Patchwork Central was born October 3, 1977—at least that’s the official date of our incorporation as listed on our articles of incorporation. That makes October 3, 2026 our 49th birthday, and with it we begin to look ahead to our big 50th birthday celebration in 2027. We hope you plan to join us for the party on July 17, 2027!
Looking at other dates in Patchwork history, we see another noteworthy one approaching: this October 15 marks the 40th anniversary of the dedication of Patchwork’s Meetinghouse.
To give a brief history, Patchwork operated out of various homes in our neighborhood for the first several years of our existence. In 1980, Patchwork purchased the former Washington Avenue Temple building when the Jewish congregation moved to a new space. Patchwork operated out of this building until a massive fire destroyed it on the day after Christmas in 1983.
Our current building, The Meetinghouse, was constructed after the fire on the site of the former building. Construction was completed in 1986. The tower in Patchwork’s front lawn was once one of two towers that were part of the Temple’s sanctuary. During the Meetinghouse’s construction, the West Tower was turned into the free-standing structure that you see today. That West Tower was dedicated on October 15, 1986 to “peace, justice, and understanding” and in memory of Sadelle Berger, a member of the Jewish community, a friend of Patchwork, and a significant supporter of peace and justice in greater Evansville. The West Tower dedication was followed by a block party to celebrate the new Meetinghouse on October 25, 1986.
The December 1986 Patchwork newsletter celebrated the new Meetinghouse. In the newsletter, Judi Jacobson wrote:
One of our community member remarked that he knew he was in the same spot, but in a different place, when he came into the new Meetinghouse. His words reflect the position of the whole community as we continue our life together within the new space on the same spot. We are the same people, we are doing many of the same things, and yet we are different from before. We are in a time of beginning—again. The potential of the future fills us with excitement as we look at ourselves, our neighborhood, and our world. The experience of being in the same spot for almost ten years grounds us as we try on new possibilities.
…
This time of beginning again brings the promise of closer ties with people from our neighborhood. As we walk through the streets, as we work on the lawn, as we have programs, we see opportunities to know our neighbors better.
As we begin—again—we remember that we are only continuing the life which God began long ago.
And so, I believe, Patchwork continues to this day: meeting our neighbors, walking the streets, working on the lawn, having programs, and seeing opportunities to build relationships with our neighbors. The Meetinghouse that was brand new in 1986 has now seen thousands and thousands of people come through its doors. The West Tower that was dedicated on October 15, 1986 continues to stand as a witness to Peace, Justice, and Understanding.
We are grateful for all the hands whose work went into building The Meetinghouse. We celebrate the multitude of people who have passed through The Meetinghouse since its construction. We look ahead to many, many more years of Patchwork Central’s presence in The Meetinghouse on the corner of Washington Avenue and 6th Street.
