The George Washington Carver Center is celebrating its 70th Anniversary on July 15-16 with a fish fry, vendors, entertainment and speakers discussing the history of the community in which the center is located. 

The fish fry starts at 3 p.m. July 15, with singing from 5 to 7 p.m. Activities on July 16 will start at 10 a.m., with vendors selling items such as clothes, hats, jewelry and more. The event at 201 State St. will also have food vendors with some paying homage to restaurants that used to be in the Shake Rag District. There will be chili dogs for sale in memory of Mustang Inn’s famous chili dogs and hamburgers to represent Nancy’s Tea Room. There will also be an opportunity for people to register to vote. 

Eight speakers that have history within the community will start speaking around noon to give their accounts on the neighborhood’s many contributions to Bowling Green, said event chairperson Bettie Turner.

“We don’t want the city to forget that there has been a lot of history to come out of that area,” Turner said. “It was a lot of love in that neighborhood. In those days, it was a unique neighborhood and it’s something that we’re very proud of. We were proud of it then and we’re still proud of it, and that’s why we’re celebrating Carver’s 70th birthday.”

Anna Beason, co-owner of Beason Catering, is helping with the event and she agrees with Turner.

“We’ve had a lot of people that grew up in that community that have went to college and furthered their education from that area,” Beason said. “When you mention the Shake Rag community, people look at it as something that can be tossed aside, but they need to know about the people there and what they did and all the things that they have accomplished.”

The history of the center goes back to 1946 when a group of African-American women started the George Washington Carver Club, named for the noted black scientist, as a social club for professional black women. As the cultural, social, educational and recreational needs of the black youth in the community grew, the group of women turned their efforts toward developing a community center, which at the time was located at 201 Center St. 

The Carver Center was the first African-American community center in the area, according to center president Vivian Baker. It was the home to groups such as Girls Scout and Boy Scout troops, 4-H programs and other after-school activities. People have used the Carver Center for events such as birthday parties, baby showers, Thanksgiving meals and countless other events. 

“The Carver has been in the community for over 70 years and the celebration of history is important for all members of the community,” Baker said. 

— For more information, call Bettie Turner at 270-843-8743 or Vivian Baker at 270-781-0569.

— Follow faith/general assignments reporter Simone C. Payne on Twitter @SimonePayne or visit bgdailynews.com.