Centennial Celebration

COMMUNITY LANDMARK IS 100 YEARS OLD IN JULY, 2009

• Original Play To Tell Town Hall Story
• Town Hall Celebrates Its Centennial
• Essay Information
• Essay Contest Registration

Somebody is turning one hundred years old this summer! Washington Township Hall (currently known as Town Hall Theatre), is dusting off old memories and looking forward to celebrating its centennial in July, 2009!

The Doolittle Tavern, suffering from neglect, was razed in 1908 to make way for a new Township Hall. A barn on East Franklin, where today's MacDigger's bar is located, had served as the old Town Hall and was moved to the Weller farm.

The new Township Hall was dedicated on July 3, 1909 and has served as a place for village and township government meetings, civic functions, social gatherings, graduations, and other community events throughout its storied history. The village water tower and fire department were also once located onsite. The building currently serves as the home of Town Hall Theatre, now in it’s 17th year of presenting live theatre for young audiences. It also provides space for the Americana Festival committee, V.F.W. Post 9950 and the Centerville Grange.

This July, Washington Township joins the Centerville‐Washington Historical Society in celebrating the building’s centennial. The celebration will culminate with public performances, tours and pictorial displays as part of the Americana Festival, July 4th, 2009.

The staffs of both entities have been busy in the last several months sifting through historical records and photographs. They are also interested in gathering information on the building from private residents and/or groups who have used the building as they prepare for the centennial. They are looking for photographs, news-clippings and, most importantly, oral histories. If you have a memory of the building you would like to share, contact Mark Metzger, Theatre Manager, at (937) 433-8957.

For more information on this event and to find out more about our program offerings including a complete listing of the 2008-2009 Pure Imagination Season, please contact the Box Office at (937) 433-8957.