Open house celebrates Coldwater Community Center renovations

COLDWATER — Community leaders and residents came Saturday to officially open the Coldwater Community Center at the Beech House, the partially renovated 1856 historic home that the city saved from demolition in 2020.

In 2022, area residents formed a nonprofit to turn the building into a multicultural and community center, "That brings people together through education and social opportunity with an emphasis on culture, arts, and history."

Those in attendance reflected the community diversity with the ethnic foods served.

The program on Saturday listed three and a half pages of grant awards, businesses and organizations that donated funds, products, or services, individuals who made donations, and those who volunteered to realize the dream so far.

Prior story Nonprofit wants city-owned former Putnam Funeral home for civic center

The center needed significant work to stabilize and repair the structure that sat empty after Putnam Funeral Home closed in 2012.

The city of Coldwater purchased the house for a dollar and then invested over $120,000 on repairs and equipment.

The city leased the building to the nonprofit corporation in 2022 and then, last November, extended the lease for three years.

With the city's investment and donations, the house's first floor meets the building code for public use.

In May, the group will post information on programs and leasing for private parties and meetings on the center's website, www.coldwaterbeechhouse.org.

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The nonprofit center will continue to raise funds to restore the foyer and stairs to the second floor and second and third floors in the future.

— Contact Don Reid: [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Open house celebrates Coldwater Community Center renovations