For more than 40 years, ever since I returned to my hometown, I’ve heard every Town Council discuss the need for a community center, a place where “kids” could go, with something for them to do, a senior center – a gathering place for our elders and a place where our town’s many benevolent groups could meet.

This might be the time to remind folks that we have had a Community Center – at least for a short time.

In 1910, Windham built its first building devoted to serving as a high school. A gym was added in 1925; an annex was added (for kindergarten) in 1957. When the town’s second high school was opened in 1964, the old building became the junior high school, and remained so until it was condemned in 1977.

In 1978, with a $494,000 grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration, the old high school was renovated and turned into the Community Center. It contained nine rooms, the gym, and a kitchen.

Many community groups met here including all town committees and the school board; senior citizens, arts and crafts, Jaycees, Lions, Boy Scouts, Chamber of Commerce and others. This was the perfect place – but unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

Windham kept on growing and in their old 1833 brick building, municipal and school offices were too crowded and more space was needed.

In 1980, after nearly 150 years in one spot, the Windham municipal offices were moved from the 1833 brick town house into the Community Center. (The old brick building is now a museum and meeting place for the Windham Historical Society.) School administrative offices moved into the historic Hanson house, which, at the turn of the century, had been a boarding home for teachers and was property of the town.

In 20 years, between 1980 and 2000, to accommodate growth, Windham residents approved:

• Doubling the size of the Public Library, including a public meeting room.

• Construction of the Public Safety Building

• Construction of East Windham Fire Station

• Construction of the Windham Primary School

• Enlarging and renovating Manchester School

• Enlarging town garage to accommodate school buses

• Renovation of a 1926 vintage school building for a Family Resource that includes the Food Pantry, Clothes Closet and General Assistance offices.

The community has grown from 6,500 in 1970 to more than 17,000 today. Lots of community, but no Community Center.