Home:
History:
Highlights
1903:
Louisville Settlement Home started by the Woman’s Board of City Missions
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at 834 East Jefferson St.
1908: Moved to larger quarters at 809 East Main St.; renamed Wesley
House in memory of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.
1909: Hosted one of the first well-baby clinics, then known as the
Baby Milk Fund Association.
1910: First full-time worker employed to work with boys.
1917: Joined the Welfare League of Louisville, which later became
the Community Chest and then
Metro United Way.
1925: Moved to present location at 801-805 East Washington St.
1928: Gymnasium added.
1934: Held first summer camp program at Lake Louisvilla, Kentucky;
known as Camp Merry Ledges
1944: New camp built at Lake Louisvilla due to burning of first
building; new program started in house and camp.
1947: Extension program started for girls in adjoining
neighborhood: Green Barn, then Grace Immanuel Church on Story Ave.
1952: Property given for playground at the corner of Franklin and
Shelby streets.
1953: Playground opened; Wesley House celebrated its 50th
anniversary.
1956:
Forty-four acres of land bought for new camp near Corydon, Indiana.
1957: Extension program included coed teen groups.
1958: Lodge built at Camp Merry Ledges, named Howard Lodge in honor
of Elizabeth Howard; membership in American Camping Association received.
1960: “Yellow Creek” day camp started; continued until 1971.
1964: Day care program started.
1965: Building at 809 East Washington St. purchased for program
expansion.
1965-1967: Wesley House was delegate agency of the Community Action
Program.
1965-1970: Vista, a domestic Peace Corps program, brought to
Louisville through Wesley House.
1971: New River Front Lodge built at Camp Merry Ledges.
1972: Connector added between buildings at 805 and 809 East
Washington St.
1973: Sponsored Knopp-Melton Recreation Center in south Louisville.
1976: Started “Project Work,” a program to help youth stay in
school.
1977: Began Rocking Chair Years, a program for the homebound,
elderly, and handicapped.
1980: Purchased property at 815 E. Washington St.; first used for
Wesley Wear House, it then became Sunshine House for senior citizens and
an apartment for staff.
1980: Wesley
Wear House, a gently used clothing store, was begun by volunteers to
provide financial support to Wesley House.
1983: Wesley Wear House moved to 743 East Washington St.
1984: Sold Knopp-Melton facility after city relocated residents.
1986: Edison House, where Thomas Edison lived in 1866, was
sponsored by Wesley House; included a small museum and tearoom.
1989: Wesley Wear House moved to 1001 East Washington St.; building
purchased with proceeds of Knopp-Melton sale.
1991: Changed name to Wesley House Community Services to reflect
broader reach of services; youth program shifted focus from recreation to
activities that addressed the changing needs of youth in the community.
1995: Youth Brigade Academy launched; mentoring program uses drill
activities to teach discipline and personal responsibility.
1996: Started Violence Abatement Program, a school-based
early-intervention program for at-risk youth.
1997: Stage in gymnasium converted to bi-level youth computer and
learning center.
2002: Playground behind Wesley House redeveloped as Wesley United
Community Park, which will serve as a common “backyard” for residents of
the adjacent neighborhoods.
2002: Youth Program
Academy’s “Rest in Peace
Project” implemented
2002:
Youth
Brigade
Academy’s True Love Waits Program
implemented
2004:
Promotional Informational Video developed
2005:
Developed Externship Partnership with Spalding University School
Leadership
Education Program
2006:
Established a partnership between the Youth Brigade
Academy and Girls Growth
and Development Program in Tamale,
Ghana
(Youth Brigade Academy-Tamale)
2006:
Wesley Wear House moved to
1501 Story Avenue
2006: Wesley House
Community Services moved to Preston Highway United Methodist
Church at 5114 Preston Highway
2006: Sold the buildings
at 803-813 E. and 1001 E.
Washington Street
