Chesapeake Community Center

In the fall school semester of 1921, the City of Chesapeake recognized that they had a need to provide a new school secondary school education when a group of 9th graders enrolled in the area's small, grade-consolidated schoolhouse due to overcrowding at the existing school for students of various grades. Accommodations for the city's growing pool of high school students remained rather tenuous until 1924, when it was decided that a dedicated high school would be built.

Construction was completed in 1925 and the new school was ready for enrollment that fall. As time progressed, school enrollment rapidly increased and more teachers were hired to accommodate the growth. One-room and other small-scale schoolhouses continued to serve many elementary school students during the following years until, in 1948, ten rooms were added onto the high school to house the simultaneously growing lower-level students. This addition largely eliminated any need for multiple separate schooling facilities in this district.

During the 1950s, Chesapeake's population grew and the issue of overcrowding arose yet again. In response- and after much deliberation and planning- the city built a new elementary school and high school in 1956. This location then became known as East Elementary school and was used as such until the construction of a new high school in 1989.

Since 1989, this building has been used as a community center, largely centered around the building's gym with several additional rooms dedicated to exercise and strength training. The community center also rents space to private parties. The center's food bank feeds about 1,000 people every month according to a member of its board of directors. In recent years, there has been some debate regarding the potential demolition or the cost of renovating the aging building. The funds for a new roof, an elevator, and necessary repairs to the dilapidated basement were secured in August of 2016 which likely extended the amount of time that this facility would serve as a community center. Local lawmakers have pointed to its community health and engagement services, as well as programs for senior citizens and those in need as reasons for keeping the community center open and making improvements to the building instead of constructing a new facility.

Brown, Paul. A story about Lawrence County, Ohio. Huntington, West Virginia. Paul Brown Publishing Company, 1966.

School District, Chesapeake. History, Accessed October 9th 2019. http://www.peake.k12.oh.us/History.aspx.

Community Center, Chesapeake. Accessed October 9th 2019. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chesapeake-Community-Center/165339056825692.

Malloy, David E. The Herald-Dispatch. August 16th 2016. Accessed November 17th 2019. https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/ohio_news/deal-made-to-save-chesapeake-community-center/article_b0d1315d-9283-59c8-84e4-56b62a59ee19.html.

The Lawrence Herald. Chesapeake Community Center offers variety of classes for all ages, levels, The Herald-Dispatch. December 31st 2011. Accessed November 17th 2019. https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/ohio_news/chesapeake-community-center-offers-variety-of-classes-for-all-ages/article_a12766f2-fcea-5e25-bc9a-6b27f806f44d.html.