginnings in a mission tent in 1901, the Neighborhood House and East Toledo Family Center have provided the East Side community with 110 years dedicated service.