For generations, children walked through the doors of the Colson school in Letcher County, Kentucky. Among the teachers who helped shape those memories over the decades was Shirley Sexton, who spent years teaching in the building before retiring in 1995. Like so many others in the community, she watched with sadness as the school closed and fell into disuse.
After eight years of sitting empty, in 2020, she was able to purchase the building with a vision of giving it a second life. Working closely with Martin and Melanie Holbrook, fellow community members, they began building Colson Civic Center in 2021 to serve local families with opportunities for fun and fellowship.
Then, the following year, the 2022 flooding disaster struck.
Flooding Setbacks
More than six feet of water rose in the building, leaving behind 18 inches of mud. The force of the flood was so powerful it pushed furniture out the doors, ruining their commercial kitchen and the heating and cooling system. For a community already facing population loss and economic challenges, the flood was another painful setback.
However, volunteers arrived from near and far to help get them get back to serving the community. Save Our Sheep, Helping Hands from North Carolina and Team Rubicon joined in the massive cleanup effort.
Organizations and partners stepped up in remarkable ways. Members of Kentucky-based nonprofit, Clean4Change, visited multiple times to assist with recovery work, including cleaning floors and helping restore damaged spaces. They also helped secure funding via the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky for three mini-split heating and cooling systems, allowing individual rooms to be heated and cooled efficiently within the large building.
Planning for Long-Term Resilience
Mountain Association became another key partner in the center’s recovery and long-term sustainability. Through energy-efficiency improvements spearheaded by our Energy Team, the center upgraded its lighting system with LED fixtures. We provided additional free technical assistance thanks to support from the KY Office of Energy Policy, and facilitation for solar, with panels donated via the Footprint Project and installed via Letcher County’s own HOMES, Inc. HOMES received funding from the Solar Finance Fund to bring down the cost by $6,000.
Combined with efficiency improvements, the impact has been dramatic. Electric bills that once ranged from $200 to $300 per month have dropped to around $40. At new rates, they are expected to save more than $2,600 per year.
This means more money can be invested directly back into the community.
Back to Serving the Community
The center hosts food giveaways twice each year in partnership with God’s Pantry and the Letcher County Food Pantry. Every Christmas, more than 300 families visit to take photos with Santa and receive free toys. Every fall, children can explore a one-acre corn maze, pose with giant hay bale creations, and pick one of 500 pumpkins that are grown and given away. School groups visit from Letcher and Knott counties, as well as the Autism Center and Adult Learning Center. They also operate B&G Thrift Store out of the back half of the school, providing affordable clothes and household items for families.
“A lot of people around here are working two jobs, and just struggling. Everything we try to do has the goal to make things easier and more joyful for families,” Martin Holbrook said.
That mission is working. Parents and grandparents often come through the doors and immediately find themselves walking down memory lane. Former students wander the halls pointing out classroom or their lockers. After events, children cry when it’s time to get back on the bus because they don’t want to leave, though there’s always another event coming up they can look forward to.
Ongoing Recovery
Even though they are back to offering activities, recovery projects continue and the list of maintenance needs is long. They are now better prepared for future flooding with flood doors, sandbags, and drain plugs ready, but the center lost nearly half an acre of land to creek erosion following the flood, and work is underway to stabilize the streambank with rock to prevent further damage. They are also looking for funding for critical roof repairs and ultimate replacement.
Through floods, setbacks, and years of hard work, the Colson Civic Center stands today as a symbol of resilience and generosity for the people of Colson and Letcher County.
To learn more about them visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Colson-Civic-Center-100079497507885/
