In the 1940’s the public became very concerned about the lack of a meeting place for the community and, in particular, its youth. In 1947 the Borough Council formed a committee to study the problem. No solution emerged until 1954 when The Merchantville Country Club decided to move to a new facility. Citizens attended a Borough Council meeting and presented a petition signed by high school students. The community spearheaded a campaign to purchase what is now the Community Center and purchased bonds from the Borough to raise the $36,000 required to purchase the building and four surrounding acres of land.
A commission was created by the Borough Council in 1955 and, along with an auxiliary, began to raise funds and enlist volunteers to renovate the building and repair and decorate the interior. Community involvement was strong and programs were chosen for the new center based on the needs of the public.
Fifty years after this community effort to create a community place, the Community Center is visited 30,000 times a year and meets very diverse needs. It serves as the Senior Center, as well as the fields and meeting rooms for the Little League. It is the site of the Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch with Santa, but also hosts meetings on the Master Plan. It also hosts about 75 private gatherings each year, ranging from birthday parties to wedding receptions.
Although the Community Center is an attractive facility, it has not had the on-going attention and maintenance it deserves until recently. The Borough commissioned a Preservation Plan in 2007 which estimated a total cost of over $1.7 million to restore everything that is needed. A grant applied for in 2007 to begin the construction planning was not awarded, in part because the reviewers did not see evidence of continuing commitment to the property. A task group has been formed under the auspices of the Borough Council to apply for a grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust to meet half of the restoration needs. Resident Bill Lammey is preparing this grant application as a service to the Borough with the help of Historic Society President Maureen McLoone. We have requested a federal appropriation and will apply for a Camden County Open Space and Preservation grant to help match the Historic Trust grant. In addition the Borough has spent about $70,000 in the last two years to further the planning for the restoration and to correct drainage problems that were a destabilizing influence on the structure.
The Borough hopes the social role the Community Center has played for almost 100 years will elevate its significance to the funding organizations. To recognize its historical significance, Maureen McLoone is preparing an application to nominate the property for inclusion on the State and National Historic Register. We encourage residents to visit the Community Center to understand its needs and importance to the community and welcome any residents who would like to be involved in the work that lies ahead if we are awarded the grant. If you would like to play a part, contact Councilman Anthony Perno (662-7937) or Denise Brouse in Borough Hall (662-2474, extension 103).
