We celebrated the start of construction on Sunday, September 29, 2013 with a Groundbreaking and Dedication service. Representatives from the City of Morgantown, area faith communities and congregations, First Presbyterian Church, the Synod of the Trinity, Progressity, the Westminster Foundation, our developers, consultants, donors, project supporters, and WVU students were present to celebrate with us. We are grateful for the hard work of Lee Mullet and Julia Bolt in planning and organizing the Groundbreaking and Dedication service.
Preparations began early Sunday morning before the sun was barely on the horizon. Members of the the Presbyterian Student Fellowship at WVU volunteered along with members of the Harless Center board and Groundbreaking Committee to get everything ready for the celebration after church including carrying over 60 folding chairs, putting up two tents and two tables, pouring pounds of dirt, and folding many programs.
Chet Parsons, chair of the Harless Center board of directors, served as master of ceremonies and opened by recognizing special guests and giving thanks for those in attendance. Revs John Sonnenday and Kristine Haig gave the invocation. We heard about the history and vision of the project from John Bolt, President of the Westminster Foundation of WV. Harless Center board member, Jerry Stone, shared his hopes for the project and how he became involved. John Fisher (Dean Emeritus of the WVU College of Law) shared many stories of generosity about our honorary campaign chair James "Buck" Harless. Dr. William Riley, Harless Center board member and Fundraising Committee chair, shared about ongoing fundraising needs and our campaign goal of $3.5 million. Jordan Gunnoe (Harless Center Student Association President), Will Armentrout (President of the Presbyterian Student Fellowship), and Zevi Lowenberg (President of WVU Hillel) blessed and dedicated the site. We had the official turning over of dirt and closed with a blessing from Rev. Dr. Shelly Barrick Parsons, WVU Presbyterian Campus Pastor. The event ended with a reception. In the following weeks we will share excerpts from the remarks given at the celebration.
WBOY in Clarksburg featured the Groundbreaking and Dedication on the evening news.
Everyone got in on the groundbreaking fun after the service was over before clean up started.
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