The Mary C. Jenkins Community Center has been the hub of the Rosenwald Community for over 70 years.

Mary B. Kilgore, photo  from  Reflections:  TCIO Celebrates 40 Years of Community Service

Mary B. Kilgore envisioned creating a place for African-Americans to gather for community meetings and social events.  She initially presented this project to a group at Bethel Baptist Church.  The idea was greeted with enthusiasm and on June  8, 1942 the first Community Center in Rosenwald opened at the church.  It offered a children’s nursery, daily craft activities for 6-12 year olds, and sports activities for teens.  Jeanie Kilgore was the supervisor.

Mary B. Kilgore was a leader in the community for improving education and building opportunities for all.  She was also a teacher and librarian in the Transylvania County Schools for over 30 years.

On August 24, 1944 Mary C. Jenkins sold approximately ½ acre to the trustees for Brevard Community Center (Arthur Heffner, B.M. Mackey, Freman Darty, D.C. Hall, C.P. Smith and G.I. Elliott) for $85 to be used as a “Community Center for the colored people of the Town of Brevard”.

Mary C. Jenkins was the widow of Frank Jenkins.  Jenkins had been a prominent businessman in Brevard for many years.  He started Brevard Lumber Company, which the Jenkins family owned for nearly 100 years.  Mrs. Jenkins worked within the white community of Brevard to help raise money for the Community Center in Rosenwald.

A January 22, 1948 Transylvania Times article shows the Community Center under construction and states the project was begun in September 1947 but additional funds were needed to complete the building.

The project lost momentum and was neglected until a group of young people in the Rosenwald community came together to form the Transylvania Community Council.  They held numerous fund-raisers and in 1952 held the Founder’s Day Opening for the Community Center.

Their goals included a library which operated as a branch of the Transylvania County Library.  Mrs. Mary Kilgore served as the librarian.  Clubs, including Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts, the Merry Hearts Social Club and the Children’s Play House, along with a variety of parties, dinners and dances were regular events.  A craft workshop in the basement of the building was set-up to teach carpentry skills to young men.  And in the summer of 1953 the Happyland Nursery and Kindergarten opened.

A swimming pool was built in 1958.  They struggled to meet regulations and stay open though.  In 1974 the pool was rebuilt and the county took over its operation for a short time before it closed for good.

The Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County got its start at the Mary C. Jenkins Community Center and operated there before moving to its present location on Gallimore Rd.

Today work is underway to restore and revitalize this valuable place in history.

Mary C. Jenkins Community Center, photo courtesy of Nicola Karesh.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs. 

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