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Our History

Strength in Structure

Historic Building Brought Forth A Thriving Organization

Dr. James MacConnell, a former Superintendent of Beaverton Schools, is considered the father of educational facility planning. When he introduced a new concept in U.S. education: consolidation of small rural schools into one central hub, his vision of an innovative school was built in Beaverton in 1935 and served this area for well over 60 years. 

In 2015, MacConnell’s vision was rejuvenated when the building he designed transitioned into Beaverton Activity Center in a grand opening celebrated by over 1,000 people. A year later, our city nominated BAC for the Michigan Municipal League’s Community Excellence Award in the category “Strength in Structure.” Against formidable competition from much bigger cities, our success story earned the league members’ votes to win the coveted cup!  

Now 87 years old, there’s new strength in this old structure because it’s so much more than a building now – it’s an organization focused on the future.  

Building Timeline

1908
Original Beaverton School Building Built

Built just north of Beaverton Activity Center.

1929-30
School Consolidation Program

Beaverton begins a school consolidation program, one of the first in the nation. To transport students from the surrounding area, federal funds are used to purchase a fleet of Chevrolet open-air buses.

1934
New High School Bond Passed

Beaverton citizens pass a bond issue by a vote of 130-4 to build a new high school. A Federal PWA Grant supplemented the bond issue funds.

1935-36
Construction of New High School Begins

New Superintendent James D. MacConnell helped design the building known as Beaverton Activity Center. A new fleet of enclosed school buses is purchased through a federal grant. The new school opened in the fall of 1936. Historic news reels by U.S. government document the opening and include footage of students and the new bus fleet.

1954
Gymnasium Addition

The addition of a gymnasium and stage greatly expands the size and use of the building.

1965
Last High School Class

The Class of 1965 becomes the last high school class to graduate from the building. A new high school is built. In December, high school students are moved to the new facility and junior high students are moved to the 1936 building. 

1998
Grades 3-4 Move

Grades 3-4 move to the original 1936 building after Junior High is moved to the high school building built in 1965.

2005
BRS Closes the Building

Beaverton Rural Schools end the use of the building for high school, junior high and elementary classrooms.

Preschool Opened

The west end of the building is re-opened as a Pre-School operated by Mid Michigan Community Action Agency. 

2008-14
Adult Ed Programs

Adult Ed Programs are housed in the building.

2011
Exploratory Organization Formed

A group of six citizens form an exploratory organization to pursue the restoration and development of a new community center in the 1936 building.  In October, a number of volunteers host a 75th Birthday party for the building, as a promotion for awareness of the plans to renovate.

2015
Beaverton Activity Center

In October, the newly renovated Beaverton Activity Center opens its doors for a Grand Opening attended by nearly 1,000 local citizens and special guests.

BAC Organization Timeline

2011
Six-Person Team

six-person team begins meeting and discussing plans to explore raising funds to renovate the original 1936 School Building on the corner of Tonkin and M-18 for use as a Community Center.

July
2011
Citizens Gather

Forty local citizens gather at the building to hear updates on the project. Many volunteers are on various exploratory committees.

October
2011
75th Birthday Open House

BAC core members and volunteers sponsor a 75th Birthday Open House celebrating the 1936 opening of the building. Tours are offered and information about the project is shared.

2012
Winter
2012
Anchor Tenants Commit

The Gladwin County District Library and Mid Michigan Community Action Agency commit to becoming anchor tenants.

March
2012
Meetings Initiated

Meetings are initiated with Greater Midland Community Center and Coleman Family Center to develop future programs at BAC.

October / November
2012
Fall Classes & Workshops Debut

Fall classes and workshops for all ages debut. Classes will continue to be offered until the renovation of the building begins in 2014.

2013
January
2013
Use of Social Media

The community strategy team begins plans for promoting BAC development via social media.

February
2013
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Status Granted to BAC
June
2013
Board of Directors Established

The BAC Board of Directors is formally established.

September
2013
Fundraising Challenge Begins

$50 for Fifty fundraising challenge begins, with a goal to generate $2,500 in seed money for BAC.  The campaign ends up raising $9,000.

October
2013
MidMichigan Health (Now MyMichigan Health)

MidMichigan Health commits to becoming a third anchor tenant.

December
2013
Foundation Funding Meetings

BAC Executive Board meets with Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, and Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation in pursuit of project funding.

2014
February
2014
Gladwin County Endowment / GladYAC Support

Gladwin County Endowment Fund and Gladwin Youth Action Council (GladYAC), through the Midland Area Community Foundation, publicly support the BAC project.

March
2014
Plastics 101 Campaign Begins

Plastics 101 campaign begins, with ten local plastics and thermoforming companies lending financial support to BAC.

April
2014
U. S. Department of Agriculture Grant
Talks begin with the USDA, initiating a project grant which supported the opening of the Sweet B Café.
May
2014
Midland Foundations

BAC Executive Board meets with three Midland foundations to present the scope of remodeling and start-up costs. To earn a matching grant by each of the three Midland foundations, the STEP UP Campaign Challenge is issued to raise $200,000 by Nov 1, 2014.

November
2014
STEP UP CAMPAIGN

BAC announces the community not only met, but exceeded, STEP UP CAMPAIGN fundraising goals.

December
2014
$600,000 in Grants

Three Midland Foundations present a combined $600,000 in grants to BAC.

2015
February
2015
Remodeling Construction of BAC Begins

During remodeling, Larry Richardson, of Pottery at the Vinery in Coleman, creates and installs ceramic tiles, that recognize local donations to the BAC project in the front lobby of BAC.

April
2015
Furniture

Volunteers move in furniture donated by Mid Michigan Community College, Dow Chemical, and Dow Corning.

May
2015
Volunteers

First meeting is held to formalize Volunteers for BAC.

October, 17th
2015
Grand Opening

Grand Opening of remodeled BAC is held, with over 1,000 visitors attending.

2016
September
2016
MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 2016 Winner

BAC is named the MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 2016 award winner for best Community Project. The MML Trophy is awarded to BAC at the Annual MML Convention at THE GRAND HOTEL at Mackinac Island.

Beaverton Votes to Build School in 1935

from the Gladwin County Record 10/16/1935

Only Four Votes Against Beaverton School Bond Issue.­ Vote Assures New School.

In an overwhelming vote of confidence in its school board and superintendent, electors of the Beaverton school district yesterday carried the proposed $36,000 bond issue for a new school building by a vote of 130 to 4.

Following the tabulation of votes last night school officials issued a statement thanking the Beaverton district electors for the expression of confidence indicated by the balloting. “While it is yet impossible to determine just when work on the new building will begin,” said Superintendent James MacConnell, “it may be within the next 60 days.”­ The $36,000 bond issue will represent Beaverton’s 55 per cent of the $65,000 called for in the plans for the new school building.­ The government PWA contribution totals $29,454.

Prior to the election, Board members pointed out that the new building is an absolute necessity and that the school district was actually making a saving of $30,000 if it accepted the government grant. At the present time classes are being held in five different buildings, four of them being temporary structures.

Plans for the new school building have been drawn by Warren S. Holmes, Lansing architect, who has worked in conjunction with the board in securing the PWA grant.

JAMES MACCONNELL, Superintendent of the Beaverton Rural Agricultural high school, begins his eighth year as head of that institution August 31, when school opens. Mr. MacConnell has been instrumental in making this one of the outstanding Smith-Hughes schools in the state. His Future Farmers’ organization has repeatedly carried away state honors. College officials in Smith-Hughes work say: “Jim is our No. 1 man.”

Gladwin County Record 8/12/1936

The Building’s Architect:

James D. MacConnell

The Beaverton Activity Center building was the first School Building that James D.MacConnell designed.­Dr. MacConnell is considered The Father of educational facility planning and was instrumental in nurturing this profession from its infancy to its significant stature in education today. Dr. MacConnell is best remembered as the director of Stanford University’s School Planning Laboratory, which he founded in 1951. The laboratory was the first center of applied and fundamental research on integrating school construction with child development, curriculum, and instructional methods. The internationally renowned educator was CEFPI’s 1979 Planner of the Year and received the Distinguished Service Award in Educational Administration from the American Association of School Administrators in 1981.

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