Teen Town

Sept. 22, 1961 Southeast Missourian

Teen Town offers varied forms of recreation for youngsters to release some of their surplus energy. Here, Central High School pupils engage in a ping pong match, some as participants and others as spectators waiting their turn at the table. From the left, Dave Allen, Mary McBride, Patty Cox, Charles James and Hughie Wolters. (G.D. Fronabarger photo)

Teen Town was located on the second floor of the Juden building at 115a Themis.

Your United Fund -- Teen Town

The function of Teen Town is to provide a much needed, well supervised Recreation Center for the teen-age boys and girls of Cape Girardeau. Here the youngsters meet three times a week and play table tennis and other games, dance, or just "visit" with their friends. In addition, they hold three dances a year for special entertainment.

Last year the Teenagers "thanked" the United Fund by participating in the annual house-to-house canvass for funds. When Ralph Fenimore, president of the Teen Town Board, tried unsuccessfully to recruit adult volunteers for the area of the city to which he was assigned, he turned to Teen Town. Within 30 minutes, he had 34 volunteers. The diligence and cooperation of these youngsters added appreciably to the total collection.

Teen Town is supervised by a paid chaperon, Mrs. John Edmonds. Mrs. Edmonds has been in attendance there for 3 1/2 years. She is called a "second mother" by Teen Towners, and many of the boys and girls who have "graduated" from Teen Town still come back for an occasional visit with her.

Cape Girardeans can be proud of their Teen Town. And they can be proud of the fact they are able to provide a place where teen-agers can spend an evening of good, clean fun away from home.

Mrs. Edmonds would like to urge anyone interested in Teen Town to come down for a visit any time the door is open. It would be gratifying to the citizens of Cape Girardeau to see that the money provided for Teen Town is so well appreciated and enjoyed by our future citizens.

Jan. 8, 1954 Southeast Missourian

Monday Porchlight Ticket Sales Will Support Teen Town

Teen-agers will stage a porchlight drive Monday night to sell tickets to a benefit dance Jan. 15, so the Teen Town recreation center will have funds to operate through 1954.

The dance, with Don McNeely's Orchestra, will be held at Memorial Hall at State College from 8 to 11 o'clock next Friday night. Admission is one dollar for adults, 50 cents for youngsters. Julian Porritt, head of the Teen Town organization, estimates $1000 is needed to keep the center open this year. A large ballroom at 115 Themis street, it is open Friday and Saturday nights and provides supervised dancing and games for from 200 to 400 youngsters each night of operation.

These are the youngsters who will canvass the city Monday night. Anyone who wishes to purchase a ticket or tickets to the dance has only to turn on his porchlight at 7 o'clock. One of five automobiles will deliver the tickets.

Teen Town supporters already have sold some tickets and hope to sell more between Monday and Friday. Teen Town manager Bill Bryan said he expects 500 tickets will be sold in the porchlight drive Monday night.

Jan. 12, 1954 Southeast Missourian

$150 of Tickets Sold For Teen Town Aid

Icy streets hampered a "porchlight" drive conducted by a group of teen-agers Monday night, but they sold 150 tickets to a dance Friday night. Proceeds from the dance will be used to finance operations of the Teen Town Recreation Center during 1954.

Teen Town manager Bill Bryan said many parents were reluctant to let their sons or daughters use family autos to canvass the town last night, and only four cars took part. However, they raised $150 of a $500 goal. Mr. Bryan said tickets to the dance may be purchased from any Teen Town patron or at the door. The dance will be from 8 to 11 o'clock Friday night at Memorial Hall. Don McNeely's orchestra will provide music.

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Don McNeely's Band