NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - Many folks in Newton Falls know the large, gray building on East Quarry Street as the city's community center.
 
"It was built in 90 days," says Connie Smith-Talcott, president of Heritage Accord, the nonprofit leasing the facility.
 
What many probably don't know is what it used to be - a USO facility built for and during World War II.
 
"It is one of the few manifestations of our history from WWII," Smith-Talcott says.
 
It got built as families moved to Newton Falls to work at the Ravenna Arsenal.
 
It served as a command post during the aftermath of the tornado of 1985.
 
The facility is among the only of its kind left in the country - and almost met the wrecking ball.
 
But on Wednesday, AMVETS Ohio helped make sure that wrecking ball never comes.
 
"We are very pleased to present this check to you in the amount of $10,000," said Ret. Army Sgt. Eric Scherer, president of the Ohio AMVETS Service Foundation.
 
"It brings us one step closer to being able to hire an architect and contractor and engineer to come into the building and do a thorough survey," says Smith-Talcott. 
 
"When communities do things like this, it shows the veterans that they care for the sacrifice they gave throughout their time," added Scherer.
 
There's still plenty of work to do and grant money to be secured.
 
But this donation is one more way to make sure the door to part of our Valley's history never closes.