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History
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo has been serving youth since 1892. It is one of the original 53 Clubs that now make up the more than 4,000 Club Federation of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
"Is it not true; that many a boy is bad because the best part of him has never developed? It is not that a newsboy is so much worse than other boys, but simply that the other half of him didn't get a chance."
- John E. Gunckel; Boyville, 1905.
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John Gunckel noticed the rowdy behavior of the young boys who sold newspapers in the streets of downtown Toledo as he went to work each day. He felt if given a little help, these boys could develop the "other half" and become productive citizens.
On December 25, 1892, Gunckel invited 102 of these "ruffians" to a Christmas dinner. With the support of local newspapers and several prominent businessmen, he helped the boys organize the Toledo Newsboys' Association. The group's mission was self-improvement. The boys ruled themselves according to a few basic guidelines: no swearing, no stealing, no shooting craps, no smoking, and no drinking. The punishment if caught violating the rules — forfeiture of their membership card in the organization.
Within a year, the organization grew to 250 with members in all sections of the city. As part of their growth, the Newsboys developed a program of cultural enrichment, including Sunday afternoon lectures and music. This led to to the development of the Toledo Newsboy's band. Toledoans began to notice a positive change in the behavior of the boys.
Gunckel, wanting to spread the word about the success of the Newsboys, wrote to the manager of the St. Louis World's Fair seeking permission to hold a Newsboy's Day at the fair. His efforts paid off and the day was approved. With the endorsement of the National Association of Managers of Newspaper Circulation, the boys met on August 16, 1904, and a national newsboys' organization was born with Gunckel as president.
3Some of the original, "charter" newsboys members. |
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To promote the newsboys' associations in other communities, Gunckel published Boyville (right) in 1905. The book's popularity led to requests for lectures by Gunckel from people across the country. Proceeds from the book and lectures were given to the newsboys' association.
As the founding group, the Toledo Newsboys gained much notoriety. The Newsboys Band (below)was invited to perform in the parade at President Theodore Roosevelt's second inauguration. "President Roosevelt was immensely pleased with the newsboys and could not say enough about the remarkable appearance they made," Gunckel wrote.
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In 1908, Gunckel began an effort to raise $100,000 to build a Newsboys' Building. His goal was to create a place where boys could gather and exchange fellowship. With the help of school children and Toledo businessmen, the campaign was a success and the Superior Street building (below) was dedicated in 1911.
John Gunckel died on August 16, 1915, eleven years to the day that the national organization was established. In tribute, the newsboys built a 30' x 26' stone pyramid on his grave. Services were held each year on the anniversary of his death with members placing lotus blossoms on his grave.
J.D. Robinson, president of Libbey Glass Company, succeeded Gunckel as president. Robinson expanded the services of the organization to include vocational and recreational programs. Classes in carpentry, drawing, shoe repair, typing, printing and journalism were offered as career guidance counseling.
After Robinson's death in 1929, the organization went through a period of rapid change. For a year, John's son, Will Gunckel, headed the organization, followed by Joseph Robinson, J.D.'s son. Robinson expanded the board of trustees and founded Camp Big Silver on the Robinson Memorial Reservation in Pinckney, Michigan, in 1936.
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Although the organization had long been affiliated with the Boys Clubs of America, under the leadership of Joseph Robinson, the Toledo Newsboys' Association officially became the Boys Club of Toledo in 1942. The 1960's brought expansion. With support of a $75,000 donation from the Libbey-Owens-Ford Company,a former police station was purchased on Toledo's east side. A successful capital campaign raised another $250,000 to remodel the facility, which opened in 1961. The organization expanded again in 1967, when the South Club was established. By the mid 1970's, a shift in central city population and urban renewal resulted in a move from the original Superior Street building to a remodeled car dealership at Monroe and Detroit. The new facility was named after Homer Hanham, the organization's executive director.
A young Jamie Farr, then a student at Woodward High School, and Club Executive Director Homer Hanham.4 |
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In June 1982, the organization recognized the need to expand its services to girls. The initial program offered them activities one day a week. The pilot was a success and over 3,000 girls joined that year. In 1985, another successful capital campaign provided for building renovations to fully integrate girls into the Clubs' programming. That year the organization was renamed the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo.
Today, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo offer building-centered programs targeted at disadvantaged youth. The Clubs pride themselves on being "the positive place for kids." They are open to any child aged 7 to 17 for a nominal annual membership fee, however no child is turned away. Building self-esteem and instilling self-confidence in members are two priorities of the organization. These factors have a definite impact on how youngsters respond to negative peer pressure.
The Clubs now have six core program initiatives:
The 6,000 members are 58% boys and 42% girls with the largest concentration ages 10 to 14. Approximately half the membership (47%) comes from households where the parents are unemployed and receive some form of public assistance. Seventy percent come from single parent homes and 60% have three or more siblings. The Clubs' membership is 70% African-American, 20% Caucasian, 5% Hispanic/Latino, and 5% other.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo receive 40% of their support from the United Way of Greater Toledo with the remaining 60% coming from the Club's endowments, community foundations, individuals, businesses and special events.
The trustees and professional staff are committed to continuing the tradition that began more than 100 years ago. The principles established by John Gunckel are continuing to guide the organization into its second century of service to the community and to the youth of Toledo.
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Here's a timeline of some of the milestones in Toledo's history:
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1892 - The Toledo Newsboys Association established
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1908 - The first building constructed on Superior Street
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1936 - Camp Big Silver established
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1940 - Name changed to Boys Club of Toledo
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1961 - The East Toledo Club opens on Second Street
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1967 - The South Toledo Club established
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1985 - Girls admitted as full members; the name of the organization is officially changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo.
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2003 - Service at school sites begins.
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2007 - Ground is broken for a full-service Club at Sherman School using the same shovel (left) John Gunckel used to break ground for the original building on Superior.
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See more pictures of our history along with other historical information about Toledo at Toledo's Attic. Click here to go there.
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