New Bethlehem Community Center

The history of the Bethlehem Center actually began in 1911 when Miss Mary DeBardeleben, a young Methodist

deaconess from Alabama, was appointed by the Women's Missionary Council of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

South, to begin a social settlement for African Americans in Augusta, Georgia. This was the first effort of its kind

directed toward African Americans to be promoted by the Council. Augusta was selected as the location for the first

settlement because the Methodist Church already had an institution in Augusta (Paine College) and the Missionary

Council was contributing funds to it as part of its support for work with Southern African Americans.

 

In 1912, Miss DeBardeleben received one thousand dollars from the North Georgia Conference for the project and was able to rent an abandoned beer saloon on Campbell and Florence Streets to house the first program activities. The Center was called "Galloway Hall." The activities consisted of a kindergarten, Girl's Club, Boy's Club, Mothers' Club, and a Sunday school for younger children. The Center opened, partially equipped three small playgrounds, and organized a branch of the National Urban League.

 

In 1913, at the meeting of the Woman's Missionary Council, the name "Galloway Hall" was changed to "Bethlehem House," a name that would apply to all future African American Community Centers sponsored by the Council. In 1916 the Center purchased the property at 1404 Brown Street and this became the home of the Bethlehem Community Center for the next fourteen years. The program was expanded to meet the growing needs of the community it served, and before very long it became obvious that the available facilities were inadequate.  In 1928, the Woman's Missionary Council with an initial investment of approximately Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars was able to erect buildings on Conklin Avenue.

 

In January 1930, the new facility was opened with club rooms for boys and gifts, a sewing room, library, kitchen, kindergarten space and equipment, and an apartment for the workers. In the 1930s and 1940s the Center's gym was used by Paine College and by all the African American schools in the area. The 1,200 seat gymnasium was recognized as the only one of its kind in the greater Augusta area.  There was also a small cottage that served as a Club House for older boys and as living quarters for the Boy's Worker at the Center. The Center purchased additional land for play space, provided the first supervised playground for African American children in the Augusta area, established Augusta's first Vacation Bible School and started a sewing clinic for girls.

 

As the Center's fourth decade approached, it served as a model for many of the newer Bethlehem Houses established throughout the South. It was widely recognized as the focal point for social, cultural, recreational, and educational activities throughout the entire African American community. Local historians have commented that prior to integration the Center was the only location in the city that served the needs of the entire African American community. In 1952, the Center was accepted for membership in the National Federation of Settlement and Neighborhood Houses. And in 1953, it was accepted as an agency of the Augusta Community Chest (currently United Way) with an initial allocation of $3,500.

Other programs established during these years included: weaving classes, sewing classes, well-baby clinics, additional playground services, athletic programs, expanded kindergarten programs, Brownies, expanded Golden Age programs and services, camping, game rooms, piano lessons, library study, and Vacation Bible School. This period saw the beginning of the soon to be famous Annual Goodwill Christmas Program with representatives from many of the churches (both black and white) in the Augusta area. The summer Head Start program began in 1965, and two summers later, the Feed-A-Kid program was established. Somewhat later, the Center welcomed Vista and other volunteers from the area who set up tutorial programs

 

The Center's sixth decade brought a new Executive Director with skills in networking, identifying resources, and gaining support needed to grow and fulfill its mission. The Center established a Comprehensive Child Development project in 1972.  The program provided extensive day care, medical and social services to ninety children of low-income families. Enrollment in the Center's programs increased along with the emergence of new activities the next year. With support from the CSRA Planning and Development Commission, the Center offered a Comprehensive Nutrition program, providing senior citizens a noon day meal and other social and supportive services. 

 

The 1970s were also a time of physical expansion and growth. In 1975, the Center received a grant from the Women's Division Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church to refurbish the buildings. The main building was bricked and equipped with fire sprinklers. Always needing space, the Center applied for grants to build a 5,000 square feet Community Building. The National Division of the Board of Global Ministries pledged the $5,000 needed to buy the land for the proposed new building. In 1976 the Center received word that more than $115,000 would be made available from the United States Department of Commerce for the construction of the new building. In September, the Mayor of Augusta proclaimed Bethlehem Community Center Day to coincide with the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new facility. The new building was dedicated on April 18, 1977.

 

During this period and into the 1990's the BCC was sponsored by the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. It also received support from the Augusta District of the North Georgia Conference, local churches, and United Way. In addition, the Center maintained cooperative relationships with twenty-five social service agencies in the CSRA, including the neighborhood Youth Corps, WIN program, and the Georgia Department of Labor. Child Development and Senior Citizens programs remained an integral part of the Center's program with the Child Development portion representing the bulk of the Center's annual budget.

 

Moving into the 1990's, the Center's programs continued to be designed to serve the needs of the community. As was the case for most of its history, the Center was governed by a Board of Directors made up of an equal number of representatives from the area United Methodist churches, residents of the neighborhood, Representatives of the community-at-large and ex-officio members.  The staff consisted of an Executive Director, social and case-workers, and other support personnel. The Center continued to be served by students (interns and volunteers) from Augusta College (now Augusta University), Paine College, Georgia State University, and the University of Georgia. 

 

 

The 1990s, unfortunately, saw several changes in leadership and direction in the Center's activities and programs. In spite of all the dissension and confusion, the image and promise of the historic Bethlehem Community Center was kept alive by some former clients and neighborhood residents, past directors, board members, and interested leaders at various levels of the United Methodist Church.  Because of this faithful interest, the historical importance of the Bethlehem Community Center, and the continuing needs of the Bethlehem community, the General Board of the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, in the spring of 2003, sent professional staff members to Augusta to assess the situation, make recommendations to the Board, and initiate appropriate activities.

 

Since 2008, responding positively and creatively to multiple challenges and opportunities, United Methodist Women of New York, UMW North Georgia Conference, UMW Augusta District, the professional staff members, assisted by hosts of volunteers from area churches and schools, have taken giant steps toward the revitalization and actualization of a New Bethlehem Community Center. With the help of many, we continue “to be an extension of God’s ministry and to improve the quality of life.” 

 

Current Programs and Services

 

Senior Citizens Congregant Meal Program

Adult Computer Education

After School Homework Assistance and Tutoring (outside locations)

GED Program

Community Garden and Playground

Community Food Pantry

 ACF TRUTH Project Pregnancy Prevention 

Substance Abuse/HIV & HCV Education and Screenings (Grant in partnership with SAMHSA)

Summer Camp Scholarships

Community Thanksgiving Luncheon

Christmas Toy Give Away

Yearly Farmer’s Market

NBCC Alumni & Friend Goodwill Christmas Program

Yearly Fundraiser - NBCC’s SOUPer Bowl

                       The O’Neal Insurance Agency Father Daughter Gala

Medical Associates Plus Yearly Beat The Heat Fan Give Away

Activity Building – Social Events

Sheridan Glaze – Executive Director

1912 – 2021

Celebrating over 110 years of service to people of all ages in Augusta!