Raymond Community Centre facts for kids
The Raymond Community Centre is a special building in Raymond, Alberta, Canada. Today, it is home to the Broadway Theatre and the Raymond Public Library. For many years, until 1987, this building was a meeting place for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. People knew it as the Park Avenue Chapel or sometimes called it the "Second Ward Church" or the "Brown Church."
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The Building's Early Days
This important building was designed by an architect named Francis Bent Rolfson. Work on it started in 1928. At that time, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints already had one meeting place in Raymond. But their group had grown so much that they needed a second one.
Unique Design and Completion
The building has a very interesting "Y-shape" design. It features a round area in the middle, called a rotunda. The construction of the building was finished in 1939. It was officially opened as a church meetinghouse on November 5, 1939.
A New Purpose for the Community
In 1987, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sold the building. The Town of Raymond bought it. After buying it, the town did a lot of work to fix up and update the building.
Opening as a Community Hub
The building reopened its doors on June 1, 1996. It was given a new name: the Raymond Community Centre. This center now holds the Broadway Theatre, where shows and events take place. It also has the Raymond Public Library, a great place to find books. Plus, it has offices for different businesses. The town hall for Raymond was also located in this building until 2019.
A Historic Landmark
The Raymond Community Centre is not just a useful building; it's also a piece of history. In 1989, it was named a Provincial Historic Resource. This means it's an important historical site in Alberta.
Listed on the Historic Register
The building is listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places. It is known there as the Latter Day Saints Park Avenue Chapel. You can find it at the corner of Broadway and Park Avenue in Raymond. Interestingly, there is a "twin" building in Provo, Utah, that was built using the exact same design!
