George Washington Carver Community Center

This structure was completed in 1969 and served as the headquarters of the George Washington Carver Center, a Schenectady organization that dates back to 1938. This building served as a vital part of the community until its closure in 2013. The organization traces its history to the formation of the George Washington Carver Welfare League in 1938. This building served as a community hub as the organization led a number of programs and organizations in Schenectady, some of which are still active and serving the community. The center sat empty for several years but was purchased by an organization called Miracle on Craig Street which is dedicated to renovating and reopening the Center and has raised over three hundred thousand dollars in anticipation of reopening the center by the end of 2021

In 1969, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the George Washington Carver Community Center opened in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood of Schenectady. The Center opened in 1970 and served a number of purposes throughout its long life. The Center offered programs for children and also sponsored programs and organizations that are still part of Schenectady today, including New Choices and Hometown Health. The Center housed the Latimer Educational Program, which provided remedial programs in reading and math for children as well as the Talent Search program, which offered programs for students at risk of dropping out of school.

The Center continued operating until 2013, when it closed abruptly amid a financial collapse. At the time of its closure, the Center owed $130,000 in federal payroll taxes and $150,000 to vendors and suppliers. In the aftermath of the Center's closure, there were auctions to try and sell the property, but they failed to raise the minimum $150,000 bid and the building was seized by the city.

In the years since then, a group of community activists and Hamilton Hill residents became determined to save and reopen the Center. A group called Miracle on Craig Street (the Carver Center is located on Craig Street) became got involved in saving the building, raising thousands to purchase and restore the property. The organization has held fundraisers and has worked to raise awareness of the Center and its important role in the community.

In 2020, the Center was added to the National Register of Historic Places, in part because of its long history of significance in the community but also because of its architectural significance. The striking, asymmetrical building is an example of Brutalist architecture, which was common in the mid- to late twentieth century. Miracle on Craig Street has thus far raised more than $300,000 to restore the building, a project which they hope will be completed in 2021.

About , Miracle on Craig Street. Accessed August 15th 2021. http://www.miracleoncraigstreet.org/about.html.

Nelson, Paul . Redo of Schenectady's Carver Center Now a Reality, Times Union. February 21st 2020. Accessed August 15th 2021. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/More-reality-than-Miracle-on-Craig-Street-for-15074539.php.

DeMola, Pete. Carver Center Awarded National Historic Designation Status , Daily Gazette. October 30th 2020. Accessed August 15th 2021. https://dailygazette.com/2020/10/30/carver-center-awarded-national-historic-designation-status/.