Snapshots of History: Benton Community Center

By Editor | June 12, 2024 |

Benton Community Center on March 24, 2011.

The Benton Community Center was built in 1992.
Before that, some Benton events were held at the former Methodist Church. I didn’t have information on that church’s last service but I was able to find it.
In the years 1966 and 1967 the church directory in the Record-News listed Raymond Banner as the person delivering the message at the Benton Methodist Church. The church directory also referred to the church as the “Benton Community Church.”
However, it was Rev. William Morehouse, a Methodist minister, who delivered the last sermon there on August 10, 1967.
That was the church’s last appearance in the Record-News directory.
The good folks at Benton decided to build a new community hall, but they needed help. And help they got. Dick Motsinger and Larry Bowen donated land for the new center which began to take shape on July 25, 1992 when volunteers erected the walls.
Terry Bishop and his crew were hired to shingle the new hall. The building would be 30 feet by 60 with a kitchen, meeting room, and bathroom. The site is just south of where the old high school stood.
An open house was held October 4, 1992 with music provided by Ed Allee and Frank Hulett. The event featured a hog roast and a newly furnished kitchen and hall, the result of much hard work and many donations of money and material.
During the 2004 Benton Alumni Banquet, it was decided to add onto the existing hall and use the additional space as a museum as many items had been salvaged from the old high school. J. R. Miller got the ball rolling by donating $5,000 toward the project and other donations followed.
Tim Saville and Benson Hainline were hired for the build and work began in the spring of 2005. A local crew of volunteers including Bill Stringham, Bob Andrews, Bill Andrews, Randy Andrews, Dave Stringham, John Cavin, and Phyllis Andrews pitched in and the collection of Benton-related history items was commenced.
The community hall is now sometimes called the Benton Waubonsie Memorial Center. Waubonsie referring to Waubonsie Township, the township Benton is in. A big, monthly event was established here in 2006 – the Benton Breakfast for Supper!
The first Breakfast for Supper was held June 10, 2006 and is still held the second Saturday of each month. The menu for the first supper included Biscuits and gravy, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee, orange juice, and milk.
A free will offering was asked with proceeds going to pay expenses and upkeep on the building. I can tell you from experience ham and hash browns have been added to the menu.
The museum contains many photographs, genealogies, and Benton High School yearbooks. And, hopefully, a few “Snapshots of History” articles.