The Men of Courage headquarters, powered by Team Inc., is located at 4821 Germantown
Ave. in Philadelphia, and is known as “The Underground” (Pathway to Freedom). This location
has a deep historical significance, recognized as part of the Underground Railroad. The
address is connected to the Johnson House, a well-documented stop on the network of safe
houses that helped enslaved African Americans escape to freedom during the 19th century.
The Mehl House, situated at 4821 Germantown Ave., is historically important within
Germantown, is one of Philadelphia’s most historically rich neighborhoods.

Germantown Avenue, dating back to the colonial period, is one of Philadelphia’s most
significant streets. It played a key role in the anti-slavery movement and hosted a free African
American community and abolitionists.
The building at 4821 Germantown Ave. also served as a local post office, providing essential
postal services to the Germantown community. Additionally, it was home to the Philadelphia
Theatre Guild, an organization that fostered communication and creativity within the city’s
theater scene. Between its opening in 1933 and closing in the 1990s, the Guild put on
hundreds of plays. It was among the earliest racially integrated theaters in the U.S., where
Black and white actors performed together. Established by Violet Minehart during the Great
Depression as a cheaper alternative to movies, the Guild was run by Violet and her daughter
Katherine “Kitty” Minehart for 50 years.

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Kitty, alongside her husband, received multiple awards,
including several Emmys. The theater itself was converted from a barn by Violet Minehart.
Germantown, founded in 1683 by German Quakers and Mennonite settlers, became an
important center during the American Revolutionary period. The area around 4821
Germantown Ave. was a major thoroughfare in the colonial era, home to many prominent
families. The land was originally owned by William Penn, and a copy of the 1689 deed is still
located within the property. King Charles II of England granted Penn a large tract of land to
repay a debt owed to Penn’s father, and that land became Pennsylvania. Penn encouraged
settlers to purchase and develop parcels of land to grow Philadelphia and the surrounding
areas.

Martin Mehl, who grew up in the house at 4821 Germantown Ave., enlisted as a teenager in
Captain Noah Townsend’s fourth company of the 7th battalion of the Philadelphia militia,
making him one of the youngest veterans buried in Hood Cemetery. His family had to give up
their home to British soldiers during the 1777 occupation of Germantown, but the Mehl family
and their home survived the war. Martin eventually inherited the house and was listed as its
owner in 1809. He passed away in 1821. The Mehl family lived in the house for generations
until it eventually passed to the Henson family and later served as the office for Henson Hosiery
Mills.

Today, as the home and headquarters of Men of Courage, the site is named “The
Underground” (A Pathway to Freedom), reflecting its historical connection to the Underground
Railroad. Now, the name also symbolizes a modern pathway to freedom—social, economic,
political, financial, emotional, and mental—offered to participants in the Men of Courage
program through empowerment and exposure.

The main structure houses a mental health office, open to mentees, mentors, parents, and the
wider community. It also features a barbershop where mentees can learn the trade, a screen
printing area, and a kitchen for culinary programs. The barn/theater space is used for
educational programs, with a loft area for socialization and gaming. The secluded courtyard

hosts barbecues, community bazaars, and larger outdoor training programs in trades like
carpentry and car washing.
Please consider donating to Men of Courage to support the growth of our young kings!