Whitin Community Center

Change of Shift at Machine Works. Community Center is visible behind the trolley car

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Whitin Community Center

Across from the Whitin Machine Works, the Whitin Community Center stands as a reminder of the various ways that work bled over into everyday life for employees of this company. Members of the Whitin family commissioned this center in 1922. It is a recreational center usually referred to as “the Gym.”   

A similar property was built in nearby Hopedale, Mass., around the same time. This social and recreational hub was designed to keep workers content with village life in a rapidly changing world. Whereas companies today may offer gym memberships or other benefits, the Whitins chose to invest directly into the communities where their business was located.