PETER COOPER SOCIAL AND RECREATION CENTER

PETER COOPER SOCIAL AND RECREATION CENTER. The closing of PETER COOPER SCHOOL offered the community a chance to establish a neighborhood center. Such a site would offer families a place to enjoy recreational, social and education activities. Furniture, bookcases and books, card tables, chairs, a piano and a phonograph were furnished. Incidental expenses were paid for with penny bingo. (1) The former school building was furnished for free and heating dealers provided fuel. (2)

More than 250 families enrolled in the Center in December 1933. (3) Staff was first comprised of volunteers and later by workers paid through the Civil Works Administration, an agency of the New Deal. (4) The Center was open every day and night. A motion picture was shown on Sundays with tickets costing two cents being used to pay the cost of shipping. A large room in the basement was used for dramatic skits and dancing.

With an improving economy, activities in the Center slowed. The building was eventually sold to Catholic Charities and later the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY. In time the building was demolished and the site used for a parking lot. (5)

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Source:

1. Kruse, Len. "Peter Cooper School and Recreation Center." My Old Dubuque. Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, 2000. p. 289

2. Kruse, Len. "Trials, Tribulations of Peter Cooper School Now Just Memories," Telegraph Herald, July 18, 1995, p. 16. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BHRjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sXkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2067,2763326&dq=peter+cooper+school+dubuque&hl=en

3. "Former Peter Cooper School Now Popular Neighborhood Social and Recreation Center," Telegraph Herald, December 17, 1933, p. 19. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rrxBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u6kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1803,2896735&dq=peter+cooper+school+dubuque&hl=en

4. Ibid.

5. Kruse, Len. "Trials, Tribulations..."