Last year’s 4th of July celebration at The Riverside Center featured Hubie Ashcraft performing a 3-hour
show on the Stage on the west side of the retired water department building, overlooking the Riverside parking lot for all to enjoy.
Then the rain rolled in.
At that moment, city councilman Craig Coshow said a solution to this unpredictable problem was needed.
“A plan was put together to erect a covering the stage of the retired water department building,” notes county councilman John Summers.
The plan started with getting permission from Decatur City Council and approval from the Building & Planning Department for the structure. Building materials were provided by a generous donation from Summers and his brother, Phil, both of Decatur.
Coshow then discussed the electrical and lighting needs for the stage with Phil McDonald, the local sound man for the Summer Concert Series.
The councilman then applied for a grant from the Adams County Community Foundation to cover additional expenses of the project. Later, Coshow then contacted Matt Hunter, the instructor of the Building Trades class at Bellmont High School to see if this project could be performed by his students. Hunter checked his schedule and stated they could begin in January. Coshow, Hunter & John Summers met at the site and put the plan into action. Construction began the second week in January and was completed this March.