In 1955, members purchased a distressed three-room house at 2316 South Yakima Avenue on contract. Through steady fundraisers and volunteer labor, the mortgage was paid off by 1963, and the building became a lively community house for supervised youth activities. As programs outgrew the space, Tacoma CWC launched a campaign for a new clubhouse, kicking it off with “Our Negro Heritage,” a musical written by Eloise Butler and directed by Bertie Edwards, tracing Black music from Africa to the present.

The production and other events provided seed money, and the community did the rest—local businesses, labor organizations, building-supply firms, and neighbors contributed materials, expertise, and funds to complete the project. The result was more than a building; it was a shared commitment to a place where learning, culture, and care could thrive.