Long serving as the embodiment of community and a living testament to the spirit of St. Charles, the Henry Rockwell Baker Memorial Community Center is gearing up for its 100-year anniversary.

The Baker Community Center Board and the St. Charles Park District are hosting the Centennial Celebration 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, at 101 S. Second Street. The open house celebration is free to the public.

During the ceremony, from 4 to 5 p.m. a string quartet is performing, and at 5 p.m. a formal presentation and cake cutting is planned. Vintage swing music and dancing will conclude the event, an homage to the early community events held in the center.

The building was dedicated on May 1, 1926, by Edward J. Baker and his wife, Harriet Rockwell Baker, as a living memorial to their son, Henry Rockwell Baker, and to the veterans of World War I.

During the 1926 dedication ceremony, Baker called the building, “a center for wholesome recreation, social opportunity, and the promotion of all that makes for noble character and upright, active citizenship.” The center was intended to continue being a gift to the people of St. Charles.

Gearing up for the Centennial Celebration, Mayor Clint Hull announced during the March 16 City Council meeting an official commemorative proclamation. He praised the tremendous dedication of volunteers over the decades.

He urged all citizens to “celebrate the historic milestone that honors the past and inspires the future.”

John Collins of the Baker Community Center Board accepted the proclamation from Hull, saying how proud he was of the growth and continued investment in the center over the years.

“One hundred years is a long time, it was always meant for the community. We are very proud,” Collins said during the meeting.

Collins nodded to the $1 million renovation project in 2017 that improved accessibility, including replacing floors and reconstructing entryways, and enhanced amenities throughout the center.

Hull praised the countless volunteers, especially on the center board, saying, “Thank you for what you’re doing each and every day.” Hull said he “can’t wait to be a part of the event on May 1.”

“The center has stood as an enduring symbol of community spirit and service, enriching the lives of countless residents and visitors, strengthening bonds across generations and contributing significantly to the cultural, educational and social fabric of the city,” Hull said.

Baker intended the building to serve as a communal gathering place for events, festivals and receptions, while offering educational, artistic and recreational programs for all age groups, according to the park district.

Since 1966, the center board and the park district have teamed up to continue enhancing and developing programs and services for the evolving community. The building currently holds the park district’s administrative offices.

The center has continuously been used for classes, events, performance spaces and recreational and educational facilities. Several community organizations frequent the center for meetings, performances and classes. Children in the park district’s dance program practice in the Collins Auditorium and hold annual dance recitals.

In 2001, the St. Charles Underground Teen Center was created, providing an interactive safe space for middle and high school students. The teen center was renovated in 2024, including a new gaming system, pool table and furniture.

Both the center board and the park district remain financially independent. The Baker Community Center receives funds from a trust established by Edward Baker, in addition to grants and fundraising.

Baker was born in St. Charles in 1868. In 1918, his family inherited a large sum of money from Baker’s older sister Dellora and her husband, John Warne Gates, founder of the Texaco Oil Company.

The city recently honored Baker’s legacy with an honorary street sign, “Col. Edward J. Baker Way” on Fourth Avenue, between East Main Street and Cedar Avenue.

Baker’s legacy can be seen throughout town. In addition to the community center, he dedicated Hotel Baker in 1928, the St. Charles Municipal Building in 1940 and the Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in 1952. He also donated the land for Baker Memorial Park in 1957 before his death in 1959.