The Boys and Girls Club of Chester

In 1929, the late Judge Fronefield became alarmed at the increasing number of juvenile delinquency cases coming before the courts and called together a group of Chester’s business and professional men to study conditions and recommend remedies. The result was several small rooms at Third and Kerlin Streets – the Boys’ Club. The Boys’ Club was incorporated in 1930. The Club grew rapidly and in 1933 moved to an old three-story factory building at Front Street and Concord Avenue. During those Depression years, the Club repaired and half-soled shoes for the needy, striving to fill the leisure time of boys at that time with things to do under proper supervision and guidance. From 1956 through most of 2010, the Club was located at 425 Front Street (Front and Fulton Streets) in what was once a filter treatment house on the Chester Water Authority property. In 1978, girls were invited to join the Boys Club, which subsequently became the Boys and Girls Club of Chester.

On October 22, 2010, the official grand opening of the George E. Carter Center became the new home of the Boys & Girls Club of Chester. The newly constructed recreation center is located at 201 East 7th Street. The George E. Carter Center serves as not only a recreation center, but also a place where youth can learn and grow as individuals through technology, the arts, and educational programming. The 16,600 square foot facility features a computer lab, classroom and tutorial space, locker rooms, indoor basketball courts, a general activities area, and other related amenities.