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Tony Wilkins said it best—Mendel was a true melting pot from 1971–1979. Guys from Mt. Greenwood, Hegewisch, Roseland, Pullman, Chatham, Grand Crossing, Auburn Gresham, South Shore and beyond all came together during a time when the South Side was changing fast.

But inside the Mendel gym, something powerful was building.

In the early 70s, it started with bands like Styx and Chicago—live music, horns, energy, a sound that filled the room. By the late 70s, the vibe had shifted. Kirk Townsend’s dances brought something new to that same floor—a sound rooted in Black Chicago culture that would soon be known as house music.

Same gym. Different eras. One evolving sound.

Those dances weren’t just parties—they were part of Chicago Black history. Before the clubs, before the global movement, there were spaces like Mendel where the music, the culture, and the community came together first.

If you were there, you felt it.