The Freie Gemeinde, or "Free Thinkers," Congregation was organized in 1867 by German settlers. As the first community house in the community, it had an active Gesangverein (choral club) and a library of three-thousand German-language books. The Neighborhood Association bought the building in 1943 and maintains offices there.

The inscription high on the building reads Wahrheit Macht Frei Schule (The Truth Makes One Free/School).