Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center

The Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center is much more than a community activities center. It is a building with a long illustrious history that served an underprivileged community for many years. From its early days as the only public library in a very poor neighborhood to its later years as an athletic center which was a home to athletes like Joe Louis.

The Detroit Public Library set up a branch on Hastings and Wilkins in 1913. Its purpose was to provide resources to poor immigrant neighborhoods on the outskirts of the downtown.^[1] A few years after the Hastings location was opened plans for a new permanent location to be built were in the works. The new location would be built west of Hastings and Wilkins on Brewster Street. The library was built of cut stone and beautiful brick. The building was finished and opened on May 15, 1917. The library was closed down only ten years later in 1927 due to a lack of use. The now eleven-year-old building was put up for sale and the public library was moved back to its original location on Hastings in 1928.^[1]

The 1920s saw an influx of black immigrants from the south moving into the surrounding communities of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley.^[2] The Detroit Parks Department began to realize that this community lacked any real recreation center. This forced their hand to begin a $500,000 renovation of the old library into a community center. A brand new two-story wing added designed by George W. Graves, added classrooms, a swimming pool, boxing ring, and basketball courts.^[1] The existing library was then converted to an auditorium.

The Central Community Center officially opened its doors to the public in October 1929. 5000 people came out to the dedication on November 1 (Source 1) Mayor John C. Nagle spoke of the changing composition of the surrounding neighborhood stating, "I dedicate this building for the people of the city of Detroit, regardless of race, color or creed. I realize that much prejudice exists in Detroit, but a building of this kind will wipe it out"^[1]

The 1930s brought major changes to the surrounding community of the recreation center. Housing officials using government funding chose Black Bottom as the site of the new Brewster Homes. The Brewster Project began construction in 1935 when then First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt broke ground on the new housing development. Over the next 20 years the housing project would grow into the largest residential project owned by the city of Detroit.^[2] Primarily very low-income African American families would occupy the projects. The Brewster Homes would engulf the recreation center consisting of mostly low-rise apartment structures. It would not be until the 1940s and 50's that the larger apartment structure complexes would be added to the housing development.^[2] The towers alone were home to over 10,000 local residents and a majority of them used the recreation center as a place on entertainment, learning, and shelter.^[1]

The desirability to live in the Brewster homes began to decline in the 1960s due to a lack of maintenance and housing standards by the city. In combination with the construction of Interstate-75, which displaced thousands of black residents and wiped out the surrounding culture housed on Hastings Street the surrounding area began to move into despair.^[1] Crime increased and the surrounding community was in disarray. The Brewster Center was the only place of safety and shelter for a majority of the residents still residing in the housing development. It was not until 1969 that the recreation center was named the Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center.^[1] It was renamed in honor of Leon Wheeler.

Leon Wheeler was the cities first black recreation employee in 1919. Wheeler managed the recreation center from 1919 to 1945. In his tenure he established programs including swimming, boxing, track, tennis, drama, and dancing. Over 81 different clubs met at the center's six classrooms every day.^[1] The Brewster-Wheeler Recreation Center was a place of safety and growth for thousands of children. It gave the children an outlet other than the streets through its athletic programs, and summer classes.

The recreation center grew harder to maintain in the later years. The center turned to donations from famous alumni such as University of Michigan and NBA star Chris Webber. Webber was responsible for donating a brand new gymnasium in the 1990s.^[1] By the mid 2000s the Brewster Projects were mostly abandoned. The center continued to offer programs but began plans to shut its doors in 2007. The recreation center officially closed it doors for good on August 25, 2006. Less than three years later the building was vacant and abandoned.^[1]

In the following years the abandoned building became home to a large homeless population. Metal thieves also ravaged the building for scraps as graffiti artists used the building as a blank canvas. After a series of fires demolition plans by the city began to take shape in 2013.^[1] After fighting for historical significance and renovation local community organizer, Donyetta Hill fought to secure the building and save it from the bulldozers. Interest in the recreation building has sparked new beginnings and a major renovation.