Juvenile probation officer Frank Callen organized a club for boys in 1917 in the Beach Institute, which became one of oldest and most revered of several community-based after-school children’s centers. Aided by the donation of a site and building, it became part of the national Boys Clubs of America in 1922 and expanded into a full community center, providing a variety of children’s and adult services. Despite its simple appearance, the current concrete-block construction is a significant landmark in this area.