Whitin Community Center
The American Industrial Revolution radically altered the way people worked in the Blackstone Valley. People left the farms and came to live in villages where the shop whistle replaced the crow of the rooster and the setting sun to determine the routine of the day. Recreational activities became important adjuncts to the dictates of the workday in the mill.
"G.M. Whitin had a vision for Whitinsville," recalls Charles E. Thompson, executive director of the George Marston Whitin Memorial Community Association, Inc. - commonly known today as the Whitin Community Center. "As Treasurer and CEO of the Whitin Machine Works from 1886 to 1920, G.M. was a man who prized service to his community. He planned the construction of a gymnasium in which young and old, men and women, of every race and creed could find a center for their athletic pursuits; where everyone could learn to swim in the pool, and social activities would bring people together. G.M.'s goal was to make Whitinsville a better, happier, healthier, and more congenial place in which to live."
After Whitin's death, his four daughters saw G.M.'s dream, the construction of his gymnasium, through to its completion. On July 7, 1923, the George Marston Whitin Memorial Community Association (WCA) doors opened.
During the '20's and '30's, the WCA was known for its excellent aquatics program and served as a regional training site. Several local swimmers went on to compete nationally and internationally, including Alice Bridges of Uxbridge who placed second in the 100-meter backstroke competition during the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin.
The gym basketball team hosted some of the best professional teams in the country such as the Philadelphia Colored Giants led by the inimitable Jackie Bethards and Lack Clayton and the Detroit Clowns coached by Bobby McDermott. The original Boston Celtics (pre-NBA vintage) with outstanding players "Fiddle" Morley and "Rusty" Saunders also thrilled crowds.
When the Whitin Machine Works closed its doors in 1967, the Whitin Community Center struggled financially. While operated as an Association of Members with nominal fees applied toward operational expenses, the Whitin Machine Works had heavily subsidized the Center's operational budget. Even heat for the building was provided through pipes under Main Street supplied by The Shop. It had been an artificial independence and when the subsidy disappeared, it was difficult for people to understand the Center's financial turmoil, especially when they themselves were reeling with the closure of The Shop and loss of employment. The era that followed was very difficult for everyone.
"But people in this region are exceptional and buoyed by the same spirit of the late G. M. Whitin, our trustees and others worked diligently to ensure that the Whitin Community Center remained a steadfast resource," says Thompson.
A plan was devised in the late 80s to revitalize the organization.
The '90's was a period of significant expansion. A state-of-the-art adult fitness center was added along with new classrooms for the child-care program, racquetball courts, a competition swimming pool added to the aquatics facilities, expanded parking, and a new lobby gave the building a modern capacity. Most of the expansion was funded through capital campaigns that rallied the regional community in support of THEIR Community Center. Membership doubled and fees funded all operational expenses.
To ensure that we reach everyone we expanded our charitable services. We developed a free Saturday afternoon gym & swim program and we opened the WCC Rockdale Youth Center to provide an after school program equipped with a homework help center and supervised social activities for children ages 8 to 13 years. We're working to enhance Historic Whitin Park as a place for passive and active recreation and the Gerry Gaudette Pavilion will be one element that provides a special place to spend time and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
As a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization, the Whitin Community Center benefits from its strong community support. As an Association of members, WCC operates with the good of all in mind.
"We're not a club and we're not the Whitinsville Community Center," says Thompson. "We're a regional facility with over 5,000 members and 3,000 non-members who enjoy our facilities annually. We have an 82-year history but our mission has remained a constant, we're here as a memorial to G.M. Whitin, an individual who cared deeply about his community, and we're here today because of the support and commitment of so many who through the decades have shared his timeless vision for a happy place in which to live and work."
