The West Side Recreation Club

In this episode, we tell the story of 1415 West Washington Street, a building that’s easy to overlook today but for over 50 years served as the West Side Recreation Club, a vital gathering place and social hub for South Bend’s African American community.I meet with George Garner, the Assistant Director and Curator at Indiana University South Bend’s Civil Rights Heritage Center, and he does such a great job sharing the club's story. The West Side Recreation Club is featured in South Bend’s African American Landmark Tour, developed by the Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center, and later expanded in George Garner’s book Placing History. Upstairs, the building housed offices of prominent African American professionals and leaders; downstairs, a pool hall that was frequently targeted by police. That contrast sheds light on how African American leadership and community grew in South Bend within a broader and often complicated civic landscape.Learn more about the African American Landmark Tour and the book, Placing History, at the link below: https://aalt.iusb.edu/index.html______________________________________________________Thank you to the Portage Township Trustee's Office for sponsoring this episode! Thank you to Jason Critchlow and his team for ALL that you do in our community!Check out their website and Facebook below and discover ALL that the Portage Township Trustee's Office does to meet our community's needs!https://portage-township.com/https://www.facebook.com/share/1786tvftXK/?mibextid=wwXIfr__________________________________________________ALL of our audio podcast episodes are also on YouTube! Check out our channel! Be sure to like and subscribe! Link below!You Tube Link: https://youtube.com/@RoundtheBend574Be sure to follow Round the Bend Now and Then on Twitter: @roundthebendpodLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roundthebendnowandthenTo contact the show, you can email at roundthebend574@gmail.com or message on Twitter or Facebook.For current & historical pictures and commentary on the South Bend & Mishawaka area, follow @roundthebend574 on Twitter.