An idea sparked during Stanley's All-School Reunion this past summer has alumni determined to give back what their hometown once gave.

In an effort to save the First Presbyterian Church building, current and former Stanley residents are working together to form a center for the arts to benefit the surrounding area.

Stan Wright of Stanley, chairman of the Center for Life Enrichment committee, said the plan is to have a building for plays, concerts, programs and wedding parties.

"There really isn't a place for something like that in Stanley," Wright said. "They do use the high school gym for a lot of programs, but this wouldn't be interfering with school programs."

Wright said an agreement between the city and former members of the church stated that the building would be demolished unless someone decided to buy or make use of it.

"There was a teen center considered and a library considered, but they just couldn't get the project off the ground to make that work," Wright said.

By the time the Center for Life Enrichment committee presented its idea, Wright said the city had decided to destroy the building.

"We had a few meetings with the council on the issue," Wright said. "They were questionable if we could make it [but] there's a lot of interest right here in Stanley."

Wright said improvements for the building include sound equipment, air conditioning, heating, new bathroom facilities, new windows and roof work.

"We're not going to be changing the appearance of the building. We won't be remodeling it. There isn't anything like it in Stanley or this whole upper area," Wright said. "It will be painted and restored."

Wright estimates the project could cost up to $300,000. However, he said the community won't feel the brunt of the bill.

"We will be depending on alumni tremendously because of their track record," Wright said. "For the past four years, we've been developing this new health facility and so forth. It's been a financial drain on us. This [Center for Life Enrichment fund-raising] will not affect the same people."

Bob Jensen of the Seattle area, a 1951 Stanley alumnus, said one of the reasons he joined the project is because his grandparents may have been charter members of the church.

"I grew up in the church. When we were back for the centennial reunion, information was that the building was going to be demolished," Jensen said. "I just found that totally unacceptable. It's a beautiful building and has a lot of historic significance."

Jensen said the church has been empty for two years now and when the city decided to demolish the building, 300 to 400 people signed a petition to voice otherwise.

"The support that we've gotten is just absolutely amazing," Jensen said. "We already have pledges around $25,000. When we get the mail out to all of the alumni, we're going to see a lot of interest and support from out of town so that the townspeople aren't going to have to foot the bill."

Although alumni will play a large role, Jensen said the goal is to make sure that the residents of Stanley approve of the ideas.

"We feel that we would like to kind of perpetuate the enrichment that we got when we were there," Jensen said. "It was a good place to be born and grow up in. We feel like there should be something we can give back and maybe this is the way of doing it."

Jensen said Preservation North Dakota has offered a $5,500 matching grant and other grants are also available. He said the idea is to get other communities involved as well.

"We want to include New Town, Tioga...all of those places that we can bring something that would be a good experience," Jensen said.

He said other ideas for the Center for Life Enrichment include small dinner theaters, Summer Fest and town meetings.

Wright said the project may not be completed for another three to five years, but tentative activities are still being planned for summer 2003. The committee will spend the remainder of the fall doing roof and yard work.

"We have to work hard," Wright said. "We do think it's going to come to pass, though."