Today in Wheeling History: May 22--The Wheeling Civitans opened the Civitan Sheltered Workshop in the former Clay School Annex building (Jefferson School) at 1401 McColloch Street (1967).
The Civitan Club of Wheeling, a long-established service organization, played a significant role in founding the Civitan Sheltered Workshop in the spring of 1967. The workshop was set up in the former Clay School Annex building, also known as the Jefferson School, located at 1401 McColloch Street. The building had originally been constructed in 1898 as an annex to the Clay School and underwent several name changes over the years, including Union Annex School and Jefferson Special School, before being vacated in 1966.
The Civitan Sheltered Workshop, which later evolved into the Wheeling Area Training Center for the Handicapped (WATCH), was dedicated to providing vocational services and employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities. Over the years, WATCH grew in popularity and continued to operate as a private, non-profit organization until 1995, when financial and programming demands led to a partnership with Russell Nesbitt Services Inc.
Today, WATCH operates a workshop at 26th and Main streets in Wheeling, where clients engage in various projects, including working in a greenhouse. The greenhouse, a 30' wide by 60' long commercial greenhouse, was purchased through research and grant writing to create additional employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Despite the Civitan Club of Wheeling's decision to disband after 47 years due to dwindling membership, the club plans to leave a generous contribution to WATCH by establishing a Memorial Board to honor past and present members who supported the organization.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/msm5jw67) (https://tinyurl.com/4bax5w6m) (https://tinyurl.com/58wtz7se) (https://tinyurl.com/3rp94s79) (https://tinyurl.com/4rfjvvkp)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, UER, Google Maps
The Civitan Club of Wheeling, a long-established service organization, played a significant role in founding the Civitan Sheltered Workshop in the spring of 1967. The workshop was set up in the former Clay School Annex building, also known as the Jefferson School, located at 1401 McColloch Street. The building had originally been constructed in 1898 as an annex to the Clay School and underwent several name changes over the years, including Union Annex School and Jefferson Special School, before being vacated in 1966.
The Civitan Sheltered Workshop, which later evolved into the Wheeling Area Training Center for the Handicapped (WATCH), was dedicated to providing vocational services and employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities. Over the years, WATCH grew in popularity and continued to operate as a private, non-profit organization until 1995, when financial and programming demands led to a partnership with Russell Nesbitt Services Inc.
Today, WATCH operates a workshop at 26th and Main streets in Wheeling, where clients engage in various projects, including working in a greenhouse. The greenhouse, a 30' wide by 60' long commercial greenhouse, was purchased through research and grant writing to create additional employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Despite the Civitan Club of Wheeling's decision to disband after 47 years due to dwindling membership, the club plans to leave a generous contribution to WATCH by establishing a Memorial Board to honor past and present members who supported the organization.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/msm5jw67) (https://tinyurl.com/4bax5w6m) (https://tinyurl.com/58wtz7se) (https://tinyurl.com/3rp94s79) (https://tinyurl.com/4rfjvvkp)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, UER, Google Maps
RSS Feed
