Newton Falls – Eighty years ago, in 1942, the Newton Falls Community Center, located at 52 East Quarry Street, was originally dedicated as a United Services Organization (U.S.O.) facility. The Newton Falls U.S.O. was the first facility in the country specifically designed and constructed to serve not only the military personnel but also the civilian defense workers.
Plans are underway to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the dedication with a family-friendly community celebration on Saturday, November 5th, 2022. Members of the Planning Committee are: Connie Smith Talcott, Steve DeBolt, Ed Meade, David McKinstry, Cari Delgato, Brian Burgos and Judie Zimomra.
The 10,800 square foot Newton Falls Community Center is owned by the Village of Newton Falls and leased to the Heritage Accord. Heritage Accord is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, incorporated and registered with the State of Ohio. The sole mission of Heritage Accord is to restore, renovate and preserve the Newton Falls Community Center such that it can be reopened and made available for public use.
Reopening the Community Center to the public will not only honor its historic original use and its structural and architectural features as a historic U.S.O. building, but will also allow it to become a prominent and attractive facility for special gatherings and education for the people of the Village of Newton Falls and surrounding areas.
This prominent structure is a nationally recognized landmark property and it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As such, the renovations will be completed consistent with the U. S. Department of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for historic properties. Also, in 2017, the Newton Falls Community Center was recognized by both the Ohio Historical Society and the Trumbull County Historical Society for the historical significance of the structure.
In July it was announced that Heritage Accord received a $25,575 matching grant in the amount of $24,575.00 from the Jeffris Family Foundation Ltd. The Jeffris Family Foundation grant will be combined with an equal amount of funds on-hand at Heritage Accord in order to fully cover the cost of a critically required Historical Structure Report (HSR) of the Newton Falls Community Center.
Donations for the project may be made to Heritage Accord, P.O. 82, Newton Falls, Ohio 44444 or at any branch of Huntington Banks.
