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The Calvert Community Youth Center: A Rich History and Legacy
As we continue celebrating 25 years of strengthening and transforming White County, our #LoveWhereYouLive Challenge carries on. And at the Community Foundation of White County, this week we celebrate our beautiful home, the Calvert Community Youth Center.
The Hidden Gem in Monticello
If you haven’t made the visit to the Foundation’s office, you may not realize the awesome history behind our building. At the five points corner of the Monticello Christian Church, Monticello City Park, and the Main Street Station, you’ll find our little yellow building nestled into the corner of the intersection.
A Glimpse into the Past
Built in 1949, the building originally stood as The Hickory House Restaurant featuring knotty pine walls, a brick-enclosed barbeque pit, and “beautiful views of Lake Freeman.” Still today in the entryway, we have an original table with chairs from the restaurant, and if you stand in our copy room long enough (the old firepit), you can still faintly smell smoked meat.
A Center for Youth
In 1954, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Calvert established the Community Youth Center, Inc. with the purpose of advancing the civic, social, and moral welfare of youth living in Monticello, Indiana, and in the territory tributary thereto. Their goal was to provide wholesome and constructive recreational opportunities for the benefit of the youth in the community.
The Calvert Community Youth Center quickly became a beloved place for local youths. It served as the go-to spot after every sporting event, hosted school club activities, and provided a venue for various youth-serving organizations. It became a community-wide gathering place for local teens.
Treasured Memories
Visitors to the Foundation’s office often reminisce about their experiences at the Calvert Youth Center. Stories abound about the 8 tracks and vinyls set up on the kitchen countertop and the pool tables in the basement. People fondly recall girls lined up on one side of the room with young boys on the other, waiting to break the ice and dance. If the walls could talk, we would surely hear countless stories of young love and heartbreak.
A New Chapter Begins
In 1998, the Calvert family generously donated the building to the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, which led to the establishment of the newly formed Community Foundation of White County. The building underwent a redesign, transforming it into offices and a conference room. This transformation empowered the Foundation to fulfill its mission of strengthening and transforming White County by fostering charitable giving, philanthropic aspiration, and leadership.
Join the Celebration
Do you have cherished memories from your youth spent at the Calvert Youth Center? We would love to hear your stories and see pictures. Join our #LoveWhereYouLive Challenge by sharing pictures of your favorite spots in White County, including the Calvert Youth Center. Help us create a sense of community and nostalgia as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.
Share Your Photos
We are collecting photos throughout the year to commemorate our 25th anniversary. One lucky winner will have their photo featured on the cover of our 25th Anniversary Annual Report, and twelve winners will have their photos showcased on News & Review’s 2024 Community Calendar. Send your photos to lucy@cfwhitecounty.org or share them on Facebook and tag our page @cfwhitecounty.
