HISTORY

A Brief History of the Nasson Community Center
by Pete Smith ‘72

Nasson College, established in 1912, once proudly educated thousands of
young people in the heart of Springvale. In the 1930’s the school acquired
an 1800’s vintage barn on Main Street and converted it to a recreation hall.
In 1959, Nasson built a remarkable building called the Memorial Student
Activity Center. It was connected to the former Recreation Hall which, by then, had become a lecture hall.

In 1971, the “Rec Hall” was refurbished and became the Little Theatre at Nasson. The Student Activity Center was the home of the Nasson Lions sports teams, the Little Theatre was the home of the Nasson Footlighters Drama Club, and the Nasson family was proud of this remarkable complex. In this building there were commencements, performances by Dizzie Gillespie; Maynard Ferguson; Odetta; Dick Gregory; Pierre Salinger; Sam and Dave; Blood, Sweat & Tears; and many, many more. On the lower level was a rifle range. On the street level, besides the 9,000 square foot gym, was the Huse Memorial Chapel. In 1983, with enrollment declining, Nasson College closed its doors. And the Theatre, the Gym, the Chapel, the whole campus went dark. It was a sad time for the Town and for Nasson Alumni.

For nearly 20 years, the once-proud Activity Center sat vacant and deteriorating. The power lines were cut. The water lines were cut. The roof leaked. Vandals broke windows and invaded the inside of the building, leaving behind graffiti and worse. Dozens of local people organized to protect the building. Plans were made to resurrect it as a Community Center. People seemed to love the idea. But in the winter of 2001-2002, after due consideration, the Town Board of Selectmen decided taking on a million dollar renovation project was not in the taxpayers' best interest. Discouraged and disheartened, the group accepted what appeared to be the inevitable. The once-proud Nasson Memorial Student Activity Center would become a parking lot.

But a team of four Nasson College Alumni, Anna Ashley ’60, Rick Schneider ’71, Connie Witherby ’73, and myself, H. Pete Smith ’72, decided to try to save the complex. We formed Nasson Center Redevelopment, Inc., a non-profit organization. And we went to the movers and shakers of the community asking this question: If a Community Center is wanted and needed, then why can’t a private group make it happen? Just about everyone agreed Sanford/Springvale needed more gym space. And just about everyone agreed it could use a place for the performing arts, too. So, we went forward saying, “WE DARE TO DREAM…YOU CAN, TOO!”

People dared. What we call ‘The Wall of Fame’ in our lobby tells the story. Please read it. It lists those without whom the Nasson Community Center would not exist. One by one people, organizations, corporations, foundations, and the movers and shakers stepped-up and helped make it happen. With over $500,000 in donations and thousands of hours of volunteer time, the NCC lives!

In 2004, the center opened its doors to a newly renovated gymnasium which provides many activities for Sanford and the surrounding rural communities. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Sanford/Springvale Youth Athletic Association’s Basketball Program
• Sanford/Springvale Youth Athletic Association’s Wrestling Program
• Sanford High School's Wresting Program
• “Open Gym Evenings” for kids to play basketball and volleyball
• Senior citizens safe walking space all winter long and in inclement weather
• Pre and post-school program in partnership with the YMCA
• Physical education and recreation for consumers of Waban Projects, Inc. (a
York County agency for children and adults with mental disabilities
• Seaglass Performing Arts concerts
• Banquets, meetings, adults and junior dances, fundraising events, etc.

In other words, the Center has become a busy, active, vibrant center for community activities, but we are not finished.

Currently, we are undertaking a program to finance the renovation of the Little Theatre, an existing building attached to the Center’s gymnasium. This will create a wonderful venue for the performing arts, concerts, lectures and educational/cultural programs. It will serve to fill a gaping void of these types of programs in Central York County.

		~ HISTORY ~




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	The Nasson Center Redevelopment, Inc. members-- a team that saved the NCC, and whose leadership made it happen! Seated: Connie Witherby, ‘73, Rick Schneider, ‘71. *Standing: H. Pete Smith, ‘72, Anna Ashley, ‘60*
	A Brief History of the Nasson Community Center by Pete Smith ‘72 Nasson College, established in 1912, once proudly educated thousands of young people in the heart of Springvale. In the 1930’s the school acquired an 1800’s vintage barn on Main Street and converted it to a recreation hall. In 1959, Nasson built a remarkable building called the Memorial Student Activity Center. It was connected to the former Recreation Hall which, by then, had become a lecture hall. In 1971, the “Rec Hall” was refurbished and became the Little Theatre at Nasson. The Student Activity Center was the home of the Nasson Lions sports teams, the Little Theatre was the home of the Nasson Footlighters Drama Club, and the Nasson family was proud of this remarkable complex. In this building there were commencements, performances by Dizzie Gillespie; Maynard Ferguson; Odetta; Dick Gregory; Pierre Salinger; Sam and Dave; Blood, Sweat & Tears; and many, many more. On the lower level was a rifle range. On the street level, besides the 9,000 square foot gym, was the Huse Memorial Chapel. In 1983, with enrollment declining, Nasson College closed its doors. And the Theatre, the Gym, the Chapel, the whole campus went dark. It was a sad time for the Town and for Nasson Alumni. For nearly 20 years, the once-proud Activity Center sat vacant and deteriorating. The power lines were cut. The water lines were cut. The roof leaked. Vandals broke windows and invaded the inside of the building, leaving behind graffiti and worse. Dozens of local people organized to protect the building. Plans were made to resurrect it as a Community Center. People seemed to love the idea. But in the winter of 2001-2002, after due consideration, the Town Board of Selectmen decided taking on a million dollar renovation project was not in the taxpayers' best interest. Discouraged and disheartened, the group accepted what appeared to be the inevitable. The once-proud Nasson Memorial Student Activity Center would become a parking lot. But a team of four Nasson College Alumni, Anna Ashley ’60, Rick Schneider ’71, Connie Witherby ’73, and myself, H. Pete Smith ’72, decided to try to save the complex. We formed Nasson Center Redevelopment, Inc., a non-profit organization. And we went to the movers and shakers of the community asking this question: If a Community Center is wanted and needed, then why can’t a private group make it happen? Just about everyone agreed Sanford/Springvale needed more gym space. And just about everyone agreed it could use a place for the performing arts, too. So, we went forward saying, “WE DARE TO DREAM…YOU CAN, TOO!” People dared. What we call ‘The Wall of Fame’ in our lobby tells the story. Please read it. It lists those without whom the Nasson Community Center would not exist. One by one people, organizations, corporations, foundations, and the movers and shakers stepped-up and helped make it happen. With over $500,000 in donations and thousands of hours of volunteer time, the NCC lives! In 2004, the center opened its doors to a newly renovated gymnasium which provides many activities for Sanford and the surrounding rural communities. It includes, but is not limited to: • Sanford/Springvale Youth Athletic Association’s Basketball Program • Sanford/Springvale Youth Athletic Association’s Wrestling Program • Sanford High School's Wresting Program • “Open Gym Evenings” for kids to play basketball and volleyball • Senior citizens safe walking space all winter long and in inclement weather • Pre and post-school program in partnership with the YMCA • Physical education and recreation for consumers of Waban Projects, Inc. (a York County agency for children and adults with mental disabilities • Seaglass Performing Arts concerts • Banquets, meetings, adults and junior dances, fundraising events, etc. In other words, the Center has become a busy, active, vibrant center for community activities, but we are not finished. Currently, we are undertaking a program to finance the renovation of the Little Theatre, an existing building attached to the Center’s gymnasium. This will create a wonderful venue for the performing arts, concerts, lectures and educational/cultural programs. It will serve to fill a gaping void of these types of programs in Central York County.