VARNA, NY (607NewsNow) — Founded in 1951, the Varna Community Association (VCA) is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

According to their most recent newsletter, the VCA originally launched with 66 members in June of 1950, the idea sprouting from a PTA meeting. From there, money was raised through dinners, an auction, a carnival, and other various fundraising efforts. The money was used to buy a trolley car diner on an acre of land with a barn.

In 1953, the trolley car diner burned down, and the VCA set their sights on creating a larger space to operate out of. Money from fundraisers, loaned equipment, merchants selling material at cost, and volunteered labor allowed the VCA building to be completed by December of 1954. An appreciation dinner was coordinated to acknowledge the 4,500 hours of work done by 120 volunteers in the process of bringing the VCA building to life.

Learn more about the history of the Varna Community Center in their most recent newsletter here, and on their website here.