Novato’s Community House

In February 1918, Leonora White departed the train in Novato. The first few things she noticed were the unpaved streets and that only one of the saloons had a large room to hold meetings and social activities.

A deserted store building on Grant Avenue caught the eye of her husband, a Novato Realtor, who sought out the owner, J.P. McNear. He asked if the building could be turned over to the Novato residents to use for community meetings. McNear agreed, giving him the option without cost to see what he could do with it. Volunteers helped clean it up and installed a dance floor in the adjoining warehouse.

The building opened on Feb. 22, 1919. Not long after, it became evident that the building was deficient in numerous ways and was sold for $4,500. The plan began for a new building with help from individuals and organizations.

The new site was located at Machin and De Long avenues. Financial support came from different sources, including Almer Newhall, a wealthy San Rafael philanthropist, who was connected to the Domestic Mission of the National Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

On Dec. 2, 1922, the Novato Advance headline read: “It is hoped and expected that this Community House will be to the community what a real home is to the family — a place where the needs, interests and happiness of each one is the concern of all the rest.”

The new Community House was dedicated on April 11, 1923. The grand opening was held on Aug. 28, 1923, with 700 people in attendance. The Community House became the hub of civic, social and cultural activities in Novato.

The club hosted meetings, movies, luncheons, ballet classes and music events for children. Facilities included a reading room and several meeting rooms for men’s and women’s groups. In addition, the Little Theater Group’s productions were staged there.

The youth room in the basement offered space for the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and teenagers. Civic activities included a blood bank, well baby clinic, meetings for the Masonic Lodge, Lions Club and 4-H Club, Novato Improvement Club, volunteer fire department and religious services. In August 1927, a Novato library branch opened upstairs, with Margaret Clark as the first librarian.

In 1947, a group of Novato residents formed Novato Community Inc., which took over ownership of the building to promote better civic and governmental activities. Funds were desperately needed for repairs and remodeling, so the Novato Improvement Club was formed, which was considered the largest and most inclusive civic organization of the township. In 1960, Novato was incorporated, and the group did not want to give up ownership of the building.

The city had to initiate a taxpayer’s lawsuit to have the building turned over to the new city government. After a court trial, Superior Court Judge Richard M. Sims Jr. awarded the building to the city. On Jan. 14, 1967, the Marin IJ headline read: “Novato’s Community House still serves as a gathering place.”

A three-day observance of the seventh anniversary of Novato’s incorporation was held from Feb. 20 to 22, 1967.

With financial support from the city, volunteers used this celebration to renovate the interior of this beloved building, an effort led by Bea Carpenter and her faithful volunteer crew.

In 2004, the building was closed due to unsafe conditions. The fate of this beloved community center still remains unknown.

History Watch is written by Lane Dooling, marketing and social media coordinator at the Marin History Museum, marinhistory.org. Images included in History Watch are available for purchase by calling 415-382-1182 or by email at info@marinhistory.org