Riverdale Neighborhood House History
Since our founding in 1872, Riverdale Neighborhood House has united and augmented our community’s strengths toward a greater social good:

1872: Grace Dodge launches RNH as a lending library for neighborhood workers.

1890's: Spanish-American War: RNH serves as headquarters for the Relief Society of Soldiers & Sailors at the Front.

1910's: World War I: RNH coordinates the community's war effort, houses Red Cross Civilian Relief Committee, undertakes food cooperative, pays hospital bills for soldiers' families, and establishes War Gardens on donated land.

1930's: RNH Board of Directors acquires our present site.

1940's: WWII: RNH supports Victory Gardens and training in emergency nursing, home repair and food canning.

1950's: Newly-founded Riverdale Press covers RNH news and activities. Swimming pool opens for community.

1960's: RNH provides first floor to kindergarten classes to relieve overcrowding at P.S. 81.

1970's: RNH responds to changing needs of community with Day Care facilities for working families, Telephone Reassurance and Senior Companion programs, and Family Center for new parents and young families.

1980's: Job Bank and counseling for teens helps in the war on drugs and combats chronic unemployment. Dodge Center for Community Services opens.

1990's: Teen-Senior Bridge project provides wages to hard-to-employ youth while assisting homebound elderly. Family Center adds Lamaze, Family Safety and CPR courses.

2000's: Accredited Early Childhood Education and Universal Pre-K programs give all Riverdale children access to free, quality education.