Dry Fork Community Building project approaching completion

HARMAN -- After hitting a slight bump in the road when it comes to the construction of the Dry Fork Recreation Center, officials said things appear to be falling into place for the major project.

Ongoing construction of the center's new community building was recently delayed because no companies were available to erect the 90×100 steel structure.

But in early August, Dry Fork Recreation Center President Rex Vance located a company in Pennsylvania that could do the work. Now the steel building is approaching completion.

"Most of the structure is up right now, but we had to leave one end of it open so we could get in there and do our floor," Vance told The Inter-Mountain Monday. "It's going to be a nice building when we get it done. It just cost us a little more to put it up because we couldn't find anyone to do it and had to go clear out of state to get someone."

Trust Steel Erectors of Zelienople, Pennsylvania is doing the work on the facility, which has an estimated total cost of $350,000. The Randolph County Commission supported the project with $250,000, while the center raised $100,000.

"Back in the spring we did the footer and we had the walls put up to get it up out of the ground," said Vance. "We had all of that done and we had stone put in to pour the concrete, but we decided to do the heat in the floors so that's kind of put a wrinkle in what we were doing. All of a sudden he had someone to put the structure up so we had to stop the floor plan."

When complete, the new building, which is located on the center's grounds behind the Old Mill off Route 32, will use floor heat to warm the facility, something Vance said will save the organization money.

"They say in the long run it's the cheapest and best way to go because it's more efficient and everything," Vance said of the heating. "We are going to give it a try and now we just need to try to raise a little more money to help finish it up."

Once operational, the building will be home to a new wellness and fitness center. It will feature a gymnasium, kitchen, showers, bathrooms and several other amenities.

Ground was broken on the Dry Fork Recreation Center in 1997 and started with a baseball field, softball field and concession stand. Each year something is added to the center, which is the site for Autumn on the Dryfork each fall.

This year's event will be on Oct. 14. and will feature a pork roast and chicken barbecue. The event's always popular apple butter and apple cider will be made on site and will be available to purchase. 

For more information about this year's Autumn on the Dryfork, call 304-227-4124.