As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Spencer-Penn Centre has come a long way since 2004, when the Spencer-Penn School Preservation Organization purchased the former Spencer-Penn School and went to work transforming it into a nationally recognized historical site and vital community resource. The Centre now houses a library, a computer lab, two performance spaces, a dance studio and a kitchen incubator, and offers a wide range of classes, activities and services.
The initial renovations, which restored the school to its original 1927 design, have been mostly completed, and the Centre’s staff and volunteers have had the opportunity to focus their attention on improvements: a security system has been put in place; the roof has been replaced; the length of the Centre’s walking trail has been more than doubled, with a footbridge added in the process. Thanks to a generous donation, a new heating system will make the old school’s drafty hallways (almost) as warm as its classrooms. Energy efficiency of an old building is now the focus: insulation under the 1927 wing has been added; new windows have been installed all over the building and energy efficient doors for 6 entries have been added. LED lights were installed in 2017, financed by a grant from AEP and a generous donation from the Lester Foundation. The goal at the present is to install doors for two more entries and then ceiling fans.
The SPSPO has been blessed with many generous donors since 2004; without them the Centre would not be where it is today. The organization’s vision is that donations and income from event rentals will one day support the Centre’s operational costs, while income from special fundraising events will support projects such as roof replacement. But we are not quite there yet, and we ask you to help support this unique resource that has done so much in the past decade to enrich the Spencer-Penn community and surrounding areas.
Support the fundraising efforts of the SPSPO by making a donation, becoming a member or purchasing mementos which are great for Spencer-Penn alumni, former students or staff, or anyone interested in the preservation of the school.