On May, 23, 1921, on the corner of Hall and Eighth Streets in Owensboro, Kentucky, the Gospel Center Mission was opened. It was a dream come true for founder Miss Milton Fontaine Boulware (Bo-ware), a local elementary school teacher. Along with her sister, local truant officer Mrs. Erma Bartlett, and three other schoolteachers, Ms. Boulware collected the $2,500.00 needed to purchase the property where the Mission remains today. Its purpose was to provide a cultural and religious influence for the residents of the inner-city school districts. After working beside social work founder Jane Addams at the famous Hull House in Chicago, Ms. Boulware brought the concepts of service back to Owensboro. Nine months after the founding, the Mission incorporated upon the establishment of its first ten person volunteer board of directors. It has remained the same legal entity since it’s founding.
Many times Miss Mitt (as she was lovingly nicknamed by her coworkers and friends) was called upon to feed and lodge passing transients. Men would hop passing railroad cars looking across the nation for work so they could feed their families. Post WWI and during WWII, families running low on fuel and food would move in the Mission's upstairs until their finances improved. Day or night Ms. Boulware, Mrs. Bartlett and the other teachers would climb the steep steps to prepare a meal or make a bed. Ms. Boulware would assume probationary custody for wayward teenagers or advocate for them before the judge. She would attend to a sick neighbor even before the doctor was called.
A typical Saturday for Miss Boulware included visiting the sick, taking food to the hungry, clothing those without proper attire and providing valuable assistance to many needy people. Always desperate for additional financial support, she came upon the idea of paying herself and then donating her salary back to the Mission. Ultimately she received Social Security payments. She used this money to help establish a safe, affordable day nursery for the working poor.
Among the other services, the Mission became a soup kitchen during the early thirties. As many as 300 persons a day were fed home cooked meals provided by local churches and individuals. A full service nursery school was established in 1959 with the help of the Pilot Club. A portion of the second floor was converted to a playroom, kitchen, dining area, sewing room, and rest room and storage area. Senior Citizen events, inner-city family gatherings, non-denominational church services on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings were just a few of the ways the Gospel Center Mission served this community. Ms. Boulware gave free piano lessons to children who without her generosity , would not have been able to have lessons. Ms. Boulware and Mrs. Bartlett gave sewing and quilting lessons. When a need arose, if the Gospel Center Mission could, it would be there to lend a needed hand.
Advice of professionals Repair of apartments Accommodation of clauses Development of scripts PHP
During her City School System teaching career, Miss Boulware gave much of her spare time working for the Mission. After her retirement in 1951, the Mission received her undivided attention. On the occasion of her 82nd birthday in 1963, the Board of Directors voted to rename the Mission after her.
Miss Boulware passed away in 1970 after spending over half of her life in service to the "Mission." The essence of her indomitable spirit endures in the lives of those who were touched by her selfless dedication. Many adults living in this community today cannot speak of Miss Mitt without tears coming to their eyes. She was a dedicated servant to the hurting and helpless of the Owensboro, Daviess County community.
Today the Boulware Mission staff and board of directors are working to continue Miss Boulware’s dream to feed, clothe and shelter the homeless and to facilitate their recovery from those issues that brought about their destitution.
