1938

• 147 juvenile arrests were made

  Grand Rapids Police Department Superintendent Frank O'Malley decided that 147 youth arrests in one year was unacceptable and proposed an innovative idea - keep the children out of trouble by providing them with supervised recreation in their own communities. The neighborhood selected for this experiment was an area close to downtown Grand Rapids. The neighborhood was bordered by the Grand River, railroad tracks, and commercial and industrial buildings. The only playground was locked after school hours.

• December 23rd, 193812/23 Christmas Party at Methodist Community House

  

  While the solution may sound reasonable and simple, many had doubts. So, on the Friday before Christmas, the Police Department hosted a party at the Methodist Community House at 312-314 Wealthy Street to inform the neighborhood of the plans to create a space for local youth to go after school hours. The police gave away several hundred bags of candy, fruit, and nuts to neighborhood children. 

1939

• Finney Avenue SW Youth Center formed

  In the days following the party, the children joined Patrolman Clyde H. Deming in cleaning and refurbishing two rented rooms in the basement of the Methodist Community House turning the space into the Finney Avenue SW Youth Center. 

  Activities at the space included football, basketball, softball, volleyball, and ice skating on a member-built rink in the backyard of the center. The back porch of the building became the stage for the Wealthy Street Theatre. A library was established and pianos were donated for music lessons. Metal working was also one of the early activities; and a program in which the children grew, cooked, and canned produce was popular.

• Juvenile arrest record drops from 147 to 4

  The effect of the center on the neighborhood was amazing. In 1939, the juvenile arrest record dropped from 147 to 4. The program continued and grew into the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth. They rented spaces in local schools until they built their own youth centers.

1942

• June 1st, 19426/1 Camp O'Malley opens

  

  In the eary 1940's, the Police Department began looking at ways that children could enjoy participating in outdoor camping opportunities. In late 1941, Captain Charles D. Winslow purchased 40 acres of land on the Thornapple River. The first camping season at Thornapple Summer Camp (now Camp O'Malley) was held in 1942.

1946

• Thornapple Summer Camp becomes Camp O'Malley

  The Thornapple Summer Camp changes its name to Camp O'Malley to honor Grand Rapids Police Department Superintendent Frank O'Malley.

1953

• December 1st, 195312/1 Variety West Side Center opened

  The first permanent youth center was the Variety West Side Center located at 252 Indiana Avenue, which opened in December 1953.

1958

• Seidman Center built

  

  In 1958, the Seidman Center was built at 139 Crofton Street and is still in operation today.

• April 15th, 19584/15 Grand Rapids Press Variety Club Youth Day Paper fundraiser

  

  Once a year from 1947 to 1987, the Grand Rapids Press would publish the Variety Club Youth Day Paper to help fundraise for Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth. Photo on the right shows former newsboys marching down Fulton Street selling the Youth Day Papers.

1975

• April 22nd, 19754/22 Newsgirl Jean Osburn sells Youth Day Paper

  

  Newsgirl Jean Osburn was one of the many Grand Rapids Press volunteers who sold copies of the Youth Day Paper to help fundraise for the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth. Photo is from the April 22, 1975 edition of the paper.

• April 22nd, 19754/22 West Side Basketball Team undefeated

  

  The championship West Side Basketball team had two undefeated seasons in the YMCA sponsored Grand Rapids Church League. The coach was Grand Rapids Police Officer David Russell. Boys & Girls Clubs is still looking to identify the rest of the team, so let us know if you see a familiar face. Photo is from the April 22, 1975 edition of the Youth Day Paper.

1983

• Seidman Center 25 years old.

      Cheerleading and playing pool were just some of the activities at the Seidman Center in 1983. Ping pong was also popular.

1990

• Variety West Side Center demolished

  The Variety West Side Center developed structural problems and was demolished in 1990, but there were already plans to create a new center for the neighborhood.

2000

• Steil Center opened to replace Variety West Side Center

  

  In 2000, the Steil Center was built with the generous support of donors including the late Glenn Steil, Sr., previous Variety West Side Center member.

  
   

• Seidman Center gets renovations

  

  In 2000, Seidman Center underwent major renovations to modernize the original 1958 building.

  
   

• August 1st, 20008/1 Steil Center Nighthawks Football has successful season

  

  Sports programs have always been an essential part of the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth and Boys & Girls Clubs. Photo below is from August 2000.

2007

• Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth becomes Boys & Girls Clubs

  In 2007, the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth (GRYC) joined forces with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to enhance programming offered to children at both the Seidman and Steil Centers. At that time, Grand Rapids was the largest city in the nation without a Boys & Girls Club. With this affiliation, GRYC became Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth joining 4,500 clubs from across the country collectively serving almost five million children each year.

• Camp O'Malley receives major renovations

  

  In 2007, Camp O'Malley received $2.5 million worth of renovations to maintain the camp's safety and continue being able to provide over 200 youth amazing camp opportunities each summer.

2010

• Basketball at Seidman