Vashon Community Center – St. Louis MO

Description

Along with Tandy, Gamble, and Carver House recreation centers, Vashon Community Center was constructed as one of four community recreation centers to served the African-American population in St. Louis. Vashon Community Center served the population living in the Mill Creek area of St. Louis, MO which was a mixed use area with manufacturing and housing. Although it was built in 1936, it was not finished until 1937, a delay of 8 months which caused a great deal of controversy and claims of indifference by the city government towards the population. When completed, however it quickly became a center of the Mill Creek community of working class African-Americans and was one of the first sources of recreation for that population.

There is a gymnasium with basketball court on the first floor and locker rooms for men and women in the basement along with a “great room.” Currently it is on the campus of Harris-Stowe University and is being refurbished.