Part Three: The Densmore Years to the New Center, 1946-1971

As the second World War came to a close and soldiers began to return home Americans were interested in getting back to family and returning to a normal way of life.  It was a time of growth and a time of strong family and community feeling.  Warren Densmore, who became the director and held that position for many years, was the right person to lead the Neighborhood House during this busy time of growth.

Under Mr. Densmore's leadership, along with that of Vince Renda, Helen Corwin and many others, more and more programs were offered to the people of East Toledo.   Dances were held, scouting troops and sports teams were formed, playground activities increased and in 1949 a new swimming pool was built at nearby Navarre Park.   In addition children from the Neighborhood House went camping at Camp Miakonda and even participated in the local Christmas parade.

An article written in 1960 emphasized the Neighborhood House and its "vital role" in the community to "help people help themselves".  Some of the programs mentioned in this article were dances, crafts, basketball, scouting, pre-school, mother's clubs, school lunch programs and a chapter of the G.A.R.  Activities at the Neighborhood House kept expanding during the 50's and 60's and it soon became apparent that a larger facility would soon be needed.   The site of that first tent mission, even with all the improvements made to the Vinal street properties over the years, was just not large enough to hold all the programs and activities provided to the community.  After seventy years of service it was time for the old Neighborhood House to move to to new location and take on a new identity.

Part Four: The East Toledo Family Center, 1971-1990

On September 9, 1971 a lease was signed for a new East Toledo Family Center at its present site on the corner of Varland one-half mile down East Broadway from the location of the former Neighborhood House.  It was the beginning of a new era.

Already in September 1966 three to five acres of Navarre Park were requested for a new $360,000 Family Center.   Mayor Potter at that time approved of the proposal.  By the following summer an agreement was reached with the city to move ahead with the now $450,000 project.   A new building would be built that the city would own, plans were drawn up by a Toledo architect Horace Wachter, and a HUD grant was applied for.  Finally on September 18th, 1971 the new $602,000 East Toledo Family Center was dedicated with more than 500 people in attendance.

The First annual meeting was held at the center in January 1973, at which time Rev. Phillip Lewis of Eastminster Presbyterian Church was given the first community service award.  It was reported that during this time the Center was open 70 hours per week, had 145 pre-school children, 22 groups meeting the building, 88 people in dancing classes and a total membership of 1,696.

Under the agreement with the City of Toledo in 1971 the Recreation Department would provide staff, equipment and supplies.  By the end of 1980 the city of Toledo was in a financial crisis and the Family Center faced closing.  Other support came in and the Center was able to continue its 80-year-old ministry to the community.  In May 1981 a 35th Anniversary Appreciation Dinner was held for its long time director Warren Densmore under which the neighborhood house experienced continued growth and expansion.

Another important event at the Center during the 1980's was the opening of the Navarre Shelterhouse as a Senior Center and of course there were numerous activities and programs It was during these years Roger Dodsworth became head of maintenance at the Center, a position he fills so well to this day.

By the late 1980's the Family Center again was in the midst of another financial crisis.  On Februrary 2, 1989 it was reported that the United Way was withholding $80,000 of its funding "because of financial management problems that the Agency has failed to resolve".  But the Family Center didn't close.  A strong Board of Directors took action and Tim Yenrick, still in his twenties, was hired as the new director.  A Blade editorial from January 1990 noticed the "fresh attitude and new enthusiasm which arrived the same day new executive director Tim Yenrick came on board".   Soon the programs were all going strong and on April 26, 1990 the first annual Warren Densmore Scholarship Dinner was held.  This annual dinner has became an important tradition an the East Toledo Family Center.

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