Mulberry youth center dances still stir the memories
Allen Gilbert has fond memories of hanging out at the youth center at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church in the 1960s.
He started going to the Friday night dances as a seventh-grader in 1966.
Between 1954 and 1969, Mulberry’s youth center attracted young people from all denominations and all corners of the city.
They would dance to live bands and, if they got too close, the adult chaperones were equipped with water pistols.
The late Ronnie Hammond, who became lead singer for the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Buddy Greene, who is now a popular Nashville songwriter and recording artist, both got their starts at Mulberry.
The young folks could also watch movies and play pingpong. There were two bowling lanes installed from the old bowling alley next to the City Auditorium where Little Richard once worked as a pin boy.
In 1964, more than 3,000 young people were on the rolls of the youth center. In a report to the church in January 1965, Sam Lamback Sr., chairman of the recreation committee, lauded the success of the center.
“In this day and age where boys and girls have no fires to build, no cows to milk, no sewing to do, and it is against the law for children to work out, it is important that recreation in its best aspects be made available in an attractive manner to them,” he said. “I believe that friendships are formed here that will prevail through life and the fellowship is good, even though the tempo moves a little swiftly for some of us older folks.”
Allen will never forget the night of May 17, 1968. It changed his life.
That’s when he met Jane Barberich. It was the week before her 15th birthday. His friend had playfully taken a ring from Jane and was keeping it away from her. He handed it to Allen.
“I took one look at Jane and gave it back to her,” he said. “We danced that night. I can’t remember if they played ‘My Girl’ (by the Temptations) but that became our song.”
They were married four years later. It was six months after Allen graduated from Central High School in 1972. This past December, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
Years later, they would ride past the First Street side of Mulberry with their two daughters, Cathy and Patty. They would point to the door that once led to the youth center. That’s where it all began.
The youth center closed in 1969 after a 15-year run. The basement space is now occupied by Macon Outreach, a ministry that provides a downtown kitchen to feed the hungry and homeless, as well as a food pantry and clothing shop and other assistance for the less fortunate.
Five years ago, the memories came rushing back again when Jane and Allen attended the “Mulberry Youth Center Reunion.” It was May 16, 2008 -- almost 40 years to the day that they had met.
More than 250 people showed up for the reunion, which raised about $4,000 for Macon Outreach. It came at an opportune time, too, the week following the Mother’s Day tornado and damaging storms ripped through Macon, causing substantial damage.
Everybody had so much fun, they decided to have another this year. Sam Lamback Jr. and Ben Sandifer, two of the principle organizers of the last reunion, have been back at it again, with the help of Harold Chapman and Debbie Towson, of Macon Outreach.
This year’s reunion is July 26. (And, yes, Allen and Jane Gilbert hope to be there.) The cost is $20 per person and includes dancing, music, hot dogs, old photographs and vintage cars. You won’t even need the vintage cars for a trip down memory lane.
Ben and Sam said their only regret about the 2008 event was that more people did not leave the Fellowship Hall and go downstairs to see the Macon Outreach facilities, the same space that once housed the youth center. They will have no choice this time, because that is where the food will be served.
Tickets can be reserved by calling 743-8026 or by emailing dtowson@mulberrymethodist.org.
This story was originally published July 14, 2013 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Mulberry youth center dances still stir the memories."