History
Girls Incorporated of Worcester is a national non-profit organization that was founded as the Worcester Girls Club in 1916, and for more than 90 years has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of girls in our community.
| 1916 |
67 Lincoln Street donated by Emma D. Harris to form the Worcester Girls Club for girls 16 and over; working girls. |
|---|---|
| 1922 |
Capital Campaign - $20,000. Bought house next door to 67 Lincoln Street. Both houses were joined. Average of 100 members annually. |
| 1924 |
Young girls were admitted. |
| Dora Dodge becomes Executive Director. Membership 700. Need program in Crompton Park area – Branch club opened in the basement of the school. | |
| 1930 |
Branch moved to Vernon Hill Community House – 500 members. |
| 1933 |
Lack of resources – Vernon Hill closed, Lincoln House was the focus. Clarence Kinney donates parcel of land in Tatnuck area (Camp built over the next several years) |
| Mid 30’s | Developed Long Range Program objectives and program categories – aim was for girls to become good homemakers and mothers of the future. |
| Pre WWII |
No money for expansion – club months shortened – closed in June & September. Board ran a Thrift Shop (this had been run since the beginning). |
| Mid 40’s | Worcester and other Massachusetts Girls Clubs met and discussed national organization. First meeting at Lincoln House. |
| 1944-1954 | Opened Branch on Millbury Street – 600 members. |
| 1945 | Girls Clubs of America founded. First President from Worcester. |
| 1948 | Extension classes held two afternoons a week at a small building on Plantation Street and the evenings at Grafton Street Junior High. |
| 1954 | Winthrop House opened. |
| 1955 |
Most of large front lawn of Lincoln House taken for the expressway. Remodeled Lincoln House. |
| 1974 | Programs developed: Focus on Physical Education – added gymnastics and gymnastics team, swim team, wall climbing, and added more things in gym. |
| 1975 | Boys added as associate members one day a week and for summer program. |
| Late 70’s | Drastically fewer walkers. Afternoon bussing program began. |
| 1980 | Began structured format for vacation weeks. |
| 1982 | Oxford Program begun. |
| 1985 | Board considers closing Lincoln House, community protests. |
| 1986 |
Began Operation SMART. Lincoln House Task Force formed – recommends capital campaign to renovate Lincoln house. |
| 1987 | Began Friendly PEERsuasion with Worcester Public Schools. |
| 1987-1991 | Capital Campaign raises over $3,000,000. Largest amount of any Girls Club in history. |
| 1990 | Camp Kinneywood renovations – Voke Tech made many repairs. |
| 1992 |
New Lincoln House opened. Began Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy Program. |
| 1996 | SCOPE began. |
| 1997 | Leader-In-Training began. |
| 1998 |
Collaboration with Seven Hills during summer program. Licensed School Aged Child Care began. National Discovery Program began. |
| 1999 - 2000 |
Extended Seven Hills collaboration during after school program. Partnership Program with the Worcester Public Schools began. Renovated lower level of Lincoln House National Girls Re-Cast TV began. S.S.B. Pre-Teen began at Winthrop House. |
| 2001 | Intel’s Computer Club House of Worcester |
| 2002 | First Annual Girls Celebration Luncheon |
