July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
A bridge to the future (05/12/08)
Editorial
It's become traditional in recent years at any public gathering of note to pass the microphone to Ralph May.
Ralph, a past president of the Jay County Historical Society and simply a great guy, has a talent for memorizing and reciting verse on those occasions.
Helping to put the capstone on the dedication ceremonies for John Jay Center for Learning in its new home, Ralph recited a poem about the need to build bridges over dangerous chasms as a way to keep unborn generations safe.
"You are the builders of the bridge to the future of our country," he told the crowd assembled in the former Weiler department store for the occasion.
And like a hammer striking a nail directly on its head, driving it deep into solid wood, Ralph hit home.
It is a bridge.
Sure, it may look like a restored 1926 building at Main and Meridian streets in Portland.
But it is a bridge.
Think about it for a moment.
This single, remarkable civic project connects Jay County's past with its future. By rescuing the Weiler building, the accomplishments of generations past are acknowledged and valued. By transforming the building into a 21st century campus for future workers and future leaders, the potential of generations to come is served.
More than that, a liability has been transformed into an asset.
For nearly a decade, local residents have steered visitors away from the decaying empty shell at the heart of the county seat's downtown. It was something to be ashamed of. It was something to make excuses about.
Today, it's a point of incredible pride, something to brag about.
If, tomorrow, you found yourself with a bunch of relatives or out-of-towners or, better yet, an industrial or business prospect looking for a tour, where would you take them?
The courthouse, to be sure; it's a jewel. Jay County Hospital most likely. Arts Place because few rural communities have anything that comes close. The Jay County Community Center for much the same reasons.
And now, John Jay Center for Learning.
As you showed visitors around, you'd tell the tale of how John Jay started as an idea, the notion that a community college could transform the lives of local residents. And you'd tell the tale of the against-all-odds struggle to save, restore, and transform a building that was a rich part of our local heritage.
But when you do that, remember Ralph May and tell them this: It may look like a building, but it's really a bridge. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
Ralph, a past president of the Jay County Historical Society and simply a great guy, has a talent for memorizing and reciting verse on those occasions.
Helping to put the capstone on the dedication ceremonies for John Jay Center for Learning in its new home, Ralph recited a poem about the need to build bridges over dangerous chasms as a way to keep unborn generations safe.
"You are the builders of the bridge to the future of our country," he told the crowd assembled in the former Weiler department store for the occasion.
And like a hammer striking a nail directly on its head, driving it deep into solid wood, Ralph hit home.
It is a bridge.
Sure, it may look like a restored 1926 building at Main and Meridian streets in Portland.
But it is a bridge.
Think about it for a moment.
This single, remarkable civic project connects Jay County's past with its future. By rescuing the Weiler building, the accomplishments of generations past are acknowledged and valued. By transforming the building into a 21st century campus for future workers and future leaders, the potential of generations to come is served.
More than that, a liability has been transformed into an asset.
For nearly a decade, local residents have steered visitors away from the decaying empty shell at the heart of the county seat's downtown. It was something to be ashamed of. It was something to make excuses about.
Today, it's a point of incredible pride, something to brag about.
If, tomorrow, you found yourself with a bunch of relatives or out-of-towners or, better yet, an industrial or business prospect looking for a tour, where would you take them?
The courthouse, to be sure; it's a jewel. Jay County Hospital most likely. Arts Place because few rural communities have anything that comes close. The Jay County Community Center for much the same reasons.
And now, John Jay Center for Learning.
As you showed visitors around, you'd tell the tale of how John Jay started as an idea, the notion that a community college could transform the lives of local residents. And you'd tell the tale of the against-all-odds struggle to save, restore, and transform a building that was a rich part of our local heritage.
But when you do that, remember Ralph May and tell them this: It may look like a building, but it's really a bridge. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
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