Youth Center Opening Slated for May 17, Daily Republican
Plans are being made for a gala opening, May 17, 1963, of the Youth Center, Mrs. Robert Hudgens, 409 S. Calumet, said today. Dr. Martin M. May, chairman of the building committee, set the tentative date and said if the sheet metal work is completed this week the remainder of the work should go fast.
Mrs. Hudgens said today donations and volunteer help continue to come in for the Youth Center.
The Heyde-Pillow Post 1301 and auxiliary gave another $100 April 1. This is the third gift of $100 since January 1st.
Oscar Harris donated 20 tons of rock for the driveway in front of the building and Clyde Spiller volunteered to haul the rock. Many more tons of rock and gravel will be needed to complete the driveway and parking lot.
Henry Buress has been busy the last week getting the driveway and lot in condition for the rock.
The Rix and Lang Brothers have been working in their metal shops getting the metal ducts ready to hang. Several men and high school boys worked last Wednesday night hanging the completed runs. The metal work has been holding up completion of the Youth Center.
Due to the cold weather the furnace and sheet metal workers have been unusually busy and could not finish the job as soon as hoped, but Howard Rix promised Mrs. Hudgens the metal work would be finished by this Saturday. Don Robinson plans to insulate the pipes as soon as they are completed.
Lee Clendenin and Son will make the cabinets for the kitchen and “Doc” Smith will do the countertop for the snack bar.
Clay DeMattei and a class of apprentice carpenters have been working putting in shelves and helping where possible.
Painters will be needed Saturday to paint the inside and outside of the building. All of the paint has been donated. Groves Paint and Wallpaper gave the fruit-wood stain, N. Norman the outside paint and the Banner Paint Co. of St. Louis, gave the inside wall paint.
Plans are being made for the opening. The twon can well be proud of this new addition to the recreation program for the young people,” said Mrs. Hudgens. All of the women’s and men’s clubs will be invited, along with the general public. The building will be open all day for inspection. All gifts will be labeled with donors names and volunteer labor listed.
A dance will be held that night for the teenagers. The Chessmen will provide the music.
A party is planned for Monday, May 27, for the eighth grade graduates. This will be informal and for the eighth grade graduates only. The Valentine Queen, Miss Darlene King will preside as hostess.
Youth Center Opening Changed to May 19, Daily Republican
The new Marion Youth Center will be formally opened on Sunday afternoon, May 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. it was decided at the last meeting of Youth Incorporated.
The opening date is a change from the originally scheduled opening of May 17, and is being held on Sunday to allow more persons to attend.
Mrs. R.L. Hudgens, president of the organization, said the Coca Cola Co. and Gino’s Tower of Pizza will furnish the refreshments during open house. The building will be open to the public during these hours and the town will have an opportunity to see this fine building.
Members of Youth Inc. the Recreation Board and Teentown will act as hosts and hostess during the afternoon.
All gifts of new furniture, equipment and work will be labeled along with a list of volunteer workers.
Cox Hardware and Furniture Store recently donated a sectional sofa for the new building and Biederman’s gave a Swedish modern couch. Chairs, lamps, tables, etc. are still needed to equip the Center.
Dr. Martin M. May, building chairman, said work is progressing nicely but carpenters are needed badly to help finish the ceiling and lay the tile floor.
After the formal opening May 19, the following weekend a dance is scheduled for the members of Teentown and their guests.
A party for the eighth grade class is planned for Monday May 27 from 7:30 until 10:30. Mrs. Hudgens said the party is to be informal as to dress. A program will be planned for entertainment and refreshments will be supplied by Youth Inc. and the mothers of the eighth grade class.
A Dream Comes True, Daily Republican
A culmination of a dream come true for the youth of Marion will be realized Sunday when Dr. Martin M. May, first president of Youth Inc., will give the key to the new Youth Center to Mayor Robert Butler at the dedication of the building. The formal opening will be from 2 to 5 p.m.
The Center on East Boulevard, which has been estimated to be worth between $80,000 and $100,000 by an out-of-town building contractor, will be open to the youth as a center to replace the former Teen Town building on the Public Square.
The president of Youth Inc., Mrs. Robert L. Hudgens, will give the welcome, and the Rev. Everett Lynch, pastor of the Zion United Church of Christ, will give the invocation.
The Teen Town board president, Sandy Hadfield, and the 1963 Valentine Teen Town Queen, Darlene King, will be in charge of the guest book. Teenagers will usher and explain the functions of the building to the guests.
Refreshments will be furnished, courtesy of Gino’s Tower of Pizza, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Pepsi-Cola Co.
Flowers for the opening have arrived from the various business places in Marion.
The Youth Inc. board has expressed gratitude to all who have donated their time, labor and materials to make this Center one of the finest. The bricklayers who helped on the building of the center without pay are Coroner Paul Litton, Charles Brush and Bill Moncur, Harry Shotton, Gene McNeely and his father mixed the mortar for these men. Gilbert Wolaver gave of his time and work on the outside wall without pay, and paid his employees for their labor. Dr. May gave Wolaver $1400 on the men’s wages.
Authorities of the board said the local union as a whole did not help with the laying of the blocks but individuals belonging to the union did. All other unions have helped tremendously, the board stated further.
The work of Henry Burris, who suffered an injury to his hand while using a power saw at the center, has been outstanding. He is also a member of the board.
After the opening, the building will be turned over to the Marion Recreation Board, whose director is Clifton Storme. The Center will be operated the same as the, other Teen Town Center. Youth Inc. officials will assist the board when needed.
The Center has 8400 feet of floor space which is about four times larger than the facilities of the former Teen Town. Included in the building which is 70 by 120 feet in dimension, are a business office, two rest rooms, utility room, game room, snack bar, television room, ball room and band stand. The television room will also be used as a lobby where the youth may sit while waiting for their parents.
The materials and labor donations are too numerous to mention, and a special thank you will be forthcoming from the Youth Inc.
The public is invited to attend this grand opening of the center which is now ready for the use of the many youth of the city.
For information about the Recreation Board and earlier teen town locations, click here
(Marion Daily Republican articles date May 15 thru 17, 1963)