The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-02-27
Ask Support
For Market
Center II.
Need Aid To Keep
Building From
Closing Down ,f,t ]

An appeal for community sup
port and action to keep the Mar
ket street recreation center oper-
ating was made at the weekly
luncheon meeting of the Pasca-
goula Rotary Club Wednesday
noon at the country club.
Two speakers making the APP
peal were E. r. Hamnett, presi-
dent of Recreation, Inc, and Karl
Wiesenburg, representing the
American Legion. Invited guests
at the melting included represen-
tatives of various civic clubs and
other community organizations.
Mr. Hammett told the gather
ing that the meeting had been
arranged SO that problems faced
in the operation of the comiun-
ity center could be brought itoithe
attention of the public. q ag
"We feel that the continued OPP
Grafton of the community center
is vital to the interests of Pasca-
goula," MI. Hammett said. "Pas-
cagoula has been pervaded by a
defeatist attitude during the pres
ent period of adjustment at the
shipyard, and to give way to this
attitude could, in a large meas
ure, defeat the future of our city"
Mr.. Weisenburg pointed out
that the community center repre-
sents an investment of approx
mately SITS, 900, of which $30,D00
was paid by the city. With tie ad-
dition of equipment the center
represents a total investment of
approximately 100000 he said.
He addd that Recreation, Inc,
was formed as a non-profit or
.ganization which purchased the
bowling alleys and other equip
ment through subscriptions from
private citizens and that, when
paid for, this equipment will re-
vert to the city.
MI. Weisenburg also pointed
out the defeatist attitude prevail
ent and added that eff we can't
keep the things of value that we
have we are doomed to failure"
Mr.. Hammett told of the form
alton of Recreation, Inc. and its
operation of the community cen
ter during the past two years un-
der lease from the city govern
ment. ga
Operated At Loss n3aai
Last fall we realized something
had to be DONE" Mr.. Hammett
said. 1--WE had operated the build
ing for two years and found our
selves $4,000 in the hole. We came
to the conclusion that, in order to
operate the building and a COM
munity recreation program sue
cessfully, we would have to be
helped out to the extent of $500
to $4,000 yearly as revenues from
the operation of the building
would not meet expenses
of operation"
TheAmerican Legion and the
YMCA were both interested in
over the building, Mr..
continued. At a genral
meeting of subscribers to Recre-
Inc, it was voted to turn
the building and assets over to
the American Legion in the hopes
that this organization could keep
it going.
The building serves a genuine
community need, Mr.. Hammett
said. During the first year of OPP
Grafton figures show that average
daily attendance was in the neigh
borhood of 800. If a good organi-
zation takes over the operation
Of the building and program and
other organizations and the citi-
zens as a whole get behind them,
It can be kept going and a better
Job can be done than heretofore,
he said.
Mr.. Weisenburg, who was intro
iuced by Mr.. Hammett, told the
meeting that it was his opinion
hat no organization could sue
,esfully operate the building
The idea of taking over and
the building as a COM
nunity service was presented to
he Legion, he said, as the city
md county government could do
late to the Legion, and to no 9TH
n organization, which placed the
in a better position to OPP
the building.
Give Up March l
AS a result the Legion took
,ver the building on December
st, and after a trial operation,
S turning ii back to Recreation.
nc, on March 1. During the pc
'iod it operated the building. he
aid. the Legion sustained = To-