ROSE CITY – For 12 years, the former junior high school building in Rose City stood vacant. This 51,000 sq foot building is on now the verge of getting a second life and will serve as the new Rose City Area Community Center (RCACC).
Originally, the building served as the Rose City High School, where the first graduating class was in 1949. In the 60’s the building transitioned and served as the junior high up until 2013 when the Rose City School Board voted to close the doors and it has sat empty ever since.
In the spring of 2024, Rose City resident and retired school teacher Kathy Curtis began the process of revitalizing this historic building. Curtis contacted Rose City authorities to see if there was interest in a community center. She received positive feedback but needed support from the four surrounding townships; Klacking, Cummings, Rose, and Hill. Together they formed a consortium board to maintain the future community center, naming Kathy Curtis as chairman of the board. On July 10, Rose City purchased the building from Rose City Area Schools for $1.
“I was tired of seeing it sit empty, I graduated in 1966 back when it was still the high school, my kids went to middle school there.” Curtis said “There are so many possibilities here, it’s a dream coming true to see this building brought back to life and serve the community again.”
The RCACC does not have a set date to open yet, but it plans to do so in phases. The west wing that contains the gymnasium and 4 classrooms will be available first. The gymnasium offers 3 pickleball courts, basketball hoops, and indoor walking. There will also be a welcome center implemented and local businesses will be able to rent the other classrooms.
The next phase will require a new heating and air conditioning system before it becomes available. This portion of the building will provide several community resources with plans to create a historical society museum and relocate the Ogemaw District Library-Rose City into the library space. Several large classrooms will be available to lease for businesses or individual classes like quilting, cooking, or health classes provided by MI Michigan Health. The cafeteria and kitchen will also be available to rent for various events like weddings and funerals.
Funding for this large project has come from the townships involved in creating the consortium board, donations from alumni, and local residents. Each township contributed $10,000 to pay closing costs, permits, and insurance for the building. Several grants are being pursued by Mark Berdan (vice chairman of the RCACC board) to help with the cost of the new heating and cooling system. The friends of the RCACC have a few upcoming fundraising events including a fall craft show, talent show, and a golf scramble in June 2026.
This community center would not be possible without the tremendous effort put forth by generous volunteers. Kathy Curtis, the Beyerlein and Clemens families, and a handful of dedicated Rose City residents have volunteered over 700+ hours of their time since purchase of the building. There is an abundant amount of work that needs completed prior to opening its doors. If you are looking to lend a hand, please contact Rhonda Copeland at mjrcopeland@yahoo.com.
You can follow along the building transformation progress on Facebook under: Friends of the Rose City Area Community Center. Board meetings are open to public attendance and are held every Monday at 6 p.m. at the West entrance of the community center. The RCACC is located next to the Rose City Elementary School.
