20 years of activities: Pearce Community Center puttin' on the Ritz

A community raised Pearce Community Center, and that same community now gathers to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their dream.

With just $1, the former Pearce Grade School, named for Dr. L.L. “Doc” Pearce, was purchased from Illinois Valley Central District 321.

Pearce served as Pearce School principal from 1923-40.

In the summer of 1989, the 55-year-old building sat empty, but images of making it into a community center loomed big in the eyes of Chillicothe dreamers.

Building the future
The late Barb Truitt truly loved her hometown, and her visions and financial backing have left a huge mark on Chillicothe.

When she died Aug. 1, 1994, she left more than $2.5 million in contributions to PCC.

Along with money from the Chillicothe Foundation, which Truitt founded and endowed, she challenged Chillicotheans to prove they could turn the dream into reality.

Three residents — the late architect Tom Landes, Bill Roger and Jerry Fennell traveled many miles and spent several months visiting Midwestern community centers.

As the trio put together their financial and membership projections, Truitt reportedly told unsure bankers, “It’s a good idea. Let’s do it.”

And Truitt was not afraid to put her money into the project — $1.4 million donated through the Chillicothe Foundation.

Enter volunteer Chillicothe citizens, the Boy Scouts, local civic groups and the SEABEEs reserve craftsmen, who tackled the former school cafeteria, some classrooms and gymnasium to get the building up and running.

Meanwhile, 17 volunteers mowed and trimmed the Pearce grounds, which were in disrepair.

Volunteers pulled boards from the gym floor, which had been severely damaged by water.

They scraped the boards by hand, salvaged what could be saved and eventually relaid the floor.

Fundraiser after fundraiser drew the community one step closer to its dream.

On April 16, 1990, groundbreaking for a new swimming pool put them even closer.

Living the future
In 1990, Pearce Community Center celebrated its Grand Opening April 23, with 400 initial members enrolled.

In total, more than 10,000 volunteer hours were donated toward the project.

Alive once again, the PCC halls echoed with the voices of its community, involved in such things as ballroom dancing, volleyball leagues, aerobics, the Chillicothe Optimist Club 5K and 1-mile runs and a Harvest Moon Dance.

Chillicothe received the Governor’s Hometown Award in 1990.

One year later, the Barb Truitt Memorial Pool opened on Jan. 16, and PCC membership had more than doubled.

After a $50,000 fundraising campaign, additional first-floor rooms were remodeled and additional fitness equipment purchased in 1992.

Then, in 1993, the not-for-profit Pearce Foundation formed.

On Aug. 1, 1994, Truitt died, leaving behind a legacy of love, caring and compassion for her community.

By the time the new gym and indoor track were completed in 1995, PCC boasted 1,400 memberships, and the next year completed the roof project.

A fitness and capital expansion occurred in 1997.

The second-floor remodeling project, with a price tag of $350,000, was completed, including installation of an elevator and a computer lab.

By 1999, locker rooms were completed and the banquet room remodeled.

Another milestone was reached in 2000, with one million sign-ins, and the $80,000 pool dehumidifier project finished.

PCC reached 1,900 memberships in 2001, and 2002 saw completion of the Pearce Senior rooms, retiling of the pool and second-floor remodeling.

The next year came another fitness expansion, with memberships reaching 2,200 in 2004, with 5,000 members.

In 2005, the spinning room was added, and the Lova Conroy landscaping project completed.

The front entrance was remodeled in 2007, and foundation memberships were established in 2008.

Last year, the ExerGame Youth Fitness program opened, and group exercise was free.

Memberships came in at 2,300 at the end of the year.

Into the future
Located in the center of Chillicothe, PCC serves as the heart of this small-town community.

It is there that people get fit, exercise, swim, gather to socialize and even volunteer their time.

Their sense of ownership stems from the thousands of volunteer hours logged over the years.

Without that assistance, PCC could not exist today.

They have hosted a Harvest Moon Dance, ‘50s Dance, health fairs, Las Vegas nights, car raffle and spaghetti suppers.

PCC has offered quit-smoking help, self-defense for women, babysitting clinics, space for the Pearce Seniors, Spooktacular and summer nutrition programs for children.

Only three of the current members of the board of directors have remained on the board for 21 years — Darlene Kumpf, Scott Meints and Dennis Parkins.

Ironically, life has come full circle for PCC’s first director in 1989, Ben Alvarez, who returned in 2007 and remains its current director.

“We understand this tough economic climate, and are just happy that people are still hanging onto their memberships and joining,” said Alvarez.

To date, PCC boasts more than 2,400 members, a record high.

Alvarez said about 100 charter members have retained their memberships, and they will be honored, along with others, at the annual Volunteer of the Year luncheon in May.

“We’re really thrilled that people think Pearce is important enough in their lives to join,” said Alvarez.