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| The Sonoma Community Center is a source of great civic pride both in terms of its historical building and the wide spectrum of events and activities it has provided for over fifty years. |  |
The Sonoma Community Center was built in 1915 as the Sonoma Grammar School. Following the trends of early 20th century school architecture, the two-story brick building is an excellent example of the Greek revival style complete with pediment, Doric columns and portico. Other architectural highlights include a towering front entryway accented with cove ceilings and a huge expanse of windows. The multi use room, Andrews Hall, features a two story ceiling height, architecturally detailed windows, a balcony area which still houses the original theater-style seating and projection room, and a Victorian style stage bordered with a molded floral motif and crowned with cherubs.
The building was purchased by Sonoman Dr. Carroll Andrews in 1952 and given to the people of the Sonoma Valley for the purpose of creating a community center. The building was upgraded and seismically retrofitted in 1975 through a two million dollar Housing and Urban Development block grant. A ceremony was held in 1981 when the building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places. As a reflection of the mission statement, the board and staff of the Sonoma Community Center take great pride in the maintenance and restoration of one of California's historic buildings.
Beyond the importance of the historic structure, the land on which the Center resides provides an even richer cultural key to Sonoma's past. By the time the school was constructed in 1915, 276 East Napa Street had been home to the Sonoma Grammar School for 46 years. The original building, erected in 1869, was a modest four-room frame structure. A single picture remains of the original building, serving as a visual reminder of the past, but the names of the students who attended the school live on in Sonoma today. Many of the families who lived in the Valley then are still here today, and the ground on which the Sonoma Community Center stands gives them a strong link to their cultural heritage as Sonomans and Californians.
As a resource, the Sonoma Community Center is unmatched in the Valley. The mission of the Center is to enrich the lives of people by fostering a broad range of cultural, educational, recreational and community service activities. Currently the Center sponsors programs in fine art, pottery and ceramics, theater and music. Classes and workshops are offered year round to people of all ages.
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