From the Pontiac Daily Leader
Chatsworth to get a new Community Center
By Luke Smucker
In an effort to revitalize the surrounding area, the Central Illinois Connection plans to transform a vacant building at 404 E. Locust St. in downtown Chatsworth into a center where rural Central Illinois communities can connect.
“This is a project that is several years in the making,” said Lillian Rathbun, spokesperson for Central Illinois Connection. “The Central Illinois Connection is a program that was inspired by the Business Connection. Over the years, the Business Connection has experienced all of the rewards of teamwork with Fairbury businesses. This idea has grown into a desire to expand a connection with all of the surrounding communities.“
The Central Illinois Connection is restoring a historic building built in 1888. The structure started out as the local newspaper and has also since been used as a retail shop, a flower shop and a movie theater.
“We are turning it into an action center, where central Illinois communities can come and connect,” Rathbun said. “The center will feature exhibits of various area attractions, children’s art and more. We’re going to call it the Central Illinois Connection Action Center. We hope to have everything completed and open the location prior to the beginning of the new school year next fall. So, things are moving along really fast.”
Throughout the year, the facility will host activities, classes, arts and crafts, food and farming-related events. Rathbun said the agricultural displays and farm-to-table events are particularly important because the Central Illinois Connection believes farmers and agricultural companies are the backbone of the local communities.
“Most importantly, we want to focus on kids,” she said. “This idea is much bigger than a building, we need our youth to be excited about the future here and we hope to give them a reason to have pride in their hometowns.”
“We want to engage our youth and we want to focus on the future. We think that by connecting the people and resources, we can enhance the benefits of living in this area, create employment opportunities, increase tourism and create a community that we can all be proud to call home.”
Before the location in Chatsworth was chosen, other locations were visited. Although the Chatsworth building needs a lot of updating, Rathbun and others believe it’s important to restore these old buildings when possible.
“Mayor Runyon of Chatsworth said the building was available and we took him up on that,” stated Rathbun. “I ran into a Chatsworth resident recently and he was so excited because when he saw all of the construction going on, he thought the building was going to be demolished. However, we’re going to take one of these vacant buildings and make it relevant once more.”
Last year Chatsworth debuted Bluebird Hall, a restored community center with information on Chatsworth High School, historic memorabilia from Chatsworth and information on the 1887 Chatsworth train wreck. The village also saw its first schoolhouse, recognized today as the Little School Museum, moved to Locust Street.
“It feels good to see so much revitalization going on in this community,” Chatsworth Mayor Richard Runyon said. “I hope this will bring other people to the community that might not normally come here. We want everyone to see that Chatsworth is alive and well.”
