I grew up in Avondale from third grade until I was married and two children. East Chattanooga had a center since before I was born. The only time I was gone was when I, along with six buddies, joined the USMC.
The families in Avondale, a working class neighborhood, wanted a community center closer to home so the Avondale Civic League took on the task. They raised the money and secured the property from Avondale Baptist, and with the leadership of the late Sheriff Frank Newell, Luther Masingill, Ben Oneal, and many others, worked to make this dream a reality. They had the building built and lights on the softball field were from Ernest Holmes Wrecker Field.
The kids in the neighborhood spent their summers there. Some like me met their future spouse at the center.
Once the facilities were completed the leaders gave it to the city if they would furnish equipment and directors.
The fifties and sixties was a great period in our lives. A number of us still meet once a year to renew old friendships and remember our teens.
N.D. Kennedy, Sr.
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I grew up on Ocoee Street in Avondale and went to the same school you did, N.D. Kennedy, Sr. From the first grade I had a little rock and roll band and we always preferred to hold our sock hops at the community center over at the Boone and Hysinger Projects, because the Avondale Community and Recreation Center was so bare to the bones hardly anybody went there.
Mayor Berke's pledging $6 million to revamp that sucker is the best thing that ever happened.
Donald Woods
Knoxville
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I had the pleasure of growing up on Newton Street and Rubio Street and lived at the recreation center. We rode our bikes and spent the day there.
Later on in life we attended the dances on the basketball court. Our parents didn't have to go with us then and it was a wonderful time to grow up. I attended Avondale Elementary until the 4th grade then we moved to Eastdale. Really glad to see that it is going to be rebuilt for the youth of today.
Lee McClure