In the Fall of 2016 three business leaders had a desire to see an activity center in the community. There were already some wonderful community attractions: the Hall of Fame, the Ceramic Museum, Kent State Campus, the Hall of Fame and the Public Library were downtown. But what about an events Center?

At the same time The Trinity Presbyterian Church had a very large building next to the High School Complex on the North Side. The Church known for its annual Easter Pageants that attracted people from miles away each year, had found it necessary to get rid of their large and costly 56 year old building and find another church that it could merge with. After lots of discussion and negotiation the two parties got together resulting in The East Liverpool Area Community & Leaning Center.

Fast forward to November of 2024. the Community Center has had eight years serving the community and seems to grow stronger with each passing year.

What a day if was at the Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12. As is now customary, the Everyday Church held its weekly Board meeting in the Center Board Room. Rotarians came in for their weekly meeting in the Farmers Room next door, the members of the Bridge Club were in the Fitzjohn Room and Sharon Palmer was massaging clients in the Mary Sue Lang Art Room.

Bill and Donna Grey who built and then donated the Harker Pottery display room met with members of the Harker family who traveled from Indiana so they could see the Harker Room. On Tuesday evening, Father Leo of the Catholic Parish held their monthly dinner meeting in the Farmers Room where Rotary had met earlier. Presiding over all this activity at the reception desk were volunteers Jan Stover and Mike Parkes. This is not a typical day at the Center but it illustrates how busy the Center is these days. The Catholic Parish held its monthly dinner meeting as usual in the Farmers Room.

A look into the Reservation Book at the front desk for bookings at the Center for the upcoming weekend revealed that all of the four rental spaces would be filled for the next Saturday. And on Sunday as usual the Everyday Church will take over the Center in the morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its Sunday School program including two services Sunday morning.

On the following Tuesday the Legacy & Legends Lecture will be held in the Farmers Room for one of the six Lectures held each year. The November Lecture will be presented by Catherine Vodrey and Craig Wetzel on the subject of their new book entitled “Humor from a Century Ago.” Lectures are open to members of the Lecture Series and their guests.

It has been a long voyage but the Community Center has converted its many rooms from what they were used for in 2017 into new programs and activities as part of the community’s culture and entertainment for the City. The Center is open seven days a week from noon until five but events may last into the evening.

There are ample spaces in the parking lot that can accommodate well over 150 cars. Often it if full with cars for High School Baseball games, church services, large parties, fund raisers held at the Center and also when a number of different activities are taking place at the Center all at the same time.

Our Volunteers are committed to seeking new ways that the Center can continue to be available to the growing number of people of all ages from the entire tri-state area.

You may call the Community Center at 330-383-2110 for further information or visit the center’s website.