EAST LIVERPOOL — It has been over 10 years now since three area businessmen shared the idea that our community needed a community center where people from throughout the area could meet with family and friends. Insurance Agent Steve Cooper, Teacher Mike Parkes and former banker and lawyer Charles Lang were all in agreement that the community was in need of a place and they looked unsuccessfully in the downtown area.

It was suggested that the Trinity Presbyterian Church that had moved from the downtown and built a new building on the hillside many years ago that was below the high school buildings located on the north side of town. At Easter time each year the Church presented the Easter Pageant. The church had reached the point that they needed to merge with another Church. They had reached an agreement to join with the Longs Run Presbyterian Church. It was at this point that longtime member of Trinity Jim Lewis joined in the venture.

Within six months the necessary funds had been raised so on June 1 the new community center opened its doors for the first time.

Education was to be a major part of the purpose of the center. Over the six months Bill and Donna Grey, collectors of chinaware, had built a wonderful display room at the entrance to the center and stocked it with Harker pottery that remains today. The Harker Pottery Co. had played a big role in the development of the East Liverpool area.

A second room was added honoring local artist Hans Hacker containing many of his paintings and personal items he used in his paintings.

The center has evolved into a place for residents and their guests to visit and hundreds of people visit the center and enjoy the many fine things housed and held there.

Each Sunday morning and throughout the week for the past year-and-a half the Everyday Church has made the center its home. This Evangelical Church is led by its Pastor Mike Derenzo. He is begins for the first 20 minutes each Sunday with a Band and Choir music. There are many other things to do at your community center in its many venues.

In the basement level is a game room with ping pong, pool and other games. The walls are painted in school colors of area schools.

There is also a large banquet hall with a full kitchen that is the site of the Annual Prayer Breakfast held for several hundred people May 7 at 8:30 a.m.

There is only one place in our area where you can enjoy a movie on a wide screen with surround sound. It attracts a regular group of movie goers each Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. with volunteer Teresa James in charge. Free treats are always provided. The theatre has viewers many days during the week also. Also on the first floor of the center are two large rental rooms for parties, receptions, service clubs and other special events. On May 9 there will be a garden sale in the art room from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. sponsored annually by the East Liverpool Calcutta Garden Club on the next week on May 12 to May 14.

From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the same room will be used for a “Great American Treasure Hunters Tour.” Visitors will have a chance to exchange items from their gold and silver collections.

The Farmers Room and the Art Room are available for parties, receptions and family get-togethers when available.

Sharon Palmer offers massages in the room next to the Jay Kid’s Play Room in the west wing of the center. Denise Pershon also does tutoring where the volunteers man the front desk and answer the phone seven days a week noon to 5 p.m. while booking events.

There is an outdoor Butterfly Garden behind the center that can be viewed from inside the center or outside. Various plants have been planted to attract the beautiful Monarch Butterflies in route to their winter home in Mexico.

The phone number at the center is 330-385- 2110 to answer questions and to take reservations.