On Nov. 6, 2021, residents gathered in Marengo Township for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Weaver-Baty Community Pavilion that was constructed off of 23 Mile Road in Albion just outside of town hall and the fire station.

Vickie Wyman is the benefactor of the project that had been in the makings for about a year while taking about eight months to complete.

Wyman is not and has never been a resident of Marengo Township, but has plenty of ties to people in and around the area while growing up in Eckford Township. As a child, Wyman attended church and shopped at stores in Marengo, which helped connect her with the people in the village of Marengo. Although she now lives in Ann Arbor, Wyman said she was determined to think of a way she could give back to a place that treated her so well throughout the years.

“I heard that the village was unincorporated now,” Wyman said. “The township acquired maintenance and ownership of the cemetery, so that made me think ‘is there something I could do to help the community?’ Because it sounded like it was needing some love. So I brainstormed with myself and came up with the idea to do a pavilion for the township so that people would have a gathering spot and a place to use, and maybe have a farmer’s market and maybe rent it out for birthday parties, just to give them a stimulus.”

Wyman then consulted her brother, who together worked with the township to eventually find a construction company contracted to build the pavilion. Township supervisor Dave Fountain said his conversations with Wyman throughout the process were productive and that the township board was overwhelmingly in favor of the project as soon as Fountain presented it to them as he hopes people in the community will enjoy the space provided.

“Since we had the extra property right here at the town hall, we decided to put the pavilion in here,” said Fountain. “I think once we get the word out that it’s available that the community will hopefully use it—there’s no charge for it and it’s here for everyone to use.”

Wyman said she wanted to give back because she always felt warmth and appreciation from community members when she was actively in the community while attending church, youth groups and going to the local stores growing up and is happy that she was able to find a way to help.

“I felt so much warmth and felt valued by the community when we were participating in the community,” said Wyman. “They just were always so warm and welcoming and that really warmed my heart. I knew I would love to help if I could and I was in a position to help.”

Story and Photo courtesy of Marshall Advisor-Chronicle.