HOPEWELL, Va. -- Nearly two years after total devastation, a new era is about to begin at the Hopewell Moose Lodge.
“I want to welcome you to the new Hopewell Moose Family Center in Hopewell," said lodge administrator Brad Ozmore.
February 28, 2019, the decades old Hopewell Moose Lodge was reduced to a pile of rubble after a large fire.
“It’s a great come back," said JD Langley, whose been a member of the Hopewell Moose Lodge for 53 years.
The rise from the ashes also means letting everyone in the area know about the new family center.
“It’s for everybody. It’s a family center. It’s a place for your kids, place for young families and the community," said Ozmore.
The ribbon was cut officially cut Friday afternoon, opening the Hopewell Moose Family Center.
“It’s divided into two sections; we have the public section and then we have a members only Section," said Ozmore. “The public section we have is for bingo sessions we have, it’s for fundraising events, community service, our police memorial breakfast."
The members section is located on the other side of the building.
“We are in the social quarters or the members section," said Ozmore. "We asked for them to focus on natural lighting and interior lighting. We wanted it to be bright, open and inviting."
Inviting is key to the future success of the Moose Lodge.
Ozmore says he wants perspective members to know the new building is inclusive and open to everyone. He says they have a renewed emphasis on attracting new and younger members.
“How do you get those younger folks; we hope by having a building like this," he added.
With the new building now open, it’s back to business.
“The Moose has always been willing to step in when there’s been a need in our community to assist and they’re just awesome partners to work with," said Lt. Paul Burroughs with Prince George County Police.
The Hopewell Moose Lodge helps dozens of organizations and events each year, including VCU Massey Cancer Center, Special Olympics, Wreaths Across America, Hopewell Schools, and feeds the homeless every week.
While the $4 million complex is state of the art, there is one addition to the building the old one didn’t have and that’s a sprinkler system.
Peace of mind that future members of the Moose Lodge won’t have to deal with another catastrophic fire.
