The Mission of the Thoreau Center

In 1979, Harold J. Wells named the Thoreau Center in honor of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). In his many books and essays, Thoreau emphasized a back-to-nature, self-sufficient lifestyle, encouraging civil disobedience of unjust laws, antislavery, and being true to your own inner principles.

Harold’s vision for the Center was to encourage people to grow together in becoming a caring and sharing community where they could enjoy and share individual arts and talents with others, join grassroots efforts in our democratic government, work for peace and justice, and appreciate and conserve the wonders of our natural world.

Harold conveyed the Center to The Thoreau Center, LLC that is owned by Scott Hartsook and Dennis Groenenboom in June of 2013. The two have been local community advocates for justice and equal rights, and have been residents of the Thoreau Center neighborhood since 1983. They see this endeavor as a wonderful opportunity to continue Harold’s efforts and foster this community that has meant so much to them. Please join us as custodians of the democratic, community minded, human family at the Thoreau Center.