Leaders worked toward building repairs

Thirty years ago this week, leaders were working toward repairing a community facility.

The Dec. 3, 1993, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about the goal of repairing Bryant Community Center.

Leaders of Bryant Area Community Club were working on plans to secure the building for the future. Constructed by community volunteers in the 1950s, the former Bryant High School gym continued to serve as a community center after consolidation with the opening of Jay County High School in 1975.

It was being used for basketball during the winter months by both adult groups and Bloomfield Elementary School. (The gym floor had not yet been damaged by the leaks.)

The club was working toward funding for the building project.

“The roof was leaking terribly,” said Sara Stults, treasurer of Bryant Area Community Club. “We’ve patched it to last the winter, but we’re going to have to do some major repair work in the spring.”

In addition to the roof work, the 40-year-old building needed a new furnace. (The group had looked into repairing the existing furnace, but had learned it would be cheaper to replace it.)

The building also needed to be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It needed restrooms to be redesigned to be handicapped accessible.

Bryant Area Community Club members had raised some funds for the project and received a matching grant from The Portland Foundation. But the urgency of the roof work put the restroom project on hold.

In order to help raise funds for the repairs, the community center was planning to hold a craft show and bazaar. Rental fees and proceeds from a raffle and bake sale were to go toward the project.

Today, the building continues to serve as a community center adjacent to the new Bryant Area Park.