“It seems like we do a lot of celebrating at the Hayner Center, but then we have a lot to celebrate,” says Hayner Director Linda Lee Jolly. The year 2016 marks the 40th Anniversary of the creation of the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center.The Center is located in the one hundred and one year old Hayner Mansion at 301 W. Main Street in Troy, Ohio. Willed to the community in 1942 by Mary Jane Hayner, the building became public and served as the library for thirty-three years.

When the library moved in 1975, a new decision had to be made as to how the building would be used.The booklet, “A Time of Transition”, authored by Joanne Duke Gamblee in 1991 tells the story of how the Troy community, which had grown accustomed to having free access to the beautiful landmark, dreamed, planned and worked to create a unique community cultural center.

“Over the years, I have had visitors from several communities hoping to create such a Center in their hometowns,” says Jolly.

Because Mary Jane Hayner left her home to the community in the care of the Troy City Schools Board of Education, it became the ultimate responsibility of Superintendent Dr. Robert Becker to guide the process of change. In March of 1975, a committee, referred to as the Fesker Committee was formed. Chariman Richard Fesker is quoted as saying, “I must say this is the finest committee I have ever worked with. I commend the (School) Board on the appointments! Without exception, every member of the committee worked on assignments, attended meeting and had more than ordinary interest in the cause.”

Those committee members were: Frank Bazler, Lucia Bravo, Richard Fesker, Richard Fraas, David Galbreath, Mark Hess, Erma Hirsch, Edna May, Marge Millet, Virginia Oxley, J.R. Paul, Etheline Perkins, Charles Pfister, Robert Russell and Robert Schlemmer.

After several months of surveying the citizens and researching funding options, the Fesker Committee made their proposal to the School Board. The proposal stated that the Hayner mansion should be preserved, the facilities should be made available for community use and an organization should be developed to provide, to the community, a variety of cultural and educational programs including concerts, exhibits and workshops. It was further proposed that the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center be funded with a local tax levy. With the help of Troy Historical Society members going door to door to explain the project, the first levy passed on June 8, 1976 by just 41 votes. Every five years since, voters in the Troy City School district have voted to renew the levy that currently provides 85% of Hayner’s annual budget for operations and maintenance of the historic mansion. The most recent levy passed in the fall of 2015 with 68% of the vote.

“A 40th Anniversary is a Ruby Anniversary,” says Jolly. “The real “gems” of the Hayner are our volunteers, from those founding members who created something wonderful for our community, to the many people who bring their time, talents and creative ideas to support the lively community cultural center that we have become.”

The Board and committees of the Hayner have already begun planning special events to celebrate Hayner’s past, present and future. Details about these and all of the upcoming events at the Hayner will be posted on the website: www.troyhayner.org.

“There’s no place like Hayner!”