Gads Hill Center (Chicago, Ill.)

Gads Hill Social Settlement was established in 1898 at 869 West 22nd Street, in a predominantly Polish American, German American, and Czech American area. It changed its name to Gads Hill Center in 1916 and moved to a new building at 1919 West 20th Street, later 1919 West Cullerton Street. Miss Ruth Austin served as head resident from 1914 to 1923 and from 1926 to 1946. Miss Meta K. Schwiebert was head resident during the 1950s and 1960s. Over the years, many Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and African Americans moved into the neighborhood.

From the description of Gads Hill Center records, 1898-1991 (bulk 1914-1919). (Chicago History Museum). WorldCat record id: 712673819

Gads Hill Center was established as a settlement house in 1898 in the Pilsen Community to serve the needs of poor immigrant families. Gads Hill Center was called Gads Hill Social Settlement until 1916 and the original mission was "to improve the living conditions of the neighborhood and to assist and stimulate the people of the district through education, helpful recreation, wholesome social intercourse, and neighborly cooperation ..." Through the years the center has offered services which include: a nursery school, kindergarten, Head Start programs and parent education classes; a music school and an alternative high school; an employment agency and a Community Technology Center. Gads Hill Center was also the home of a Chicago Public Library sub-branch until 1988. Over 100 years old, Gads Hill Center is currently still operating at the original address at 1919 West Cullerton. It serves the largely Mexican immigrant community of Pilsen, in which it is located, as well as the Near West Side neighborhoods of North Lawndale, Little Village and Back of the Yards. Pilsen is bounded by the Chicago River on the south and east and the Burlington Railroad on the west and is within the Lower West Side Community Area. It was first occupied by Irish and Germans immigrants who settled here in the 1840s. Many jobs for unskilled laborers were available in this heavily industrial area after the Chicago fire of 1871 and Bohemian immigrants came in great numbers. Italians, Lithuanians, Poles and others followed but the neighborhood takes its name from a city in West Bohemia. Mexican migrants began to move into Pilsen during labor shortages in World War I and later, as the University of Illinois expanded in the 1950s and 1960s, displacing Mexican residents on the Near West Side. Today Pilsen is a strong predominately Mexican American community that celebrates cultural traditions with vibrant Hispanic themed neighborhood festivals and murals.

From the description of Collection, c. 1900-1950. (Chicago Public Library). WorldCat record id: 429142914