The Whitin Community Center has begun work to convert a historic school building into a new child care center.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Feb. 19 to mark the beginning of the project, which seeks to expand WCC’s child care services amid high demand.
“By renovating this historic building, we are not only preserving a vital piece of our town’s heritage – we are opening doors to families and supporting local business,” Heather Elster, executive director of the Whitin Community Center, said in a Wednesday press release. “Expanding access to child care in this space reflects our deep commitment to building a stronger community in the Blackstone Valley.”
With WCC already serving 237 children across four sites and maintaining a growing waitlist, the new site aims to increase access to child care services in the Northbridge region.
The nonprofit purchased the site for $50,000 in June after being selected in a request-for-proposals process held by the Town of Northbridge. Renovation of the building is part of a $10-million capital campaign launched by WCC to honor its centennial.
Located at 14 Hill St., the brick schoolhouse building was built in 1890 by the Whitins, the family behind Whitinsville Cotton Mill and Whitin Machine Works. The 14,556-square-foot building sits on a 0.8-acre site and received a 2025 tax assessment of $2.27 million, according to Town of Northbridge property records.
WCC traces its roots back to the 1920s, when the Whitin family provided funds to construct a gym and pool for the benefit of local residents. Today, WCC has more than 5,000 members and provides child care services, fitness and recreation facilities, and space for other community organizations to meet.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
