PUTNEY-Putney Community Center (PCCtr), founded in September 1925, will celebrate 100 years of serving Putney and surrounding communities as a gathering place for connection and learning Sunday, Sept. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 10 Christian Square.
Board members will offer conversation and light refreshments and will gather suggestions for activities that people would like to see in the newly designated Community Room. PCCtr is one of the organizations participating in Discover Putney's Main Street Festival, also Sept. 21.
According to the Fortnightly Club's History of Putney, Vermont, 1753–1953, two women who were residents of Putney for many years, Miss Sarah Andrews and Miss Bertha Estey, bought the former Baptist church building (built in 1884) and gave it to the group that formed the first governing board of the nascent Putney Community Center.
George Aiken acted as temporary chairman until a constitution and bylaws were adopted. Miss Estey served as the first board president.
Since then, many activities have taken place within these walls: concerts, dances, plays, classes of all kinds, Boy Scout meetings, lectures, weddings, memorial services, tai chi, childcare, basketball games, holiday events, award banquets, annual meetings. Many people have memories of activities they have attended in this building.
PCCtr has housed the Putney Foodshelf since 2009. The Foodshelf now occupies the PCCtr's main hall, which was repainted in late 2024.
As part of PCCtr's celebration, board members Nancy Olson and Marie Kim worked with Putney Central School librarian Carey Fay-Horowitz and the students in her PCS podcast club to interview Putney residents about their Community Center memories.
"In this very special podcast," Kim said, "we hear stories of gatherings, friendships, and the role the PCCtr has played in town life for generations."
The podcast is available for listening on the PCCtr website: putneycommunitycenter.org. The interview project is ongoing. If you would like to share a memory, send an email to info@putneycommunitycenter.org.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.