(L to R) Bill Horn, Amy Naughton, Kenny Cook

Atlanta Masons present check to Community Center

[December 10, 2015]   ATLANTA - On Thursday afternoon, Atlanta Masonic Lodge Master Kenny Cook and Lodge Secretary Bill Horn presented Amy Naughton of the Atlanta Park District with a check in the amount of $525. The money is designated to help cover the cost of an electrical wiring project completed this year in the basement of the Atlanta Community Center.

The Center is a beautiful old house, built well over 100 years ago by a family who settled in Atlanta and made it home for many years. Eventually, the house was donated to the city of Atlanta, and it was designated as the Atlanta-Eminence Memorial Community Center.

According to Naughton, the Victorian style, three story home is still very much the original home built in the early 1900’s. Inside the woodwork, staircase, and fireplaces are spectacular and true to the style in the time it was built. But with older buildings, sometimes comes big issues. For the community center, the big issue was the electrical wiring in the basement.

The basement of the community center offers a meeting place for the Atlanta Quilters Corner and other groups such as the local 4-H club. Naughton said the electrical wiring as it was, was not able to handle the load of the sewing machines the quilters needed to use. Because the Park District wanted to be able to continue to offer the space to the group, it was decided that the electrical would have to be updated.

Earlier this year the District earlier applied for a $500 grant from the Atlanta Betterment Fund and received it. The Quilters club also donated to the upgrade with a cash donation and a quilt raffle. With those funds, the Park District was still a bit short of being able to cover the cost of the work done in the basement.

The Masonic lodge, which also meets on the ground floor at the community center, decided that they would make up that difference. Cook said one mission of the Lodge was to support the Atlanta Community in various ways. Updating the electrical in the basement was not only good for the groups that meet there; it was a good move in keeping the building in sound condition.

The Masons offer financial support when possible for such projects, and raise their money through a variety of fundraisers including but not limited to the concession stand at the Fourth of July celebration in Atlanta, and sandwich fundraisers held at the Lincoln IGA.

Naughton said the Park District was very appreciative of the donation from the Masons. She said the goal of the district was to keep its facilities nice for the community. She noted that dollars from grants and gifts from organizations such as the Masons help make that possible.

She also noted that one of the more significant projects the Park District has taken on in recent years is the upgrading of the playground equipment at the city park. The dollars to do that work came from a grant from State Farm Insurance in 2012. The grant was awarded because a local resident and State Farm employee, Leigh Ann Barr, nominated the Park District for a contest being held by State Farm, and the District received over 18,000 votes from the community and friends of Atlanta that put the district in the running for the $25,000 award.

The Atlanta Masons have more than 60 members, though Horn noted that approximately half of the group are members in absentia as many no longer live in the Atlanta Community, but maintain their membership locally. The Atlanta Masons would welcome the opportunity to speak with anyone in their community who might be interested in becoming a part of their organization.

While the Community House is noted as being a meeting place for various organizations, it is also available to the community for personal events such as holiday gatherings, showers or receptions. To learn more about the availability of the Community Center call [phone].

[Nila Smith]