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Honoring and preserving the area's history is important for every community.
Whether it's through books, museums, art or civic displays, the events which have shaped a town need to be remembered and serve as a lesson for future generations.
That's why we are glad to see the acceptance on July 22 of the Dunbar Recreation Center by the National Register of Historic Places. This designation notes the center for its importance to Weirton's history, and especially to the history of Weirton's African-American community.
Opened in 1944, the center served as the headquarters for the Parent Teacher Association of the nearby Dunbar School. Both buildings are located on Weir Avenue.
The center became a hub of the African-American community in Weirton as the site of Lincoln-Douglass banquets, fundraisers for the United Negro College Fund, sports banquets, commencement exercises and more at a time when schools remained segregated.
It also was the auditorium, ballroom, theater, banquet hall, assembly space and gymnasium for Dunbar High School, and, for a short time, served as a gymnasium for Weir High.
Although it has faced increasing difficulties in recent years, the center has continued to serve as a hub of the community, providing events and activities for local youth and adults.
We thank all those involved in nominating and obtaining for the center this important designation, especially the members of the Dunbar Recreation Center board and those at the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center.
We also hope this serves as a reminder of the importance of teaching local history for the benefit of our future.