(STURGIS) – A special celebration was held to honor a Sturgis School building.

On Friday, Congress Elementary School held a community celebration to honor the 100th anniversary of the building. Principal Vince LaPorte started the event by welcoming the crowd, which was made up of former and current teachers, staff and students along with members of the community. Sturgis Superintendent Dr. Art Ebert also shared with the audience.

Dianne Gorsuch of the Sturgis Historical Society shared with the audience some of the background on when the building was constructed and the cost. LINKC.

Gorsuch shared in 1952, seven additional classrooms were constructed at a cost of $166,000, or in today’s money roughly $3 million. The library, gymnasium and office were all added later.

Roy Pierson, who served as Congress Principal from 1976 until 1997, shared with Swick Broadcasting that the celebration is not just about the building, but the people who moved through the facility as well. LINKD.

A commemorative plaque was dedicated as part of the celebration.