Vermilion-on-the-Lake Community Center to celebrate centennial

VERMILION — What do you do when an historic landmark hits its centennial birthday? Throw it a party and order a big cake. The Vermilion-on-the-Lake Historic Community Center, more familiarly known as the Clubhouse, marked its 100th birthday this year and trustees are celebrating the occasion with an open house and birthday party. "It's cool. It's just a beautiful building," said Barb Brady, a trustee of the charitable foundation that was established in 2006 to maintain and restore it. The lakeside landmark is notable for its unusual construction. Made entirely of logs cleared from its site, the 10,000-square-foot log cabin has served over the years as a meeting spot, a wedding venue and a dance hall. In pre-Depression times, the area was a hotbed for summer tourists in the small cottage homes in the neighborhood, built by Cleveland land developers. The Clubhouse's 600 feet of beach and boardwalk was a popular spot, known as the "Atlantic City of the Midwest," according to the building's historical records. It was a hotspot for big bands of the era that traveled along the lake circuit and even hosted Chuck Berry in 1955.It was eventually given to the lot owners association with the understanding the association would pay for the maintenance and taxes but when upkeep proved too difficult to manage, the charitable trust took over. "We were worried for a while we were going to lose the whole thing," Brady said. The structure needed extensive work as did the grounds, and the trust rents it out and holds fund raisers to help support its costs. The Clubhouse deserved a party, Brady said, to show it off. "We want to get as many people in the building as we possibly can, to give them a chance to enjoy this historic building, and we hope everyone leaves with a smile," she said. Contact Rini Jeffers at rinijeffers@gmail.com. If You Go What: 100th birthday party for the Vermilion-on-the-Lake Clubhouse When: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday Where: The clubhouse is at 3780 Edgewater Drive, Vermilion. Details: The event is free and complimentary cake, coffee and lemonade will be served. Tour the facility and enjoy a performance of the Vermilion Community Concert Band at 3 p.m. For information, visit volohio.org.