~ 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
• 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.

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The following by Fred Boyle, Historian:

Still left was the restoration of the Little Theatre. It was also decided by the Board of Directors that the renovation should allow space for non-theatre functions such as receptions, workshops and small conventions. An advisory committee under the chairmanship of Gary Sullivan was organized in 2004. There were a number of difficulties ahead. Money, of course, was the big one. Also there was the problem of having to retrofit the building. Since the building had been closed for years it was necessary to gut it, put in a new basement and purchase new theatre seats and stage equipment. With the leadership of the NCC Board members and staff working along with a local architect, the facility was redesigned. A host of construction people were employed, many providing “in-kind” support. In more recent months a number of volunteer individuals and groups provided much-needed labor. It has benefited from an outpouring of financial and in-kind support, much manual labor, and many hours of planning that is reminiscent of the ingenuity of those who originally turned a stable into a recreation building and then into a theatre. Christened August, 2009, the theatre hosts a variety of events fulfilling its mission in service to the community.