Group working to preserve historic center
Henry and Gerri Claus walk past a mural painted by local artist Diane Adams. The mural decorates the side of Claysville Community Center.
Carl Myers, left, takes a painting class from Sandy Hughey at Claysville Community Center.
Inside the Claysville Community Center is a ticket window from when the building was a movie theater.
Gerri Claus stands in the newly renovated kitchen at Claysville Community Center.
CLAYSVILLE – Decades ago, Claysville residents in search of entertainment could go to 212 Main St. to take in a movie for just 50 cents.
The cost of a ticket is still displayed from the original wood-paneled booth in the lobby of Claysville Community Center. While the theater is gone, the center is still a hub of activity. The owners, Claysville Community Recreational Association, have put out a call for help to preserve the historic structure.
“We host something here almost every day,” said Gerri Claus, treasurer of the organization. “But we need some help to keep in going.”
From Boy Scout meetings to McGuffey sports to exercise classes, the center is used for a variety of community events, for which a nominal fee is charged. The main hall, 26 feet by 78 feet, is also rented out for private events like weddings, and the association uses those proceeds to help pay for maintenance and utilities.
The volunteer board, made up of nine directors, holds fundraisers throughout the year, including the annual Holly Days craft show. On April 1, a vendor show netted $1,300.
But major repairs, including a new roof and replacement of exterior bricks, will be costly, leading the association to issue a call for help.
“The center is important. It’s a service to the community,” said Claus.
The association has owned the structure since 1959, when then-owner Dr. William Prideaux sold 210-214 Main St. to the organization for $1. Around 1990, the building was renovated by a group of volunteers.
In 2014, a $50,000 local share grant was used to construct a kitchen. The work included the installation of appliances, cabinets, plumbing, electrical updates and a new ceiling and flooring.
Other renovations have included painting, new doors, windows and a staircase, air conditioning and furnace installations, and the addition of a handicapped-accessible lift.
For information on Claysville Community Center, including a class schedule, call 724-663-5019.