EYC Unsolved Mysteries #1

Scanning through old articles about the EYC, I've come across a few mysteries.

I am posting this entry in hopes that people in the community reading it can help. I am only up to 1982 in the centre's history so the following unknowns are regarding events in 1981 and the year that followed.

First of all, while there was an initiative started in late-1980 to keep youths off the streets, there is no mention of the youth centre itself until April, 1981. I am assuming that it came as a result of this initiative but there is no documentation that actually confirms it for me. Furthermore, I have nothing saying who decided to start the youth centre club or oversaw its formation in the early-80's. The only thing I can confirm for certain is that the centre existed for four months by April 17, 1981. Even this gives me a vague timeline however: Was the EYC unofficially started in late-December, 1980, or early-January, 1981?

The next article I have was published a month and a half later: On June 5, 1981. At this time, there were 33 members that were 13-years-old waiting for applications to be processed. If they got a permanent residence, the centre would then open itself up to youth ages seven to 12. At this time, Councillors Wayne Miller and Ric Woltz were to review events being held by EYC. (These included ushering at the Windsor Light Opera, selling Ronald McDonald buttons to help support the home for relatives at Toronto's hospital for sick children, participating in the Soybean Festival fundraiser dance and phoning blood donors for an Essex clinic.)

From there the next article I have was published on October 3, 1981. In it, the journalist from the Essex Free Press writes...

"Essex council will put an offer on the former Deline property at 14 Fairview Avenue West with closing date of January 15, 1982.

Mayor Gerald Schinkel said it was wise for the municipality to reserve the property for future use. It is adjacent to the town's ball diamonds."

Then, from our own history section on the official EYC website:

"The Board of Directors started programming in a soon to be demolished condemned house, then were allowed to operate out of an old garage thanks to Earl Burstyn, then the municipal offices for administration purposes and using schools and the Field House."

So is this place on 14 Fairview Ave. W the condemned house that was soon to be demolished? If not, where was the soon to be demolished house located? It sounds like the EYC moved there sometime between 1982-1984 according to the website's history page. Also, there's actually mention of a Fairview Ave. home later in the history section but it wasn't used by the youth centre until 1988. This ended up being the EYC's HQ until 1996 and was property leased from the Town Of Essex -- making it likely that this was actually the house on 14 Fairview Ave. W that was mentioned in the 1981 Free Press article. Either way, there's nothing to confirm that (unless it's in a 1988 article that I haven't gotten to yet.) Also, did the EYC ever expand to involve youth ages seven-12 once they received a more permanent residence? How long until they were able to do this if not?

The next article I have after this is almost a full year later. It appears to be written for the Essex Free Press by someone working for the youth centre but neither the publication nor the author are visible in the copy I have. Anyone have an idea of who was writing articles for the EYC back then? I'm 95-per-cent sure that it was printed in the Free Press but would also like some confirmation if anyone has it.

Finally, many more questions are raised in this September 23, 1982, "What's New At The Essex Youth Centre" article as people are mentioned, some by their full names and some only by their first. In both cases, their positions at the EYC remain a mystery. This list is comprised of:

Tracy Ives (Involved with the centre somehow… member? Took part in a CBE Radio interview about EYC with author of September 23, 1983, article)
John Cundle (Involved with the centre somehow… member? Took part in a CBE Radio interview about EYC with author of September 23, 1983, article)
Chris-Anne (Involved with EYC I think... mention of a nine-week summer placement and volunteering on Saturdays -- need last name)
Claire (Put together plans for youth involvement at nursing homes, mentioned as someone to call at EYC. Need last name)
Gloria (Mentioned as someone to call at EYC. Need last name)

I also need the positions of each person on that list. Were they members, volunteers or staff? Anyone who knows the answers to any questions raised in this blog entry, please leave a comment or e-mail essexyouthcentre@yahoo.com (an e-mail address to contact you back with would also be grately appreciated.)

Did You Know?

In scanning through some old articles relating to the EYC, I came across some interesting tidbits.

Although the centre was originally created in 1981 as part of a crime prevention initiative, business owners originally took a different tactic to keep idle youth from getting out of control. According to a November 13, 1980, article written by Lee Paiser for the Windsor Star, constibles began foot patrols in the area and posters were put in store windows warning that any shoplifters would be prosecuted (signs that are commonplace now.)

But the foot patrols: A bit strict don't you think?

Well not if you consider the following from a November 14 article in the Essex Free Press:

"Essex business people indignant about the increase in vandalism and shop-lifting are taking action.

Twenty-three of them met last week to organize for action. They seek ways to deal with the increase in public nuisance, damage, and in one case, the unprovoked stoning of a business woman."

An unprovoked stoning? Wow!

It's hard to believe things were that bad in a small town like Essex but apparently they were. Luckily there's someplace for youth to go now and things have improved a great deal!

Filling In The Blanks

Part of my job at the EYC is to compile and organize the centre's rather expansive history.

We'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary this year and as a result, I'm working on a project that will document what's been going on here for that period of time: How we've evolved, what events we've done, our different homes, etc...

This is where I need some help though.

Although I have several photocopied newspaper articles at my fingertips, nothing is better than talking to someone who was actually here and experienced the things I'll be documenting. If you have any stories about the EYC or know a past member who would be willing to chat about their experiences, please drop me a line and let me know.

If it's a story or photo you don't mind sharing, I'll try to post it on the blog. Either way, all info will help with the big project being unveiled sometime this year!

Welcome!

Welcome to the EYC History Project blog.

In the coming months, I'll be using this blog to ask for help from the community with the EYC's 25th Anniversary Project. We're hoping to document the entire 25 year history of the centre but there are many gaps I'm looking to fill.

This blog will be where i look for answers regarding missing information and update everyone about the progress of the project.

Happy reading!