Photo I Whitin Community Center
Heather Elster, executive director of Whitin Community Center
2 hours ago
Whitin Community Center purchases historic first high school site to meet growing childcare needs
Image | Courtesy of Google Maps
The Aldrich School has been purchased by Whitin Community Center in order to expand its childcare services.
Whitin Community Center, a nonprofit fitness and community center operating since the early 1920s, is expanding its childcare services after purchasing a vacant school building across the street from its facility.
The community center based in the Whitinsville village within the town of Northbridge purchased the property after submitting a successful request for proposal in February. The Town had approved the building’s sale in October, according to a Sep. 17 press release from the nonprofit.
The site, located at 14 Hill St. directly across from WCC’s site at 60 Main St., was purchased for $50,000 on June 27, according to Worcester District Registry of Deeds records.
The expansion project will see the vacant Aldrich School building and former Town Hall Annex building converted into a childcare center, which will add 20 new preschool seats and 65 additional school-age care slots, nearly doubling the capacity of the WCC-operated Blackstone Valley Children’s Place.
BVCP serves 327 children across four locations, with a growing waitlist. With 40% of current BVCP children receiving state vouchers and more than 50% relying on public subsidies, the expansion aims to increase access to affordable childcare for working families, according to the press release.
“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,” WCC Executive Director Heather Elster said in the press release. “Expanding access to childcare in this space reflects our deep commitment to building a stronger community in the Blackstone Valley.”
The renovation of the building is part of WCC’s $10-million Legacy Capital Campaign launched to commemorate the nonprofit’s centennial. That campaign has raised 54% of its goal, with a majority of funding coming from government sources.
The building was constructed in 1890 and once served as Whitinville’s first high school. The 14,556-square-foot building sitting on a 0.8-acre site received a 2025 tax assessment value of $2.27 million, according to Town of Northbridge property records.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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