George Bray Neighborhood Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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United Laymen Bible Student Tabernacle
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United Laymen Bible Student Tabernacle
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| Location | 924 Center St. Racine, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | J. Mandor Matson |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004318 |
| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1983 |
The George Bray Neighborhood Center is a special building in Racine, Wisconsin. You can find it at 924 Center Street. This building has had a few names over the years, like the United Laymen Bible Student Tabernacle and the Union Tabernacle. It was built in 1927 by an architect named J. Mandor Matson. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Contents
A Place for Learning and Community
In 1924, people from different churches in Racine started meeting together. They wanted to study the Bible as a group. They called themselves the Racine Laymen's Bible Union. At first, they met in different churches around the city.
Building a New Home
By 1925, the group decided they wanted their own special building. They bought a piece of land and hired an architect. On May 15, 1927, their new building was ready. It was dedicated to teaching the Bible and sharing its messages. They also wanted to support worldwide missions.
What the Building Looks Like
The building is made of red brick. It has a tall front section that looks like two stories. The front is decorated with two rows of tall, thin columns called pilasters. These columns have small decorations on top called finials. Above them, there is a large arched space called a tympanum. This arch is filled with circles made of brick.
The architect, J. Mandor Matson, was from Norway. He designed many buildings in Racine. The style of the building is called Art Deco. The people who built it might have seen special meanings in the design. For example, the three circles inside the large arch might have reminded them of the Trinity. The columns with finials might have looked like candles, showing their mission to be a "light to the world."
A Center for the Community
The building has been used by many different groups over the years.
From Church to Community Center
- The Racine Bible Church used the building until 1961 or 1962.
- From 1965 to 1969, the local Boy Scouts met there.
- In 1969, a group called the Franklin Neighborhood Association moved in. This group helped the community.
Honoring George Bray
In 1980, the community center was named the George Bray Neighborhood Center. It was named after George Bray, who was retiring from leading the center. George Bray was also a city alderman, which means he was a local government leader. He also started the Racine chapter of the NAACP, a group that works for civil rights.
Recent Years
The center faced some challenges. It lost state funding in 2015. Because of a lack of money, it had to close in September 2016. But it didn't stay closed for long! On February 23, 2017, the building reopened. It became a branch of the Racine Family YMCA. A special ceremony was held, and Caron Butler, a famous NBA basketball player from Racine, was there.
