Campbell Mayor Raymond Gunter points out some of the work to be done inside the planned Jim Morris Civic Center to a group that included (from left) State Senator Rob Mayer, Gunter, Barry Provorse, contractor and owner of BP Builders, and city councilmen, Chuck Allen and Eddie Barnett. Photo provided [Click to enlarge]

The 101-year-old Boyd Building, one of Campbell's historic landmark buildings, was near the point of being demolished after standing vacant since the early 1990s.

In 2005, led by the vision of its mayor, Raymond Gunter, the city took the initiative to purchase the building. However, the city on its own did not have the resources to convert the building into a functional and desired community resource. That's where Jim Morris, a Campbell native, and the Campbell Downtown Development Corporation came into the picture. Having already participated in the renovation of another downtown building, which now houses the Daisy Morris Senior Center, the Development Corporation under the mayor's leadership, applied for a Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) grant. According to Gunter, approval came through the efforts of several area state representatives, including Campbell's own Tom Todd, and State Senator Rob Mayer (R-Dexter).

Through the NAP, donors are allowed tax credits equal to the amount of their contribution as a deduction from their tax liability. Those tax credits, however, must be sold by the organization seeking the funding. Again, Mayor Gunter led the drive by contacting Campbell's most notable supporter, Jim Morris, who was born and raised in Campbell, but who now makes Springfield his home. Morris has, many times in the past, lent his financial support to community projects that have facilitated the economic development of the town. This time was no exception. Morris committed the full amount of the project, $484,500, towards its completion.

Friday, the city held formal ground-breaking ceremonies to mark the official beginning of the renovation of the Boyd Building, which is now being renamed the Jim Morris Civic Center. BP Builders of Campbell has already begun gutting the building to make way for the renovation with completion of the project expected in August 2009.

When completed, the building will include a fitness center, meeting rooms for the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, a Nutrition Center thrift store and Ministerial Alliance food pantry. The main portion of the facility will become a community room, complete with a state-of-the-art concession stand, sound system and light show. An adjacent vacant lot will become a well-lit, paved walking track.

Barry Provorse, the contractor, said the project will involve a complete overhaul of the building -- new roof, doors and windows, and a recapped floor.

" The north and west walls will have to be completely demolished because of their condition," he said. A sprinkler system also will be installed.

P rovorse expressed his anticipation of the possibilities the new facility will offer the community.

"There will be movie nights, dances for young people and a place for special community events, such as the Scouts' Pinewood Derby," said Provorse.

With the sound and lighting capabilities the civic center will have, it also may be used for Campbell's junior and senior high proms, which are currently held in the old cafeteria building.

During an informal meet-and-greet session at city hall prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, Morris and his wife, Catherine, also a Campbell native, expressed their continuing love for the community they still call home.

"I have a vested interest in Campbell," said Jim Morris. "It was and will always be my home. I talk about this place all the time."

"It's always close to my heart," added his wife.

Jim Morris recalled that the building, built in 1896, was earlier known as The Mercantile.

"Dan Boyd bought the store in the 1930's when times were hard," said Morris. He recalled a moment in time when, as a boy, he had enjoyed the benevolence of the store's owner.

"Mr. Boyd gave us some bananas. That was such a treat in those days," he recalled.

The building remained a department store/food store until the early '90s and, according to Morris and others gathered for the groundbreaking, nearly every resident had, at one time, owned a pair of shoes purchased there.

From memories of the past to the potential the building now holds of making memories for the future, it is apparent from the support and anticipation the project has generated that the city has much to look forward to.

Change is on the horizon for groups which never before had a permanent meeting place.

"We all voted to move to this building," said Joe Mall, Cubmaster for the 28 Campbell Boy Scouts. "We meet in the old high school gym now but have never had our own meeting place. The city invited us to use one of the rooms here and we agreed."

"The Boy Scouts are a big part of this community," Mall explained. "We do the food drive for the Ministerial Alliance and it will be so convenient having the food pantry right here where we'll be meeting."

His interest in the civic center is an example of the broader interest the project has generated. The whole community, it seems, will be eagerly looking forward to the opening of the Jim Morris Civic Center next year.