From Then Until Now (1857-2006)
Did you know that our center had its origins in the mid-1850's?
Charles W. Morgan, the famous whaling captain, was out largest single contributor in 1857. The whaling ship that bears his name is on display at Mystic Seaport and is visited by thousands of tourists each year.
The other major contributors in our infancy in the 1850's reads like a "who's who" of New Bedford history. Just to drop a few names to those familiar with New Bedford history how about:
Rodman, Ashley, Dunbar, Howland along with several other names from our city's past.
The first facility was built on South First Street and served the area's residents many of whom had recently emigrated to America. These thousands took jobs in the factories that filled the south end of the city. Many of them arrived penniless and then found employment but desperately needed some of the more basic necessities of life. Dennison provided such needs as basic health and dental care before there was any local hospital for these people to be admitted to. Our facility was also the first local building with bath facilities and for several decades had people coming in for their weekly bath.
While originating with a religious tradition similar to the Salvation Army and overseen by the Reverend Tristan Dennison there were no spiritual requirements placed on those who used our services.
The Board of Directors of what was formerly the Ladies City Mission Society was comprised of the wives of local industrialists and founders who took it as their own mission to serve the needs of these impoverished residents.
Gym-Dandy New Center Dedicated at Dennison Memorial
April 5, 2000
The Standard Times, 4/7/00
NEW BEDFORD -- Hundreds of children who frequent the Dennison Memorial Community Center have cause to celebrate.
Thanks to the generosity of community and business groups, the youngsters now have a spacious new gymnasium.
Dedicated at a ceremony Wednesday night, the new Athletic and Resource Center houses a huge gymnasium, as well as a resource and meeting center. Sean Hargraves, Dennison's Executive Director, said the gym will be used by South End residents, as well as the children served by the center.
"The membership at Dennison has exploded with the opening of the new gym," said Mr. Hargraves. "The excitement among the children is tremendous."
A United Way agency, Dennison is one of the largest youth agencies in the area and sponsors educational and recreational programs for children ages 6 to 16.
The grand-opening ceremonies began with a history of the agency presented by Stanley Los, president of the Dennison Board of Directors. It was incorporated in 1868 as the Ladies City Mission, serving the poor and needy of the South End. New Bedford's whaling captains, Charles W. Morgan among them, were among the earliest contributors. The center has been at its South First Street location since 1904.
Guests at the dedication included Mayor Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. and former Mayors John K. Bullard and Rosemary S. Tierney.
Major contributors to the project included the city of New Bedford, Community Block Grants; Board of Trustees of the New Bedford Day Nursery; Crapo Foundation; Acushnet Foundation; Island Foundation; Agnes Lindsay Trust; and the South First Street, South Central and Cove Street neighborhood associations.
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