Our History
Fourteen Founding Women Paving the Way
On January 15, 1864, fourteen women from Waterbury met at the home of Mrs. Nelson Hall with a goal to establish the Industrial School for the benefit of children in the city. These pioneers laid the groundwork for the first organized social service in the city of Waterbury and opened the doors to the Waterbury Industrial School during the Industrial Revolution and in response to the needs of a new working class. Sewing was one of the first programs in their homelike atmosphere, that welcomed girls from the city and provided an alternative to gathering in the streets.
Empowering Young Women: The Rise of Waterbury Girls Club
This movement served young women who had migrated from rural communities in search of newly available jobs in textile mills and factories in the Waterbury Connecticut area. Our organization provided activities for young working women as well as daughters of mill families who had no place to gather other than the city streets. In March of 1913, the organization became known as the Waterbury Girls Club, and our model and movement spread across cities in New England and the rest of the country throughout the early 20th century. Programming focused on recreation and preparing girls for their future roles as wives and homemakers.
Waterbury Girls Club's Journey from Local to National Impact
In May of 1945, the Waterbury Girls Club joined 18 similar organizations to establish the Girls Clubs of America. We continued to offer courses in cooking, sewing, knitting, dance, dramatics, and swimming. In the 1990’s, the national organization’s name changed to Girls Incorporated and we continued serving girls as Girls Inc. of Greater Waterbury and expanding access to our programs throughout Greater Waterbury, expanding into Western CT.
Building the Future: Park Central Unveils New Identity in 2023
In 2023, with a focus on the future and an unwavering commitment to the girls in our city, we established our new name as Park Central. Remaining steadfast in our commitment to girls in our community, we have initiated our robust plans to add relevant programs for girls and expand access to programs for girls and women, continuing to offer our center as a primary community resource in Waterbury.
Our Park Central name draws inspiration from two significant locations: Central Avenue, where the center stood in the past, and Park Place, the organization’s current home. This combination of history and progress underscores a dedication to honoring our founders while embracing our future.