When the Class of 1969 from Coudersport Area High School celebrated its 50th anniversary this month, they were allowed to hold their celebration at the Academy Hill Lodge, with the understanding that donations raised would be given to a community cause.
The group, which was able to raise $3,200, decided to split the funds and donate $1,600 to the Coudersport Public Library building fund and the other $1,600 to the Coudersport community swimming pool.
Jane Metzer, a member of the Class of 1969 and library board member, said her class gathered earlier this month at Dennis Goodenough’s family’s lodge and retreat for the dinner event.
“The Goodenough family offers use of the lodge for class reunions and other gatherings as a unique way to support the Coudersport community, with the caveat that the group selects a community cause to support with its donations,” Metzger said. “He also donates a portion of the amount charged to participants to that cause.”
Terri McDowell, library director, said the Class of 1969 donation is appreciated as the library continues to raise funds for the construction of a new library. The community and library have been raising funds the past several years for the construction of the new library in the Mitchell Park area.
McDowell said the project has been put on hold for a number of years until the levee project was completed, inspected and certified by the state. The borough was mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2010 to upgrade the levee behind Mitchell Park, which is in the vicinity of the library, as well as behind C.A.R.P. park.
“They designated it toward the building fund, which will go for the new library which was still very much in the works,” McDowell said of the donation.
She admitted the building project “is a slow process” but should be accelerating soon, now that the levee improvement project is completed and certified.
“We have board members who are working with the contractors on updating the cost” of the project from estimates four to five years ago, she continued. “They will be going back to the borough council to report to them to make sure everyone is on the same page before we launch the big push.”
As for the pool donation, Bev Morris, borough manager, said the funds will be used for the upkeep of the facility which was recently renovated and upgraded through more than $240,000 in donations raised by the community to match a state grant. She said the pool, however, wasn’t opened this summer until the end of the season due to delays and complications with construction. While the pool is expected to open on time next summer, Morris said donations such as that provided by the Class of 1969 are needed and appreciated.
“I’m hoping if somebody wants to contribute, we’re always looking to add more features or different things to the pool,” she said.
(Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kates_th@yahoo.com. Follow her on Twitter, @OTHKate)
