LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER

THE HISTORY OF THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER IS ONE OF TRADITION, PRIDE, DEDICATION AND PURPOSE, WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO A SIGNIFICANT PART OF TROY'S OWN RICH HISTORY. PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER IN 1939, THE LOT WAS THE SITE OF THE LINCOLN SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL OPERATED FROM 1865 TO 1874 AS AN ALL-AGE BLACK SCHOOL UNTIL THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE ARNETT BILL. THE LINCOLN SCHOOL BUILDING WAS THEN USED TO TEACH READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC TO YOUNGER PRESCHOOL-AGED BLACK CHILDREN. THE TRANSFORMATION FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY CENTER BEGAN AROUND 1916. IN THAT YEAR, THE MIAMI ATHLETICS, A SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, ASKED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ALLOW THE TEAM TO USE THE BUILDING AND DRESSING ROOM AND THE GROUNDS AS A PRACTICE FIELD. THE FOLLOWING YEAR A GROUP OF CITIZENS WENT ONE STEP FURTHER AND ASKED THE BOARD TO TURN THE GROUNDS OVER TO THE COMMUNITY FOR A PLAYGROUND AND MEETING SPACE. THE SCHOOL BOARD GRANTED, AND SOON AFTER, LINCOLN CENTER HALL WAS OPEN. THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, LATER KNOWN AS THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER ASSOCIATION INC. WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1924. THE CENTER TOUGHED OUT THE HARDSHIPS OF THE 1930S, AS DID THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, UNTIL A REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING IN 1937 CHANGED EVERYTHING. E. T. ATWELL, OF THE NATIONAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION, PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING AND ADVICE THAT LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR AN ADVISORY BOARD, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF A FULL-TIME DIRECTOR. MR. JOHN SPENCER, PRESIDENT OF HOBART MANUFACTURING CO., LENT FINANCIAL BACKING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILDING, COMPLETE WITH A FULL-SIZE GYM AND A 54,000 -GALLON POOL. IN APRIL OF 1938, THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE NEW BUILDING WAS DEDICATED. THE LINCOLN CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HAD NOT ONLY SURVIVED THE GREAT DEPRESSION, BUT A BUILDING WAS PLANNED AND CONSTRUCTED THAT WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO OF ITS KIND IN A TOWN OR TROY'S SIZE IN AMERICA. TODAY, THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER OFFERS OVER 50 PROGRAMS INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING, YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUES, SENIOR AQUATIC CLASSES, PICKLEBALL, SENIOR FITNESS CLASSES, A FULL WORKOUT GYM, JOB READINESS PROGRAMS AND MUCH MORE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. THE CENTER HAS RECENTLY UNDERGONE A COMPLETE FACELIFT TO THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AND AN ADDITION WAS ADDED THAT DOUBLED THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CAMPUS. THE ADDITION ENCOMPASSES A FULL- SERVICE KITCHEN, NEW GYM, AND FIVE CLASSROOMS. THERE HAVE BEEN DECADES OF CHANGE, GROWTH AND REVITALIZATION LEADING UP TO THE 21ST CENTURY. LCC IS A MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER STEEPED IN HISTORY AND TRADITION, DEEPLY INVESTED IN ITS COMMUNITY AND FACING THE FUTURE WITH OPTIMISM. THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER REMAINS A VITAL PART OF TROY'S FUTURE, EVOLVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. THE LCC MISSION STATEMENT IS TO PROVIDE A GATHERING PLACE THAT OFFERS EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ETHNICITIES AND AGE GROUPS IN THE TROY AREA COMMUNITY. IN 2023, THE LINCOLN CENTER HAS PROVIDED SERVICE TO MORE THAN 67,000 PATRONS, AND DAILY PROVIDES AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS TO 100+ SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH DEEP WATER ARTHRITIS CLASS AND PICKLE BALL GAMES. THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVED MORE THAN 90 STUDENTS DAILY AND FOR THE 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR. LINCOLN CENTER ACCESSES A WIDE VARIETY OF FUNDING STREAMS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 325,000 IN GRANTS AND CORPORATE DONATIONS. SOME OF THE CORPORATIONS WE PARTNERED WITH IN 2023 INCLUDE UVMC/PREMIER HEALTH ITW/HOBART, CONAGRA, CREATIVE LABELS, HOBART WELDING INSTITUTE, UTC AEROSPACE, GENERAL ELECTRIC, MEIJER DISTRIBUTION, CONSEAL, ONE CALL NOW, HONDA, TROY EAGLES, KETTERING HEALTH NETWORK, WRIGHT PATT CREDIT UNION, HARTZELL HARDWOODS, AND KROGER'S. THESE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS, FUNDING AND EXPOSURE FOR POTENTIAL CAREERS AND EMPLOYERS FOR YOUTH. WE HAVE RECEIVED MUCH PRAISE FROM PARENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT THE GREAT AMOUNT OF PROGRESS STUDENTS HAVE MADE BY PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROGRAMS. PRIVATE DONORS JOIN OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS AS THE CORE OF OUR OPERATIONAL STRATEGY. OF OUR FEEDBACK IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR VISION STATEMENT: EDUCATING, INFORMING, AND UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY. NOW, MORE THAN EVER, THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER IS A NECESSARY HUB AND GEM OF THE COMMUNITY, VIBRANT WITH DIVERSITY, GROWTH AND ACTIVITY FOR EVERYONE IN MIAMI COUNTY.