Historical Marker

Presbyterian Community Center

Historical marker location:

Louisville, Kentucky

( Smoketown, )

The Presbyterian Community Center was founded in 1898 on Preston Street by Rev. John Little. It was Louisville’s first African American Mission Sunday school. A second location on Hancock Street opened in 1899. The Centers were known as Hope and Grace. They merged in 1965 at the Hancock location and officially branded as Presbyterian Community Center.

Reverse

From 1954-57, Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, trained every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday with Grace Presbyterian Church Director of Recreation Fred Stoner. Ali credited Stoner with teaching him how to box. Stoner trained boxing greats Ali, Jimmy Ellis, & Rudell Stitch. In 1960, Stoner became the first African American appointed to KY Boxing Commission. Dedicated June 8, 2019.