After two years of fundraising and planning, the ground-breaking for Standard’s much needed new community hall is in sight with over $600,000 in funds gathered and more to come.
“The response has been tremendous,” said Susan Bragg, member of the New Hall Board Committee. “We’ve kept the old hall in as good repair as we can, but everything needs a major upgrade.”
Although structurally safe, the existing hall’s beams, made in 1949 from salvaged wood, have had major repairs and the foundation was beginning to show problems, Bragg said.
“It was just not worth putting any more money into it.”
The 10,240 square foot facility will boast an energy efficient design, easy to clean layout, a social concept kitchen, air conditioning, a children’s room, a gas powered generator for disasters and town crisis, an adaptable stage area, projector and a large amount of storage.
The hall forced patrons to climb down a flight of stairs to reach the bathrooms and kitchen, not friendly to seniors visiting the hall.
“We did a very good planning job,” said Ron Corbiell, chairman of the new hall committee. “We looked at a dozen halls in the area, and learned from what they did right, and what they didn’t do right.”
"We’re ready to get at it. The community is ready to start breaking ground.”
“For a little town, to raise $600,00, that’s pretty tremendous,” said Bragg.
Recent fundraising efforts have been an auction, golf ball drop, and money from Sports Days, and Bragg said in order to reach the estimated $2.6 million mark, grants and donations from corporate entities will be needed. Corbiell would like to acknowledge the Lions and Lionettes Club for already contributing to the project, and their planned support in the future.
“We don’t want to start if we don’t have most of the money,” she said.
After expected grants and pleges come in, the committee expects $900,000 will still be needed, with corporate donations expected to fill the gap.