The Jaffrey Civic Center is gearing up for an exhibit that will showcase its events held over the past half-century.
The Civic Center will kick off its 50th anniversary exhibit on Sept. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. During the reception, the exhibit will also feature guest speaker Robert D. Putnam and a chocolate fountain from Ava Marie.
“It’s pretty impressive that the Civic Center has been around for the past 50 years,” said Civic Center board member Karen Ayers. “We are looking forward to what the next 50 years will bring.”
The exhibit will showcase early photographs and other documentation of the people, art shows, and other special events and activities that have graced the Civic Center over the past half century.
“People see the Civic Center as an arts gallery, but it’s so much more,” said Ayers. “We are a center for many different activities that bring the community together.”
Also at the reception will be a speech from Putnam, the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University. Putnam is also an acclaimed author, whose most recent book “Our Kids: The American Cream in Crisis,” is about the growing class gap among America’s youth.
The exhibit will be shown through Oct. 20. The Civic Center is on 40 Main St. and is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is always free.