The Women Behind Northside Neighborhood House
Photo Credit: Northside Neighborhood House
It’s 1924, and the city of Chattanooga is charging into the second quarter of the century with bold investments in infrastructure, the construction of cultural landmarks like the Tivoli and Memorial Auditorium, and an economic boom fueled by its status as an industrial hub with a growing population. It’s a city on the rise, propelled by recent strides in social movements and women’s rights.
However, growth often comes at a cost, leaving behind the most vulnerable: the sick, the impoverished, and those in need.
Even so, these individuals don’t remain invisible. It only takes one person—or in this case, two—to step forward, extend a helping hand, and embody the true spirit of community among neighbors.
This is the story of Northside Neighborhood House.
Founded on February 14th of 1924, what was then known as the North Chattanooga Community Center emerged from an act of kindness among neighbors. After recognizing the struggles of certain members of their community, Chattanooga locals Rose Longgley and Emily Page Schlesinger became concerned with the well-being of their neighbors on the north side of town. Mothers struggled to keep their children warm without blankets and bedding, resulting in sickness in an impoverished community. Longgley and Schlesinger decided to act.
They began teaching sewing and quilting, providing not only blankets but also the skills for self-sufficiency to as many women as they could. This initiative spread throughout the community, weaving a sense of care and dignity throughout the Northshore and blending immediate relief with lasting impact. From these beginnings, these women laid the foundation for a century of community care and resilience.
Photo Credit: Northside Neighborhood House
Photo Credit: Northside Neighborhood House
In addition to offering lessons in sewing and quilting, Northside Neighborhood House helped the sick, provided kindergarten classes, and worked to address needs in the community as they arose. To help fund these programs, the women returned to their quilting circles in a more entrepreneurial fashion, selling them to sustain their mission that still rings true a century later: to provide a hand up, not a handout to neighbors in need.
Today, the Northside Neighborhood House is celebrated for its legacy of supporting and empowering the Chattanooga community for over 100 years. Over time, their programs and services have evolved to meet the changing needs of families and individuals. Today, these include providing essential items and affordable clothing through their thrift stores, offering financial assistance through the Good Neighbor Fund, supporting students and families with CommUNITY Schools and afterschool programs, and creating meaningful volunteer opportunities. Beyond these, they continue to foster a sense of community and stability through empowerment programs, skill-building workshops, and direct assistance, ensuring that their mission of being a true neighbor remains at the heart of everything they do.
Photo Credit: Northside Neighborhood House
They say it takes a village, but in Chattanooga, it may only take a neighborhood.
To learn more about Northside Neighborhood House and their mission, visit www.nnhouse.org.
Tori Catlett
Marketing Intern