6/23/11 Winesburg library building sells at auction
By Nick Sabo
June 23, 2011
241
SUMMARY: Loss of library funding left building empty
A building that served the Winesburg community as a library and community center for more than 30 years passed into private ownership at auction Tuesday June 21.
The sale was conducted at the order of the Paint Township Trustees, which has been sitting empty since the Holmes County District Public library decided to consolidate all of its eastern branches into one facility in Walnut Creek.
Trustee Tim Hershberger said the decision to put the building up for public auction was difficult. However, the building is a financial liability to the township, Hershberger said, which is responsible for utilities and upkeep.
The community center has been under-utilized for years, with events being held more at the fire department hall and a center owned by the Winesburg Zion Church.
The building has so little usage now, thats why we thought it was best for the township, Hershberger said. When it was built it was where everything was at. Thats not the case anymore.
Funding for the building was secured by a citizens group through the trustees in 1977 in the form of a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant. The branch was completed in 1978.
The grant was also used to develop the baseball fields at the west end of town, which have since been expanded to include a playground.
The upper level of the two story, brick faced building was utilized as the library. Operating under an agreement with the public library, the township provided space and paid the utilities, and the public library provided materials and staff.
The lower level has recently been something of a home to the trustees, who held their meetings there. In recent years, bean soup suppers were served in the community center during the annual Winesburg Fall Gathering.
The librarys decline is tied to cuts in funding at the state level. As local government funds were slashed from state biennial budgets, the public library cut back hours at Winesburg and its other branches. After unsuccessful attempts by the public library to generate revenue through a levy, the library board decided to shutter Winesburg, along with Killbuck and Berlin.
The bookmobile continued to make stops beside the empty building.
The building was purchased at the auction for $87,500 by J & M Repair, an electronics design and repair business. J & M owners Matthew Hershberger, Jason Weaver and Joel Hershberger said location and the the need for a larger facility drove their decision.
Trustee Matt Schneider said he feels the sale went well. However, he feels a little sorry letting the building go. The community center idea came from a growing need; prior to its construction, events for youth were being held at the Winesburg School gym.
Its kind of sad. You look at the original grant application and see all the names of those who were behind it and some of them arent around anymore, Schneider said. Their dream is still very much alive with the baseball park. That place is booked from spring to fall.
KUTLINE: The sale of the Winesburg Library and Community Center Tuesday June 21 was well attended. The building sold for $87,500 to an electronics repair and design company.
