The Shack Neighborhood House

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The Shack Neighborhood House serves the people of the once thriving Appalachian coal mining community of Scott's Run northwest of Morgantown, West Virginia. Founded by Mary E. Behner in the tradition of the settlement house movement, "The Shack" continues to serve their social, educational, recreational, economic, and health needs.

[edit] History

Founded as a mission of the First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown, "The Shack" sought to meet the spiritual as well as the social and physical needs of coal miners and their families. During the Great Depression, Eleanor Roosevelt visited "The Shack" and the especially hard-hit Scott's Run area. Nearly two-thirds of the area's residents were suffering in terrible poverty.

Even though the religious mission of "The Shack" ended when the church planted there by the Presbyterian Church (USA) had closed, it continued to operate with support from the PC(USA), other denominations, the United Way, and generous donors.