The sale of a once-busy community center that had fallen by the wayside in recent years has benefited a local fire department.
The sale of the land and building from the East Marion Community Center in the Enon community has led to a donation of $10,000 for the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department.
“The building was built about 65 years ago when I was about 15,” Joe Tolar, one of the remaining trustees for the center, said. “The land was donated by the Baggett family and the men of the community built the structure.
“It served a useful purpose. Before it was built, people in the community didn’t really have anywhere for events like bridal showers or birthday parties. They had to go to other people’s houses. I remember when it was built; people had dinners and all kind of events there.”
But as times changed, so did the building’s usage. For the past decade or so it has been leased by Marion County for use as a voting precinct. Earlier this year, supervisors canceled their lease and move to the nearby fire station.
“That left us with a building and the expenses of water and electricity,” Tolar said. “It wasn’t in great shape, and we didn’t want to build a new one. We decided we needed to find a good local organization to give the funds to if it was sold.”
Jones Companies was interested in the property and eventually purchased it.
“We decided to sell it,” Tolar said. “But we didn’t have a way to distribute the funds. We decided it needed to go to the fire department. Jones bought the properties, but the money will go the firefighters.”
Tolar said the remaining trustees decide they wanted to see the money benefit the community directly.
“These volunteer fire departments don’t get the recognition they deserve,” he said. “They do everything at their own expense. They help the community when it is in need. It happens in every community, but we’ve got a good group of young people that make up the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department. Maybe this will help provide some things for them.”
Tri-Community Fire Chief Cole Robbins was thankful for the money.
“We appreciate them finding yet another way to serve the community,” he said. “It is helping another county organization in the process. They wanted it to benefit our firefighters directly so we’re putting it in the firefighters’ fund. The money will be used on the actual firefighters. It can be used for things such as our annual dinner. We’re so grateful for the donation. We’ve had a hard time supporting the banquet. This will help support our firefighters for many years.”
Pictured Above: The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department’s firefighters’ fund received a big boost recently with the proceeds from the sale of the East Marion Community Center being donated. From left are Joey Dantin and Bradly Baughman from the Tri-Commnity Volunteer Fire Department, Joe Tolar of the Community Center board, Chris Wallace of Jones Companies, Stuart Walley, Lyman Fite, Chief Cole Robbins and Barry Tolar, all of the TCVFD. | Submitted Photo
