DURHAM – A piece of Durham’s past was reborn Saturday when the keys to the century-old former Eureka Grange No. 7 – once a delapidated building that many wanted torn down – were turned over to the town as the fully refurbished Eureka Community Center.

The building was purchased by the town for $35,000 in 1990 because it abutted town-owned property, with the idea that the “eyesore” would be torn down, but that was not to be.

Many remembered or were told by their parents and grandparents about the Grange in its heyday when it was the center of social activities: suppers, dances, minstrel shows, school graduations, weddings and a myriad of other events.

Once the town acquired the large, two-story buuilding at the intersection of Royalsborough and Hallowell roads, the geographical center of town, a group of determined residents stepped up, saying, “Wait a minute, give us a chance to fix it up for the town.”

It took some convincing.

Skeptics said it couldn’t be done, but the group told voters at town meeting if they could take charge of the building, it wouldn’t cost taxpayers a dime. They would raise money and use volunteers for everything. Voters said OK, but many weren’t sure it could be accomplished.

In 1991, the group calling itself the Eureka Committee began by holding work nights twice a month on Tuesdays, inviting anyone interested in helping to “bring their hammers and ambition,” and they did. The building, which sat on large rocks, was gutted, literally to the ground. Committee Chairman Milt Simon remembered standing on dirt inside the shell, working.

When the work was done, the building had a new roof, new siding, walls, ceilings, windows, heating, bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen with hand-crafted cabinets, new wiring and a handicapped-accessible entrance.

All the while they held tailgate sales, harvest sales, bake sales, raffles, plant sales, ice-out contests, got a $12,500 grant, donations of money and materals. Area and local contractors often donated their expertise.

In 2003, the town started picking up electrical costs, then heating costs, and finally raised enough money last year for finishing touches.

On Saturday, the committee relinquished control of the now stately white building to the town in a formal ribbon cutting ceremony – exactly 102 years to the day it was first dedicated as the Eureka Grange No. 7 Hall on Nov. 8, 1906. The Grange was a renovated farmhouse bought for $800.

Simon presented the keys to Board of Selectmen Chairman Wesley Bennett, who cut the ribbon on the new Community Center.

In his presentation, Simon said people first asked why the committee undertook such a task, but as work progressed over the past 19 years, the question became, “When will it be ready?” and finally, “When will it ever be ready?”

He commended the 160 volunteers who worked on the project.

“We’ve expended $100,000 and labor valued at another $100,000, bringing a building valued at $35,000 in 1990 to be worth between 250,000 and $300,000 today. We’re giving this back to the town today for all community activities … like they used to do 100 years ago.”