On a chilly December afternoon, excitement filled the carriage house on the Bryn Du Mansion grounds as members of the Licking County Community Center for 60+ Adults gathered for a lively lunch. It’s clear this is not just a place to visit. It’s a place to belong.
Nestled behind the stately mansion on the east side of Granville, the Licking County Community Center (LCCC) is preparing to move into a new home in the next month or so thanks to the first phase of a $2.1 million renovation of the estate’s historic horse barn. This project, which began in April 2024, has transformed the first floor of the barn into a dedicated space for LCCC programs.
A grand opening for the LCCC’s new space is expected early in 2025. Fundraising continues for the second phase of the barn renovation project, which will include an elevator to the second floor, which will become a community space for meetings and performances.
Originally built in the 1860s, the Bryn Du Mansion is a local landmark with a storied history. According to the Bryn Du Mansion website, John Sutphin Jones, a wealthy businessman who made his money in railroads and coal mining, purchased the property in 1905, and enlisted Columbus architect Frank Packard to oversee a major renovation of the mansion and construction of the outbuildings, including the horse barn.
The five-year project transformed the estate into the Georgian-Federal style that defines it today. Jones and Packard collaborated again in 1922 to design the Granville Inn; and in 1925, Jones brought in Donald Ross to create the Granville Golf Course. These three iconic landmarks – the mansion, the inn, and the golf course – are enduring testaments to Jones’s influence on Granville.
After Jones’s death in 1927, his daughter, Sallie Jones Sexton, inherited the properties. She lived on the estate while managing the Granville Inn and overseeing the farm. Over the years, Sallie became a local legend for her work breeding and training horses, many of which would have been housed in the estate’s horse barn.
Following Sexton’s time on the estate, during which it fell into bankruptcy due to her management style, the property passed through several owners until the Village of Granville purchased it in 2002. In 2004, the village established the Bryn Du Commission to manage the estate and “restore, renovate, rehabilitate, protect, and maintain this historic property” through a combination of rental fees, local allocations, and private donations, according to its website. The Granville Inn and Golf Course are both now owned by Denison University.
Founded as the Granville Fellowship in 1965, the seniors organization moving into the barn became the Granville Senior Center in 2014. Today, as the Licking County Community Center, the name reflects the organization’s expanded reach and that it includes members from across the county. The center expected it would end 2024 with more than 45,000 interactions with seniors, compared to 10,000 in 2017, according to LCCC statistics.
Since relocating to the Bryn Du campus in 2022, the LCCC has benefited from its partnership with the Bryn Du Commission. The barn renovation, designed by architect Philip Claggett, owner of Northpoint Ohio in Newark, will provide much-needed space for LCCC programs. Claggett, known for his work on other local destinations – including Three Tigers Brewery, Seek-No-Further Cidery and many renovation projects in downtown Newark – has incorporated sustainable elements into the design. The project features extensive use of recycled wood to preserve the barn’s rustic charm, said Lisa Crock, LCCC’s executive director.
The renovation plans call for fully renovated first and second floors. The first floor will house a large meeting room, an informal fireside meeting space, kitchen facilities, and several offices, while the second floor will have a large event space designed for performances and community gatherings. As tenants of the first floor, the LCCC will be able to expand its offerings and continue to grow its programs in its space in the barn, Crock said.
Lisa Ford, the community outreach and programming coordinator for LCCC, was involved with fundraising for the project. She said the planning and design work, as well as the fundraising, involved many people in the community, including members of the Bryn Du Commission.
She said the larger space will be welcomed by the growing numbers of seniors who take part in LCCC activities.
“It’ll be a bigger space for us to serve meals to our members,” she said. “Our members are kind of crowded at the tables in the carriage house, so this will allow them to not be so cramped during their lunch.”
The center’s lunches, held at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, are among its most popular programs. With fun themes and a warm atmosphere, the meals allow members to socialize and enjoy good food.
Outside of lunches, the LCCC calendar is filled with events virtually every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including activities such as Mahjong, line dancing, acrylic painting, chair volleyball and many more.
Ford frequently organizes guest speakers such as college professors or local industry leaders to speak to the members about various topics.
“Our seniors are like a sponge,” she said. “Just because they are retired doesn’t mean they want to stop learning.”
The variety of offerings ensures that everyone can find a niche to enjoy while keeping their minds and bodies active.
During a tour of the facilities, Crock highlighted the joy the center brings to its members. Several people have told her they feel a sense of “no judgment” within the spaces the LCCC creates.
“Aren’t they so happy?” Crock said after stepping out of the bi-weekly painting class. Many members have discovered new passions at this stage in their lives and can enjoy them with their newfound friends, she said, adding that by fostering a vibrant community atmosphere, the LCCC is combating loneliness among seniors while promoting lifelong learning and community connections.
Lauren Brown writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.