Published Saturday, August 24, 2002
Herald Writer
Built before the Depression, the kitchen, gymnasium and pool -- especially the pool -- at St. John's Episcopal Church, Sharon, served a purpose.
That's served. Past tense.
"St. John's Episcopal Church has served the community for years and years. We will still serve, just in different ways after the renovation," explained Frank O'Stafy, senior warden at the church.
The church is beginning to raise funds for a renovation that will remove the existing gymnasium, pool, locker rooms and kitchen built in the early 1930s.
According to O'Stafy, the natatorium was closed in the early '70s because of asbestos in the ceiling and interior walls. Costs of utilities, chemicals and insurance contributed to the closing, said the Rev. Douglas Dayton, rector of the church.
"We had the first indoor pool in the Shenango Valley," said O'Stafy. "During the '40s and '50s, every school student in the area learned to swim here."
Water leaks in the kitchen have rendered a convection oven unusable, gaps in walls have caused windows to pull away, and the roof leaks.
"We received an estimate of $250,000 just to fix the brick wall next to First United Methodist Church," said O'Stafy. "The gym floor is bad; it's plain worn out. The nails keep coming up in the floor from use over the years."
For decades, the St. John's social facilities provided opportunities for many in the valley.
"The pool and facilities are a legacy of love for the Shenango Valley, reminiscent of an era, a gift from the Buhl family," said Rev. Dayton.
There have been many changes in the community since the building was constructed in the early '30s.
According to Rev. Dayton, there were about 650 families attending three church services when the facility was built. Now that number is down by about half.
"In the '50s people believed the gospel and lived it. Nowadays it is different," observed Dayton. "We at St. John's take the gospel serious to the point that this renovation will spread the gospel and be of service to the community."
"I felt sad to see it close but it needed repairs," Ruth Bewley, a former swimming student and instructor, explained. "It would be great if they could rebuild it but we don't have as many volunteers as we did then; everyone works now."
A few proposed ministries that may be included in the renovation include rooms for day care and senior citizen activities, expanded food pantry space, Red Cross blood drives, classrooms and more parking, said O'Stafy.
"If there is an activity that the community would like to see us provide, let us know."
"St. John's location is wonderful," added Rev. Dayton. "Perhaps a non-profit community agency needing office space could be a ministry included in the new building."
Church history suggests that many of the social welfare agencies of today were organized in then-Rev. Edward Owen's office. Under his visage, the pool and gym were constructed as an outreach to the community. In addition, there were two mission houses on Irvine Avenue that served as dormitories for single girls working in the valley.
"God is calling us to do whatever we can to make this renovation an outreach project." said O'Stafy, noting there will be a survey taken of the parish to find out specific needs and wants for the project.
Three preliminary sketches have been drawn up, with an estimated cost of $2 million.
With a hefty price tag for the renovation, St. John's has already had a kickoff spaghetti dinner, with many other fund-raisers in the works, including youth dances and community theater.
"We plan to continue to maintain the hospitality and service that's been at the heart of the church's mission and vision since it's founding," said Rev. Dayton.