Nine years ago we had a dream. The HHH Foundation had just acquired the former Trinity Church on 110 Maine Blvd. in East Liverpool located beside the East Liverpool High School complex. The dream was to make the building, that was in dire need of major repairs, into a gathering place for the entire tri-state area and with a wide variety of activities.

Tuesday, Oct. 15, was the pinnacle in terms of the property serving a wide variety of very different activities at the center with its huge parking lot and with many rooms that can be utilized.

The East Liverpool Rotary Club that regularly meets at the center nearly every Tuesday at noon had moved its meeting to the Upper Ohio Hall of Fame in the downtown so the center got off to a slow start.

When the center volunteer arrived at noon, the Bridge Club was wrapping up its weekly games of bridge in the Fitzjohn Room and Sharon Palmer, our Masseuse, was already plying her trade in the Mary Sue Lang Art Room.

As usual people were in the parking lot to practice driving and parking in preparation for taking their driving tests. Right after school the usual swam of school kids were coming down the hill after school to catch their ride or walk home.

During that afternoon a county caseworker took her clients to watch movies from the large collection of video cassettes in the surround sound, wide screen movie theatre at the center.

The volunteer was leaving when some visitors to the center began to arrive. Soon the parking lot of over 150 spaces began to get fill up with the cars of attendees for the evening activities. That evening every venue at the center from top to bottom was put to use.

At 5:30 p.m. the Holy Trinity Catholic Perish under the direction of Father Leo met for a meal and fellowship in the Art Room on the west side of the building. At 6:30 p.m. was the reception for the Legacy & Legends and guests gathered in the lobby. While enjoying refreshments some guests toured the Harker Pottery exhibit there on the main floor.

At 7 p.m. in the Farmers Room was the second Legacy & Legends Lecture and it was one of the best. Wellsville native Eddie Murphy acted out the legendary story of Harriett Tubman leading walks to freedom for thousands of slaves from the south to freedom in Canada. The audience was spellbound. Four more lectures remain for this year’s Tuesday Lectures – one in November and three each in March, April and May of 2025.

Earlier in the day The Everyday Church held a meeting in the center boardroom. Those attending the lecture were treated to music as they left were treated to music coming from the Bill Blair Auditorium by the Everyday Church Band that was practicing for their next Sunday morning service.

In the banquet hall in the basement below the Bill Blair Auditorium were students training for a regional competition at the end of the month. They normally practice at Thompson Park. The hard polished concrete floor made it difficult for them to go through their normal routines. Volunteer Jim Lewis came to the rescue when he found mats in the storage room to cushion the cheerleaders’ feet. They had been practicing at Thompson Park but needed shelter from the weather. They may need the center again before the competition.

There is little that goes on in the community that the center cannot find a place for even when other activities are going on. Scheduling times for use at the center is becoming more difficult but we always try to adjust to meet the need.