Happy Birthday, Friendship House !
It all began in a borrowed building 40 years ago. It had been the dream of a group of local parents to have daily programming available for their sons and daughters after finishing with school programs.
On August 15 of 1966, that dream became a reality. That is when Ottawa Friendship House officially incorporated itself as Ottawa Educational Workshop . Actual programming began on October 3, when the first 8 clients began coming to day programming and work. Located on East Center Street in a building loaned to us by the United Auto Workers, the work and training program began. The agency officially changed it’s name to Ottawa Friendship House in early 1967.
Actually, Ottawa Friendship House is an outgrowth of Echo School, which began in the mid 1950’s to provide training and activities for school age children with developmental disabilities. The effort was entirely locally driven. Parents Jane (Schwerdtfeger) McCormick and Gladys Laswell were instrumental in the operation of Echo School, and stayed on after the founding of Friendship House. Jane became Board President, and board member for many years, while Gladys became a board member, and worked in the training and workshop divisions until the early 1990’s. The Ottawa Jaycees played a major role in our founding. Other organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, Rotary, Kiwanis, the United Way, and LaSalle County 708 became involved and helped us grow.
John Sullivan became the first Executive Director, and guided the agency into the late 1980’s. Local businessman Herb Kanthak, and his wife Virginia, volunteered many hours in the early years. Herb became director until 1992, and Virginia continues as a volunteer to this day. Frank Borkowsky, who joined the organization in 1972, became Executive Director in 1994.
The programming began with 8 clients. The first board of directors consisted of Jane Schwerdtfeger, James Eichelkraut, Dorothy Mattix, Eugene White, Ray Hawley, Herbert Kanthak, Bernard Oppennear, Robert Johnson, Edward Peck, Rev. Harry Stelling, Dale Heaton, Rev. John Gordon, George Tisler, Gladys Laswell, Earl Gerding, Betty Hilliard, Sylvia Willis, Wayne Spangler, and Lowell Redding.
Ottawa Friendship House moved to it’s present location just south of Ottawa in early 1978. Today, the organization provides services to approximately 110 persons and their families, but the original spirit remains intact. In order to enable each person to live life to the greatest of their own potential, training and work programs are still provided on site. Additionally, Residential services are provided, as well as services designed to assist persons to maintain residence in their own homes, or that of their families. Persons are also assisted in the preparation and placement into jobs in the community.