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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
HOPKINS HOUSE
Hopkins House was born of
necessity.
In
1939, at the end of the Depression when the economy began to
improve, President Roosevelt began to cut back on social
programs for the poor. One that was eliminated was a Works
Progress Administration sponsored Social Services Day
Nursery that provided care for the children of
African-American working parents in then racially segregated
Alexandria.
The Committee, composed of
teachers including Edith Allen, Helen Day, Connie Chissell
and others, used their homes at first. Soon they
persuaded the Social Services League to allow the use of
their building at 517 Gibbon Street after six in the
evening.
The
Committee named the new community center in honor of Dr. J.
Milton Hopkins, an Alexandria African-American physician who
for years had provided medical care to anyone in need,
regardless of ability to pay. Dr. Hopkins died on July
15, 1927.
Soon the nursery qualified to receive funds through the
Community Chest (today's United Way). Chissell, an
experienced social worker and educator, served as the first
director. Helen Day and Edith Allen raised funds and planned
programs with special focus on helping the poorest families.
Hopkins House was
incorporated on August 9, 1939.
During these
early
years, Hopkins House had little or no money to pay for the
services people needed. But what the organization
lacked in funds, it more than made up in community
involvement. Edith Allen and Helen Day, Hopkins
House's first secretary, helped to originate
"Negro History Week" in Alexandria's public schools -- a
first in segregated Alexandria. After many efforts to
identify funding, City Councilman Albert Smoot secured a
grant of $95.67 from the City to support Hopkins House
programs. With these funds, Edith Allen organized Girl Scout Troop #16 and
Helen Day formed Brownie Troop #8. Other activities soon
followed.
Through
the next half century, Hopkins House programs expanded to
include preschools, HIV/AIDS prevention, a crisis and family
counseling center, brownie troops, after-school tutoring, a
summer children’s camp, a credit union, an employment and
housing referral program, elder care centers, Headstart,
Thanksgiving Meals for the Homeless, and a Lunch Bag Program
for the hungry.
In 1994, the Hopkins House
trustees adopted a strategic plan that, over the next five
years, returned the organization to its roots providing
education programs for low-income, working families with
children.
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THROUGH THE YEARS
1939
Hopkins House is founded by Edith L. Allen, Helen Day,
Connie Chissell, Leon C. Baltimore, Jr., Margaret Evans,
Samuel W. Madden, Richard Poole, Alma P. Murray, and Evelyn
Johnson Williams. The organization’s first home was located
at 517 Gibbon Street. Alexandria City Council
allocates $95.67 to operate Hopkins House. Alexandria
Community Chest (now the United Way) contributes $1,335 to
Hopkins House. Alexandria City Council gives additional
grant of $500 to Hopkins House.
1940
Hopkins House holds first Annual Meeting. Membership dues
are $0.25 a year.
1941
Hopkins House leads petition drive to establish a high
school for black children. The school was finally opened in
1950. Hopkins House establishes first library in the City
open to black children. Black history books were also
donated to each of the two elementary schools for black
children (Parker-Gray and Lyles Crouch). The Alexandria
Chapter of the NAACP is organized at Hopkins House. Hopkins
House moves to larger quarters at 1011 Oronoco Street.
1943
Hopkins House establishes “The Society for the Prevention of
Delinquency,” a group offering youth recreational activities
as an alternative to delinquency.
1945
Hopkins House serves as employment clearinghouse for
veterans returning from World War II. Hopkins House
establishes scholarship fund to assist graduates of
Parker-Gray. Hopkins House persuades City to use closed
U.S.O. building as a recreation center for black children.
1948
Hopkins House relocates to its third home at 1312 Princess
Street.
1959
Hopkins House board of trustees becomes racially integrated
– a first in then segregated Alexandria.
1964
The
Departmental Progressives Club raises $14,000 to fund the
Neighborhood Services Project at Hopkins House. This project
provided social work and intensive assistance to individuals
falling between the cracks of existing social services.
1965
A
half-day playschool is established at Hopkins House for 4-
and 5-year-olds.
1967
Hopkins House establishes social hygiene class for
teenagers. This program was the precursor to the
organization’s community health programs. Hopkins House is
awarded Headstart contract for the City of Alexandria.
1968
Hopkins House establishes a federally chartered credit
union.
1974
Hopkins House dedicates 1224 Princess Street building with
$104,834 grant from HUD. This is the organization’s fourth
home. Hopkins House selected for the U.S. Congregate
Feeding Program under Title VII of the Older Americans Act.
This program was the forerunner of the current
City-sponsored program under the Alexandria Office on
Aging. Hopkins House expands food basket program to the
Thanksgiving Dinners project feeding hundreds of needy
persons on Thanksgiving Day.
1980
Hopkins House purchases two vans to transport senior
citizens throughout the City.
1988
Hopkins House opens its first preschool at 1224 Princess
Street. Hopkins House is awarded the City’s first AIDS/HIV
prevention program.
1989
Special Friends of Hopkins House donate $50,000 to the
organization’s general fund. Hopkins House celebrates
half-a-century of service.
1990
Hopkins House receives bequest of $45,000 from Mary
Randolph, the largest gift from an individual at that time.
1994
Hopkins House trustees and members adopt four-year strategic
plan to return the organization to its roots in service to
children.
1995
Hopkins House raises record $150,000 in gifts to the
organization. Columbia Capital Corporation pledges $25,000,
the largest single corporate gift to the Hopkins House
to-date.
1996
Hopkins House opens offices in Fairfax County.
1997
Hopkins House trustees adopt organization’s first $1-million
plus operating budget. Hopkins House opens second preschool
on the West End of Alexandria.
1999
Hopkins House launches site on the Internet. Hopkins awarded
$150,000 grant from the Mark & Catherine Winkler Foundation,
its largest gift from a foundation and its largest single
gift to-date. The Agnes & Eugene Meyer Foundation awards
$100,000 grant. Hopkins House completes implementation of
its four-year strategic plan, returning it to an
organization for children and their families.
2000
Hopkins House completes the renovation and expansion of its
preschool on Princess Street in Alexandria.
2001
Hopkins House launches capital campaign to raise
$1.6-million to construct a Child & Family Development
Center in Fairfax County. Organization opens infant and
toddler care center at its Princess Street preschool.
Organization grants first Elward J. Alexander, III Memorial
“Gift” to a family affected by violence.
2002
Hopkins House closes its AIDS/HIV prevention program after
14 years. Trustees name the organization’s preschool on Duke
Street in memory of Hopkins House’s first President, Edith
Allen. Governor Mark Warner speaks at Annual Meeting.
Hopkins House purchases 1.6 acres in Fairfax County for the
site of its proposed Child & Family Development Center.
2003
The
Community Stakeholders approve a 5-Year Strategic Plan
changing the mission of the organization and calling for a
expansion of Hopkins House services and programs; and, they
make official the designation “Community Stakeholder.”
2006
Hopkins House begins construction on building in Fairfax
County.
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HOPKINS HOUSE BOARD CHAIRS
Edith L. Allen
1939 - 1940
W. L. Harris
1940 - 1948
James Raby, Esq.
1948 - 1960
Lawrence Day
1960 - 1964
Rev. William Patterson
1964 - 1966
William T. Davies
1966 - 1968
Joseph Kahoe, Sr.
1968 - 1969
William T. Davies
1969 - 1971
Arthur B. Word, Sr.
1971 - 1975
Clarence A. Johnson
1975 - 1980
Lionel R. Hope
1980 - 1982
Clarence A. Johnson
1982 - 1986
Charles McKnight
1987 - 1988
Clarence A. Johnson
1988 – 1995
Valeria S. Henderson
1995 – 1999
Harry “Bud” Hart
1999 - Present
____________________________
HOPKINS HOUSE PRESIDENTS
Connie B. Chissell
1939 - 1952
Elsie Thomas
1954 - 1965
Edward Yates
1965 - 1966
Joseph Tatnall
1966 - 1972
Anice Chance Wilson
1973 - 1986
Linwood J. Oglesby
1986 – 1991
J. Glenn Hopkins
1991 - Present
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