TRUMAN - For decades, the community building available to Truman residents for dances, weddings, baby showers, meetings, and other gatherings looked worn down.
Heavy dark paneling lined the walls - except where it was falling off - the floor was filthy, the steps were crumbling, handicap accessibility was poor, strip lighting struggled to light the space, and the large meeting room had terrible acoustics.
Last fall, a group of Trumanites decided they deserved better and made a plan to fix up the building inside and out - without charging the city for their labor.
Carl Vogt, one of the leaders of the project and retired contractor, put the final awning up over the windows last week, heralding the major aspects of the building restoration were complete.
Vogt said the building was built for the American Legion and sold to the city in 1951.
Then time began to take its toll.
"It got old and got to look tacky," he said.
Vogt put his designing and drawing experience to work, and a group of dedicated volunteers emerged from the public to put in the sweat work. With the city contributing $10,000, the men and women had funds to begin the project.
Monte Rohman, Truman city clerk, said $8,000 was taken from the Olive Vaughan Estate funds, which were willed to the city for use on park and recreation projects. The other $2,000 was allocated from the town's general fund.
The building's interior now is bright and modern. A stainless steel railing borders the new steps and wheelchair ramp, the door has a classy new trim and leads into an entry room brightened with recessed lighting and a chandelier perfect for the space.
Off to the left is what used to look like a dungeon, Vogt said, but is now a smaller meeting room - complete with fireplace, couches, television, and tables.
The fireplace is more than a visual centerpiece, according to Vogt.
"The fireplace heats this whole room so we don't have to fire up the furnace to the whole place," he said. "It can be fifty degrees out there and seventy in here."
Connected to the fireplace room is a relatively large kitchen, which Vogt said needed a little rearranging to improve efficiency. A large vent hood was added and cabinets were moved around to improve flow.
Out the other side of the kitchen is the larger meeting room. Vogt said the room renovation began when a dance company had the hardwood floors refinished to a bright shine. After that, panelling was ripped out, drywall put up and a large chair rail added to protect the new wall. Acoustical panels were hung to improve sound, and new fixtures were installed. The lighting now allows three levels of illumination, perfect for both meetings and wedding receptions.
The work was completed by about 45 volunteers, who worked when they could, doing what they were good at.
Vogt said he did a lot of shopping during the process of renovating the building to find deals, and many locals donated supplies. The shiny new railing in front of the building - made from used pipe - was donated for the project.
"It was a really good community effort," Vogt said. "It has been a fun project."
Although the city donated money to complete the effort, Vogt said it cost more than was allocated. He estimates about $16,000 worth of materials were needed to bring the building up to date, but he thinks it was well worth it.
According to Rohman, the effort has brought in more traffic to the community building by about 25 percent over the last year. With each rental running $100 for the large room and $35 for the small room and kitchen, the increase in business is welcome.
"The good Lord was with us on this one," Vogt said.
