Submitted photo The public is invived to join in an open house event on Friday, July 26.

BELINGTON — A celebration of the “rebirth” of the historic Golden Rule Building will include the reveal of an art quilt that will adorn the front display window.

Woodlands Development Group invites the public to join in the open house event Friday, July 26, from 10-noon at the Golden Rule Building.

Woodlands completed the rehabilitation of the long-vacant building in December 2020. The 10 apartment units on the upper two floors filled quickly and have remained full, but the first-floor commercial space presented a different challenge.

The initial commercial tenant pulled out while struggling through the pandemic, leaving the first floor empty. The building had sat vacant for 20 years after the Shinn Family closed its department store in 1999.

Woodlands and the Belington Revitalization Committee recognized that further investment was needed to make the space ready for and appealing to businesses. Now that same space is open seven days a week and provides critical social services to residents, a flourishing small bakery and marketplace for art. It has become a space for community gathering, as well as providing nine jobs.

The project was funded with a Rural Business Development Grant through USDA Rural Development, with matching funds provided by the Barbour County Commission, the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, and the Belington Revitalization Committee.

Project funds helped develop, create and install signage around the building, install a fully operational commercial kitchen, indoor and outdoor seating areas, and other upgrades to create a welcoming, accessible, and useful commercial and outdoor space.

Five artists and additional local craftspeople and contractors were employed through the grant funding to help with aspects of the project.

The front half of the space is occupied by the Barbour County Family Support Center, which provides food distribution and a wide variety of support services to thousands of local families.

In the rear, the Belington Bakery pumps out fresh bagels, pastries and baked goods every week — catering and filling orders as well as serving as a café and informal coffee shop to residents and visitors. Two local artists currently sell pottery and paintings through the bakery.