Hawthorne Community Center

In the prosperous years after the War, rumors began to circulate that some undeveloped lots…were going to be purchased by the nearby railroad and used as a switch yard, or possibly a coal dump.

Feelings against the railroad project were running high in 1921 when about fifty women and men gathered in the basement of the Hawthorne Library to discuss how to deal with the threat.

In the meetings that followed the Association discussed the need for a community center to coordinate and house neighborhood events and activities, a place for various organizations to hold their meetings, and a place where especially the children of the neighborhood could focus their energies… So they decided to build a community center on the property…formed the West Park Social Service Association (later renamed to Hawthorne Social Service Association)…officially certified by the Secretary of State on July 26, 1923.

[Rev. Clarence G, Baker, first Executive Director] was so successful in securing funds that seven months later, on March 2, 1924 the stucco and frame – eight room building known as Hawthorne House (later known as Hawthorne Community Center) …was dedicated.

The Hawthorne Center became an important hub of daily life. With this institution and its leadership in place, participation in the programs and activities helped create a neighborhood with a strong social fabric and civic pride – a community.

By 1930 Hawthorne Community Center had over 60 organizations holding meetings at the center and over 1,500 members with a small orchestra, kindergarten and one of the liveliest gyms in the city among many other programs.

Hawthorne still boasts a lively gym and robust programs. Each year Hawthorne serves over 3,000 community members. In our youth programs we served young people through our early childhood, before and after school, dance, athletics and summer camp programs. In addition, we worked with individuals and families to support financial stability by providing direct basic needs support, connecting individuals directly to employment and education, and financial coaching.

Although the neighborhood and surrounding community have changed over the last century, Hawthorne Community Center has worked diligently to meet the emerging needs of the neighborhood and continues to be the “Heart of the Community”.

*Guthrie, C., & Arnold, D. (2022). In The Hawthorne Community: Emergence and Survival of a Historic Indianapolis Neighborhood (pp. 30–37). Authorhouse. For more information on our community, please feel free to purchase The Hawthorne Community: Emergence and Survival of a Historic Indianapolis Neighborhood here.

You can also learn more about the Hawthorne Neighborhood by watching this award-winning documentary funded by Hawthorne Community Center and created by Chitwood Media.