History

Where it all began…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford is proud to be the birthplace of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America movement.

Explore our history to learn how four Hartford women opened the doors and made an impact for millions of young people.

1860:

A Great Future is Born

Four women -- Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin, Elizabeth Hamersley, and Louisa Bushnell -- started the Dashaway Club in Hartford to get boys off the streets and give them productive activities. Meetings were held in the Morgan Street Mission School building.

A collage of four black and white portraits of women on a blue background.
A black and white photo of a group of people standing in front of a house

1867:

The Sixth Ward Temperance Dashaway Society

With the start of the Civil War, the Dashaway Club was forced to close as many of the original members became drummer boys in the war. Boys still met in private homes aiming to carry on the mission.

1880:

Good Will Club Founded

Mary Hall, Connecticut’s first female lawyer, revives The Dashaway Club on April 2, 1880 calling it The Good Will Club for Boys. Dues were 10 cents a month.

A black and white photo of a woman sitting in a chair
A black and white photo of a building with kids in front

1889:

The Good Will Club’s First Permanent Clubhouse Opens

With the assistance of generous donors, The Good Will Club purchases the old Hartford Female Seminary building on Pratt Street in Hartford, offering boys space for reading, games and life skills. Classes were also held in subjects including painting, gymnastics, knitting, cooking, and scrapbooking. The Club hosted a drum and fife corps and a cadet class.

1891:

First Industrial Programs

The Clubhouse offered a variety of industrial programs designed to prepare boys for a trade and the workforce. Classes offered included woodworking, printmaking and plumbing.

A group of men are sitting at desks in a room
A group of young boys are posing for a picture.

1906:

The Federated Boys Club Established

By the turn of the century, the Good Will club had expanded to other cities and communities. The 53 independent organizations in existence combined to form a national organization known as The Federated Boys Club.

1911:

Keney Hall Opens

Having outgrown their original club, The Good Will Club opened a new building known as Keney Hall at the corner of Ely and Winthrop streets in Hartford. Among the amenities in the new building were a basketball gym and a bowling alley.

A black and white photo of a large building
Boys Club of America logo

1931:

Boys Club of America

The Boys Club Federation of America becomes the Boys Club of America.

1956:

Southwest Good Will Boys Club Opens

For the first time Hartford’s Good Will Club opens a location outside of the immediate downtown neighborhood. Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson helped to dedicate the new Southwest Club.

A brick building with a sign that says 'Southwest Boys & Girls Club' on it
A group of people standing in front of a brick building holding trophies.

1964:

Northwest Boys Club Opens

The Northwest clubhouse opened on the corner of Granby and Nahum streets.

1990:

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

The national organization changes its name as girls join the movement.

A group of children put their hands in during a basketball game
A group of children are posing for a picture together.

1992:

BGCH is Born

With the Clubs now open to girls, our name changes to Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford.

1998:

Trinity College Boys & Girls Club Opens

The first Club in the nation to be affiliated with a college or university opens just off the Trinity College campus in Hartford. General Colin Powell dedicates the new Club.

Two men in suits are sitting in front of a crowd of children
A group of children are standing on a stage in front of a yellow curtain.

2001:

In-School Site Clubs begin

The first after-school programming run by a Boys & Girls Club in a Hartford Public School opens at West Middle Elementary School.

2004:

Asylum Hill Boys & Girls Club Opens

More than 1,000 members are served in the first year of this new club, reaching one in every two school-aged children in the Asylum Hill neighborhood.

A man is cutting a blue ribbon in front of the asylum hill boys and girls club
A group of people posing for a picture with President George W. Bush

2008:

President George W. Bush Historic Visit

President George W. Bush presents the Presidential Volunteer Service Award to Joseph D. Lapenta at the Northwest Boys & Girls Club.

2021:

South End Club Opens

The South End Club opens in an underserved neighborhood in Hartford.

A group of people are standing in front of a building with balloons during a ribbon cutting
A large building with a lot of windows and trees in front of it

2024:

JDL Northwest Club Renovations

Now known as the Joseph D. Lapenta Northwest Boys & Girls Club, the original Club building undergoes major renovations to create a more welcoming environment and offer a world of new opportunities.

2025:

Samuel S. Gray Jr. Boys & Girls Club at Asylum Hill Dedicated

In 2025 the Sigourney Street Club was rededicated as the Samuel S. Gray Jr. Boys & Girls Club at Asylum Hill. It honors former Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford President and CEO Sam Gray, Jr., who served the organization for 23 years.

A man is standing in front of a building that says samuel s. gray jr. boys & girls club at Asylum Hill

Help us keep our story going. Since 1860, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford helped hundreds of thousands of young people reach their full potential. Your support ensures we can continue to do so for centuries to come. 

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