History

The Blakeslee Community Center is historically significant for its association with the development of social, recreational, and civic life in the western portion of the Pocono Plateau in the early 1900’s. Since it’s construction in 1922, the center has been the hub and single most important structure for community affairs. It has served as a gathering place for community clubs such as the Dairymen’s League, Rotary, Women’s Club, Boy Scouts, Blakeslee Recreation Association, and many Church clubs. For nearly a hundred years, it has remained in use to host events such as fellowship dinners, dances, fashion shows, outdoor movies, bingo, Bible school, holiday parties. The center has also been used as a venue for family social occasions such as birthday and graduations parties, showers, wedding receptions. At this time Red Cross blood drives periodically are held here.

The village of Blakeslee was named after it’s founder, Jacob Blakeslee Jr. He was not only a prominent landowner he also became the first postmaster. He also was the township supervisor, justice of the peace, country store owner and school director. Jacobs relatives, Robert and Eliza Blakeslee, who donated the plot of land where Blakeslee community’s building is now standing. The deed stipulated that the property must always be used for community purposes.

Therefore, the Blakeslee Community Association was formed to construct and operate as a public gathering place. At that time it was considered extravagant to spend $3000.00 for construction of a bungalow/craftsmen style building in the early 1900’s. Austin Blakeslee Sr., grandson of founder Jacob Blakeslee Jr. was the architect, the builder was Jack Wildrick, whose family had deep roots in the area. In fact the original five members of the Blakeslee Community Association included Mella Blakeslee and J.J. Wildrick, relatives of the centers architect and builder. Interestingly, upon construction, it was noted that a geodetic survey marker rests in the ground under the front porch of the building, where it is believed to remain as a historic geographic marker to this day.

Historically the community center clearly demonstrates the growing role of civic associations in the early 20th century, as well as the cultural importance of social and recreational gathering places. For nearly 100 years, donations and fundraising have kept the center operating. In fact after extensive research of Tobyhanna Township and Monroe County, it appears that the Blakeslee Community Center is the oldest building constructed and used solely for the purpose of being a public meeting hall. The legacy initiated by the Blakeslee family of fulfilling the need for a public gathering place, so important in the early 20th century, continues in this present computer age, where social media threatens to eliminate physical human interaction. The Blakeslee Community Center endures as a local gathering place, possibly demonstrating an everlasting need for companionship in our culture.