Barfield Youth Center

    Barfield Youth Center was the mecca of youngsters and pre-teens especially in the

50's and 60's. During the summer days the Department of Recreation employed Mrs.

White, Mrs. Draughn, and her son Carl from 10-12 in the mornings and from 2-5 in the

afternoon for the area youth to descend on the Bird Park under their supervision

(RIGHT). We played games throughout the park and the younger children kept Mrs.

Draughn busy with crafts and questions while the older ones played softball, kickball,

Red Rover or some make-believe game.

       As one of the older kids, I became the role model and helper who was always

called on to help keep order. I enjoyed the bossy part and the instructing the younger ones

how to participate, but was quite weak on the actually being any help part.  From the time

I was 10 until the magic age of 14, I spent most of my summer days at the Barfield Day

Camp. I loved the companionship, respect, and the worship of my co-campers.

       On Friday afternoons from 4 -6, the youth center was opened for dancing, ping

pong, shuffleboard, refreshments, and TV. Being a shy kid, I almost never danced, but

played ping pong religiously. When I did go onto the dance floor, James Tuck was

usually commanding all the girls' attention.  I automatically did not like him and never

met him nor introduced him into our group. He could really dance and often the kids

would circle around him and cheer him on. I learned another valuable lesson here.  The

Lord sends many people into our lives to effect change in ourselves. I never got to know

James, because I was jealous of him.

      Can you imagine how terrible I felt when he died of Leukemia--while he was 13!

The Lord had given me a chance to meet this fabulous kid and perhaps bring a lot of joy

to both our lives, but I was too jealous.  This kind of thing has happened to me since, but I

have always tried to make sure I took advantage of any opportunity to witness/minister

because losing this chance did affect me. Please don't let pride or jealousy prevent you

from seeking opportunities to minister to those in need, whether they admit it or not.

      When I finally got to be 15, I was able to go to the teenage youth center. Every

Monday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00 til 10:30, the teens from Northern and Durham

High came for dancing. Some of us shy guys still played ping pong, etc. while the cool

guys sat with the girls watching TV or even dancing on the dance floor. Often I would

crowd into the sound room and request songs like I was a dancer, or I would wander

around the crowded dance floor looking for a suitable partner, but I generally could not

find one until the last dance, a slow song that signaled the evening was over. I had taken

ballroom dancing at Satterfield's Dance Studio when I was in the fifth grade, but my

partner Marsha Canada had found other cool guys by the time we were in High School

and never came to Barfield (guess she was a West Durham, EA, or Forest Hills girl). The

Youth Center, where Park View was founded, continued to attract new youth until I was

about 21 (1966), but finally all the city youth centers were closed due to racial concerns.

Barfield youth Center was replaced with a tennis court after it was burned about 1970.

      The closing of the youth centers was another lesson I learned; after the changes

begun with Martin Luther King, we find that other races are not really any different from any

others.They needed a fair opportunity at clean water, fair treatment, equal education, and

working opportunities. Most blacks have taken advantage of the opportunities given them

and have responded respectfully to others and the same God we all worship.  I am proud

to have grown up in this time and able to see the way everyone can get along together.