History
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Boys Clubs during this period were in their infancy, with the National
Federation of Boys Clubs not evolving until 1906. The New Britain
Club continued to grow in size and stature and in 1916 moved to a two
family wooden house on East Main Street. It was at this location that
the Club offered dormitories for boys who were without homes. In 1920,
the Club dedicated a new gymnasium which enabled it to better serve its
over 900 members..
The Club marked the beginning of an era in its evolution with the hiring
of Dwight Skinner, a former Boys Scout Professional, as its Executive
Director, a position that he would retain for the next 39 years.
Mr. Skinner founded the Ladies Auxiliary of the New Britain Boys Club.
The auxiliary would become invaluable during the Great Depression of
the 1930’s when the Community Chest collapsed and left the agencies it
supported, such as the Boys Club, without funding. It was the Ladies
Auxiliary, in tandem with Skinner and the Board of Directors, who
developed the means to maintain operations at the club without
interrupting services, despite the devastating economic conditions of
the period. The signal that the New Britain Boys Club had weathered
this catastrophic epoch in American history came in 1934 when the
Club’s application for membership in the Boys Club Association of
America was approved.
The Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1941 and once again saw
many of its favorite sons march off to war. However, the club became
the central caretaker for many boys whose mothers were now working
in defense plants, and whose fathers were off fighting the war. It was
the Boys Club who helped preserve the family structure during a time
which is considered to be one of the darkest the world has ever known.
Following the conclusion of the war, focus was placed on putting the
lives of families torn apart by war back together. Once again, the Boys
Club was there to meet the challenge. The club continued to grow and
prosper to meet the needs of a new social consciousness where mothers
and fathers both worked, where television became the main source of
leisure time activity and where the country prepared to enter the
tumultuous decade of the 50’s.
1950 saw the construction of a brick building to replace the original
wooden structure, with 1957 bringing the dedication of the Abbe
Memorial Swimming Pool. A sad year was marked in 1962 in the
history of the organization with the premature passing Dwight
Skinner. John Karbonic was appointed as Executive Director and would
remain in the position for 20 years. Under Mr. Karbonic’s leadership,
the Club would survive the teenage revolution of the 1960’s and move
into the 1970’s.
In 1971, a capital fund drive was kicked off for the relocation of the
Club due to massive development of the Route 72 highway, which would
bisect the city. 1972 saw the establishment of the Angelo Tomasso Sr.
Memorial Scholarship at the Club and the dedication of its current
building at 150 Washington Street.
As the Club entered the 1980’s with its ever increasing complex social
issues, it focused on adapting to meet the needs of a whole new
generation of boys with their own unique problems. The reins of
command were passed to Stan Glowiak in 1983 to meet these new and
demanding challenges. Once again, the Ladies Auxiliary was there to
establish the John Karbonic Scholarship.
1986 was a banner year for the Boys Club when its membership roles
reached a new all time high of 1654 members. In 1988, the Boys Club
dedicated the Nazzarena Tomasso Park, an outdoor recreational facility,
and at the same time began the development of a long-range plan which
would help it provide the next three generations of New Britain’s youth.
The Club, in adapting its focus to address a whole new series of problems
facing youth, dedicated the “Ernie Brainard Learning Center in 1989 and
took over the operation of Camp Schade in 1990.
On February 26, 1992, the Boys Club officially changed its name to the
Boys & Girls Club of New Britain, now opening its doors to include the
young female population of the City. Renovations took place to com-
plete the transition with the building being re-dedicated on
December 9, 1992. Also during 1992, Todd Czuprinski was appointed
as Executive Director of the Club with the goal to meet the ever changing
needs of youth in the 1990’s and beyond.
Now, as the Boys & Girls Club of New Britain goes into the new millennium,
we have again risen to new challenges. Ever changing technology has brought the
addition of a computer lab and technology center. In 1997 we began to operate a
state licensed Day Care center for 3 and 4 year olds and are NAEYC accredited.
Because we continue to meet the needs of families, our doors open every day
after school for members, causing our membership to increase steadily. Our club
now averages 2,500 members per year of which approximately 700 are girls. This
has become a main focus as we continue to expand programming for our young
female members.
Sadly, 2005 saw the end of an era when the Ladies Auxiliary disbanded. Due to lack
of new membership and the current members being infirmed or aging, the
Ladies Auxiliary was left with no other option than to dissolve. Many years of dedicated
service were given by the Auxiliary and we appreciate all of their hard work.
The 100th anniversary of Boys & Girls Clubs of America was celebrated in 2006. This
anniversary is special because our Boys & Girls Club is one of the first 53 clubs that
united in Boston in 1906 for form the Federated Boys' Clubs, the first organization of its
kind.
Also in 2006, after 115 years, we celebrated another milestone when we welcomed our
first woman president to serve on our Board of Directors. Judith K. Greco, who has been an
active board member for more than thirty years, proudly accepted this position.
And, while it's true that many things have changed over the years, there is one thing that
will remain the same as we head into the new century; our mission.
We will continue to be here for our members and we will always be "A Positive Place for Kids,"
as long as kids need a safe haven where they can be themselves and have fun while learning
the skills they need to become productive members of our society.
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