Lumber for Center Former College Serve Kingston Kingston--More than half a century after it closed its doors here, once-thriving Calhoun College still is serving the people of Kingston community. Not literally, of course. But figuratively. For the second time, the lumber that went into the construction of the original Calhoun College administration building is being used in the erection of a structure for the benefit of the residents here. It is a Kingston Community Center building, located on the site of the old school. WAS PUBLIC SCHOOL After it was closed, the Calhoun College building served as a public school for a number of years. Then it was dismantled and with its lumber a new school was built. Kingston finally lost its school, but the building continued in use as a Community Center. Not long ago, that building was razed to make way for a new one. Erection of the new Community Center--by volunteer workers mostly--is a part of the program claiming the attention of Kingston residents in the Community Improvement contest they have entered. The contest is sponsored by "The Farmers-Stockman" magazine in cooperation with the Extension Service department at Texas A&M College. COMMITTEES WORK Since December 9, 1958, thirteen committees have been at work with the objective of meeting the contest requirements. They include welcome, building, recreations, health and sanitation, church and grounds, home improvement, beautification, scrapbook, youth, agriculture, program, education, and safety. The Community Center building being completed should meet the needs of the Kingston area for years to come. It is large enough for almost any sort of meeting. Sprawling over the area that was embraced by the school, the new, solidly-constructed building will have an auditorium and dining room combined that will measure 72x34 feet. The kitchen will be 20x24 feet, with a 12x20 storage room. ONE PAID WORKER "We've had to buy very little new materials, " said Carl Lamm, supervisor-of-construction and the only paid worker on the project. "The material bought includes decking and roofing, plus a few nails. Most of the nails have been donated," said Mr. Lamm. Men of the neighborhood who are adept with hammers and saws show up most every day to give Mr. Lamm a hand. They all are anxious to get the building completed. "We are hoping that we will be through by May 16," Mr. Lamm commented. That is the date for the annual reunion of Exes of Calhoun College who have voted to meet on the site of the old administration building. Lumber that came out of the old building is stacked all over the place right now, but residents of the community have a lot of plans for beautification in mind. They plan a general beautification program, plus the construction of a ball field for the boys of the community and a volleyball court for the girls. RECREATION CHAIRMAN Mrs. W. A. Owens is recreation chairman for the center. She is eager for the debris to be cleared away so she can start putting her plans into effect. Keenly interested in the project also is Mrs. Bert Reisor, whose husband, President of the Center organization, sometimes closes up his garage and swaps automobile wrenches for construction tools to help in work on the building. Mrs. Reisor handed this "Herald-Banner" reporter this information: "Good results have been shown by most of the committees, and we will continue to work after the contest ends in order to keep up the good work toward keeping the community interest we now have. There is still lots of work to be done in order to make the community a clean, beautiful, and safe place in which to live." SPIRITUAL PLANS "We also hope to make further improvements in the spiritual life of the community by cooperating with the local churches. We wish to thank 'The Farmers-Stockman' magazine and A&M College Extension Service for supplying us with the material to work by. It has made the task of improving our community easier for us, and will be profitable to us in the future as a guide in our community work." Mrs. Reisor also thanked the county agents and assistants for their assistance, and the people of the community "who have donated freely of their time, labor, and money." (Picture of Construction: Building Nears Completion--Here is the partly completed Community Center building at Kingston, which is being erected with lumber salvaged when the old school was dismantled. Citizens of the community who are working on the project hope to have it completed in time for the annual reunion of ex-students of Calhoun College on May 16. Staff Photo by Herman Scott) (Picture of Construction Workers: Community Center Builders--Four of the men of the Kingston community who are working on the new Community Center building are pictured above. From left are T. L. Brooks, Bert Reisor, W. A. Owens, and Carl Lamm, who is supervising the construction. Staff Photo by Herman Scott) (April 2, 1959, Greenville Herald Banner by Herman Scott; thanks to John Armstrong for the clipping)