Please help us celebrate 125 years of our beloved Hall. The Ozona Village Hall was originally built in 1900. Below are the sequence of events as we know them: 1895 – Ozona Ladies Improvement Society is created to improve things in the community – Nancy Whitford the founding president. 1900 – Ozona Hall was built by the OLIS using donated materials and volunteer labor. 1900 – Ozona Village Improvement Society was incorporated by the legislature to provide that organization the authority to own, and operate the hall. 1936 – Ownership of the hall was transferred to the Ozona Recreation Club a newly created and growing organization for the purpose of managing the hall and generating community involvement. 1950-60’s – The Hall was used to hold dances for the local high school students. 1980’s – The Hall was used for numerous functions including Halloween parties, karate classes, and other various small business and county activities. 1999 – Due to waning membership of the Ozona Recreation Club, Hall ownership was transferred back to the Ozona Village Improvement Society. 2005ish – The Hall went under some renovations and had a re-opening event, which we will re-enact in the near future. The Hall has been through a lot over the last 125 years. In the hurricane of 1921 it was lifted off its foundation and moved to the east of the property, then was repaired and placed back on its original pilings. Sometime in the 50’s there was an addition, which now serves as the restrooms and kitchenette. And of course, in 2024 Hurricane Helene came through and filled it with 3+ feet of water. As you can see, there have been countless functions at the Hall, and the walls have heard a lot over those years. If the walls could talk, they would be asking us to fixer up and raise her up to protect her from potential future flooding. And that is what we plan to do! Although, I don’t know the names and roles of those from the past, I would like to acknowledge some folks that really stepped up over the last 30 or so years and helped continue the tradition of OVIS and its mission as we all know it today. People like Bobbie Painter, Peg Mahara, Don Conover, Bob and Terry Fortner, Donna and Dennis Green, County Commissioners Susan Latvala and Dave Eggers, our current long standing board members Brian Smith, Sue White, Jim Wiesner, and Connie Rieben as well as our newer board members Todd Guarino, Steve Krout, Julie Longen, Skip LeFleur, Barry Salus, and Ron Girard. Lastly, I’d like to acknowledge OBC and Courtney and Derek Klein for their financial support as well as opening their business to us as a meeting place while the Hall is out of commission, as well as hosting our Annual Potluck and most recent fundraiser. Without support like this, we would probably not have the organization and our Hall as we do today. And now is the time we ask for MONEY! We are starting a 125-Year Club. With your donation of $125, you will be a member and have your family name engraved on a plaque that will be displayed in the Hall once it’s repaired. We will also have an exclusive party to present the plaque to all members of the club, and coming soon will be a 125 Club sticker, which can be placed on your car, golf cart, or beer fridge! Thank you all for making Ozona the best community anyone could live in, raise a family, and/or own a business!!! And, please join our club! — Todd Guarino, VP