The large two story building on the center right of this picture is the Groveville Community House.
The Groveville Community House was quite a place. It was built in 1917. It very much resembles the Crosswicks Community House. It sat on Church Street where now the Groveville Methodist Church Educational Building is located.
From the front the building resembled a movie theater of the time. The entrance was right at the sidewalk. It had a large front overhang that covered a large concrete pad, adjacent to the sidewalk. The overhang was held up by four large pillars. When you entered the building you were on a landing and had the choice to go up stairs or down.
Upstairs was a large auditorium with a stage at the far end. The stage was fairly professional for the little town of Groveville. It had a stage curtain, lighting, and wings off the stage for those waiting to go on. It also had a large pull down movie screen. There was an exit on the north side of the building that led down an outside wooden stairway; I hope this was not meant as a fire exit, as it was made of wood.
The auditorium was used by local theater groups; the church and the fire company. On special nights it would be used for movies. I remember going to variety and magic shows there. There were plays put on by local groups and even Minstrel Shows, by the Pocahontas Lodge, using local “actors”. The church would use it for Sunday School
The downstairs was a full Basketball Court; originally it had a hardwood floor, with a professional Basketball Court finish. My Grandfather Jack Johnson was in charge of the court and the floor. He was quite an athlete in his day; I have his YMCA Track and field medals. He was a speed skater, I still have his skates, and I have pictures of him riding a unicycle. I was told that organized basketball games were played there, but I don’t know who played.
At some time the hardwood floor was removed, I only remember a concrete floor marked as a basketball court. From what I know it is very hard to maintain a wood floor on concrete, below grade. The dampness takes its toll.
Downstairs there was a large kitchen on the back of the building. The church Thanksgiving Breakfast and other church dinners were served there, the fire company used the hall before the new firehouse was built, and other local groups used it for fund raiser dinners.
I was told that time took its toll on the building and it was torn down in 1956.
If you stood on the same spot as the picture above was taken you would see that the only thing changed on Church Street is the Community House is gone and the cars have changed, other than that it’s the same.
The Groveville Community House was quite a place. It was built in 1917. It very much resembles the Crosswicks Community House. It sat on Church Street where now the Groveville Methodist Church Educational Building is located.
From the front the building resembled a movie theater of the time. The entrance was right at the sidewalk. It had a large front overhang that covered a large concrete pad, adjacent to the sidewalk. The overhang was held up by four large pillars. When you entered the building you were on a landing and had the choice to go up stairs or down.
Upstairs was a large auditorium with a stage at the far end. The stage was fairly professional for the little town of Groveville. It had a stage curtain, lighting, and wings off the stage for those waiting to go on. It also had a large pull down movie screen. There was an exit on the north side of the building that led down an outside wooden stairway; I hope this was not meant as a fire exit, as it was made of wood.
The auditorium was used by local theater groups; the church and the fire company. On special nights it would be used for movies. I remember going to variety and magic shows there. There were plays put on by local groups and even Minstrel Shows, by the Pocahontas Lodge, using local “actors”. The church would use it for Sunday School
The downstairs was a full Basketball Court; originally it had a hardwood floor, with a professional Basketball Court finish. My Grandfather Jack Johnson was in charge of the court and the floor. He was quite an athlete in his day; I have his YMCA Track and field medals. He was a speed skater, I still have his skates, and I have pictures of him riding a unicycle. I was told that organized basketball games were played there, but I don’t know who played.
At some time the hardwood floor was removed, I only remember a concrete floor marked as a basketball court. From what I know it is very hard to maintain a wood floor on concrete, below grade. The dampness takes its toll.
Downstairs there was a large kitchen on the back of the building. The church Thanksgiving Breakfast and other church dinners were served there, the fire company used the hall before the new firehouse was built, and other local groups used it for fund raiser dinners.
I was told that time took its toll on the building and it was torn down in 1956.
If you stood on the same spot as the picture above was taken you would see that the only thing changed on Church Street is the Community House is gone and the cars have changed, other than that it’s the same.
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