Montgomery Neighborhood Center Records

The Montgomery Neighborhood Center was founded in 1952 at 192 Clarissa Street in Rochester, New York. It moved to 10 Cady Street, where it still operates (as of 2020) in 1961. The Center was originally the Clarissa Street YMCA, but became a separate agency on April 1, 1952. Initially led by Alfred E. Nord, the Center's initial focus was on providing recreation and social activities for neighborhood families. Over time, it became a settlement house, expanding its services to include a senior center, to assist in housing rehabilitation and to develop block clubs. During the time period of this collection, the Montgomery Neighborhood Center provided a major community meeting place for the distressed Corn Hill Neighborhood, assisting in the neighborhood's struggle to avoid destruction for urban renewal and allowing community organizations such as FIGHT to meet in its facility.