Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER -Ê"This was the right project," said Bonnie Ingraham, chair of the North Manchester Rotary Club Centennial Project Committee.
A project that was started two years ago culminated Wenesday afternoon when the Rotary Club of North Manchester handed the deed for a new gazebo to town council president Don Rinearson during a dedication ceremony.
The dedication celebrated the 100th anniversary of Rotary Club International. The North Manchester Club got its start in 1939, and now has 31 members in the town.
Two years ago, the Rotary Club International instructed its member clubs to begin planning a project to celebrate the organization's 100th anniversary.
The Rotary Club of North Manchester then asked then-parks and recreation director Brian Wagner for ideas or "wishes" for the town.
The project had to fit the specifications of the Rotary project in several areas such as cost, visibility and contribution to the community.
Soon the gazebo idea was born.
Because the town removed an old water tower, next to the North Manchester Public Library, the base of the structure still existed.
"The town could not afford the cost to have the base of the water tower removed," said Ingraham.
So the Rotary Club decided to use the base of the water tower as the foundation for a gazebo that could be enjoyed by the entire community.
Since it is located next to the library, the gazebo is in an area used frequently by community members.
"We love the library and thought this would be a wonderful project," said Ingraham. "The gazebo can be used in some of the library's summer projects."
The Rotary Club of North Manchester planned the project and enlisted the help of the town's park and recreation department to see it to fruition.
Funds raised at pancake breakfasts and auctions held during the North Manchester FunFest paid for the gazebo, which was finished in November.
The gazebo houses two permanent benches which were donated by Viv Simmons and Howard and Mary Catherine Urich. The Urich's donated the benches in their son's in memory.
