Laying the Foundation: NW Works’ Beginnings at the Friendship Fire Hall
Caption reads: “The Northwestern Workshop was established here, in the old Friendship fire hall on East Cork Street, in June of 1970. Beginning with five clients, it remained in the rented building for two years and five months.
Today's Throwback Thursday is a good 'ole fashioned history lesson! Before NW Works was known under our current name, we were the Northwestern Workshop! When we were established in 1970, our campus was located at the Old Friendship Fire Hall on East Cork Street, as shown in the newspaper clipping. Since our founding, NW Works has occupied four buildings, and we're currently located at 3085 Shawnee Drive in Winchester. Each building has their own story, and for the Friendship Fire Hall those stories laid the foundation for where we stand now.
Since 1970, NW Works, formerly Northwestern Workshop, has proudly provided life changing services to adults with disabilities in the Northern Shenandoah Valley.
Today, in 2025, we're proud of how far we've come:
NW Works supports 255 individuals across:
Our on-campus Group Day Support Program
Job coaching services in the community
Our Business Services and AbilityOne teams
We're partnered with 55 area businesses who employ and support the individuals we serve
Individuals receiving services continue to develop skills, build confidence, and maximize their independence through experiences at NW Works or in the community.
As we prepare to celebrate our 55th anniversary, we're reminded of the progress our organization has made. We've expanded from serving 5 clients, to serving 255 individuals who feel empowered, are involved in our community, and are working to maximize their independence.
#NWWorks #EmpowermentThroughEmployment #Cheersto55 #ThrowbackThursday