BEVERLY - The new field house at Fort Frye High School now has walls, a bright blue roof and plenty of support from the community that put them there.
Community donations and volunteer labor have been essential to the project, say organizers, with the building now set to be completed by Aug. 1 and used immediately by the school's football team as new locker room and weight room facilities.
"There aren't a lot of small communities that could have pulled this off," said assistant coach Charlie Schilling. "We weren't going to be able to get $200,000 from the board (of education) for this. We needed the community."
The community has answered the call, providing everything from electrical and plumbing work on the building to cash, with about $80,000 already raised. Another $40,000 to $50,000 is needed to complete the project, said Schilling.
About a dozen regular volunteers have been working weekends and some evenings since early April to construct the 40- foot by 100-foot building, which will double the size of the team's current locker room.
"On the day we put on the roof, we had about 20 people here," said football coach Eric Huck.
The football players have been watching the progress eagerly, he said.
"They're all really excited," Huck said. "They've helped, too."
Along with the main structure, the plumbing in the field house is nearly complete. The next step will be pouring the floor, said Huck.
As the work continues, so will the fundraisers. The Fort Frye Athletic Boosters are planning a second collaboration with Dough Boyz pizza in Beverly, after raising about $1,000 the first time around.
Twenty-five percent of the business' sales on May 30 will go toward the field house project. Donations can also be sent to the boosters at P.O. Box 282, Beverly, Ohio 45715.
The coaches and boosters already have a long list of thank-yous for the project, from individual community members Bruce Eddy, Ed Watson and Dan Fliehman, who have helped with the plumbing and electrical work to area businesses, including H&S Construction, Lang's Poured Walls, Schilling Truss and Sponey's Ace Hardware.
"The support from the community so far has been unbelievable," Schilling said. "We've had so many volunteers donate their time, and it really shows us how the community backs our athletic programs. And these are good workers who know their trade. They've made this happen."
