Volunteers renovate Mountain Fellowship Community Center
What a difference a helping hand can make. Mountain Fellowship Community Center in Henry Clay Township recently underwent renovations as volunteers sought to get it in shape for the season.
“We’re going to paint, install a new ball fence, put in new bleachers, do repair work in the building,’ said Dick Dennis, president of the center, as he began to reel off a list of projects on the first day that volunteers showed up to work this spring.
Courtney Fisher, coordinator of the project and a member of the Mountain Area Church Softball League, explained the volunteers included local residents, members of churches who participate in the softball league and 66 members of Maverick Capital, who took part in a community service project while they were on a retreat at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington.
“We’re trying to renovate it and fix it up to bring more people in,’ said Julianne Glover, vice president of the softball league. “It’s something for the community to do on the weekends.’
Mountain Fellowship Community Center was founded in 1955 by local churches that were part of District 9 of the Fayette County Sunday School Association, according to a history provided by the center. Dennis said the property, which is located along Route 40, includes 70 acres.
Their activities took place outdoors at first. But in 1973, they were able to construct a building with help from the Rockwell family, who then owned Nemacolin Woodlands.
Dennis noted the building contains a gymnasium with a stage and a kitchen.
“We roller skate here, operate volleyball and basketball leagues, target shoot and have a flea market monthly,’ he said. “We have birthday parties, family reunions and recently completed the 47th annual talent show for young people.’
Wanda Burnworth, treasurer of the center, said, “My dad started the skating. We have it every Friday while school is open, from 7 to 9 p.m. They can rent skates or bring their own.’
Burnworth, who has volunteered at the center for 40 years, believes the center is important to the community.
“Most of the churches anymore don’t have community centers, so it’s some place they can go and have reunions. It’s a place for young children,’ she said.
According the history compiled about the center, the Mountain Fellowship Center is the host of many different events and activities for the tri-state area. They include adult basketball and volleyball, youth basketball league, birthday parties, baby showers, wedding receptions, benefit functions, roller skating, flea markets, host of the Tri-County Talent Show (called the Talent-O-Rama), concerts, target shooting, township election location, graduation parties, benefit all-terrain vehicle poker runs, family reunions, support of local Boy Scout troop, distribution location for the Salvation Army, and location of the Mountain Area Church Softball League.
The softball league began in 1955 and today consists of eight local churches within the tri-state area. The league begins at the end of May and continues every Friday and Saturday evening until the middle of August. Between two and three games are played each night, starting at 7:15 p.m. Fridays and 6:15 p.m. Saturdays, on the lighted field.
Mike Beachy, president of the softball league, said, “It’s a good place of fellowship where churches come together. We have a tournament in August. It’s a very family friendly atmosphere.’
And this year, the place is seeing some physical improvements as volunteers worked to clean and enhance the property.
Projects that took place this spring included: softball field dugouts – replacing the roof, painting, replacing the benches and safety screen fence; softball field concession stand – fixing the windows, hanging a door with a lock and painting; painting the pavilion; replacing seats and painting the softball field bleachers; painting the outside of the fellowship center building; replacing parts and sealing the wood of the jungle gym; softball field – replacing the existing drag, digging up the bases and replacing broken buckets, and replacing the outfield fence as well as planting flowers on the center grounds and painting the gate.
Volunteers worked several days in May to carry out the assignments, eager to give to a place that through the years has meant so much to so many people.
Kimberly Jenkins, coach with Markleysburg Union Church, said, “We’re trying to make it a whole lot better for the community as well as us.’
Fisher said, “The center is a great place for the community to host events. The community in this area is very tight-knit and works very well together. I’m very proud of the churches in this area as well as the community to accomplish this astonishing project.’
For more information on reservations or membership, call Dennis Lumber at 724-329-5542 and ask for Wanda. Any church wanting to join the softball league should call Mike Beachy at 724-329-4889.