The city of Lincoln has completed construction on a new community center, replacing a nearly century-old structure that had long served as a central gathering place for the Washington County community.

The original building, located on the town square, was constructed in 1934 by the American Legion, and operated under a 100-year lease agreement with the city. Over time, structural issues, including wall and truss failures and a deteriorating floor, made the building unsafe for public use. “We really wanted to preserve the building, but it became evident that we were going to have to take it down,” said Mayor Doug Hutchins. “It just wasn’t safe anymore.”

Before demolition, the city explored placing the building on the historic register, but modifications made over the years disqualified it from eligibility. “We exhausted all our options,” Hutchins said. “It was a tough decision, but we knew we had to move forward.”

The new facility spans approximately 5,700 square feet and includes a large open event space, a small kitchen, restrooms and storage areas. It can accommodate up to 160 people and is designed to host a wide range of events, including public hearings, festivals, pageants, weddings and memorial services. “This building has always been the heart of Lincoln,” Hutchins said. “It’s where people come together for celebrations, for tough moments, for everything in between. We knew we had to build something that could carry that tradition forward.”

One of the most distinctive features of the original building, a flagstone arched entryway, was carefully salvaged and reconstructed as part of the new design. “That was one of the non-negotiables,” Hutchins said. “It was important to me personally. My grandfather was a commander of the Legion when they operated out of that building. There’s a lot of history there, and we wanted to honor that.”

The project was funded through a renewed sales tax initiative, approved by voters after the city’s previous library bond was paid off. Hutchins said the timing worked out perfectly. “For the citizens to vote to pay a sales tax to reconstruct that building, that just tells you how important it is to them,” he said. “We’re a small city, but we’re close-knit. People here care about preserving what matters.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, October 3, marking nearly one year since construction began. “We’re proud of it,” Hutchins said. “And when I say ‘we,’ I mean the whole city—the citizens. They supported this from the beginning. We put back something that’s going to be here for another hundred years.”