Before becoming the Oxford Community Center, this gracious and simple building was first constructed as the Oxford School from a design by Henry Powell Hopkins.
School closed; students who attended Oxford Elementary went to Easton. The building was used by differed county groups and abused until 1979.
Move started to save the building spearheaded by Mrs. John E. Jackson and Norm Harrington. Meeting of Community Center Planning at Fire Hall. Decided to
create a Task Force to examine use of building as a community center. Demolition pending.
Save Oxford School Committee formed late Jan. Citizens petition to save the school to be presented at Feb. 27, 1980 meeting.
In May 1982 Oxford Community Center officially opened; HS band played. Open house. Tenants: Talbot Little Theatre; a sculptor and a painter.
Since 1982 the OCC has gone through many upgrades and changes and remains true to its original mission, to enrich community life by fostering educational, cultural, recreational and social opportunities.
This building has served as a community resource for nearly 100 years. First as a grammar school and than a high school and, for the last 40 years, as the Oxford Community Center.
The original school building was designed by noted Annapolis-born architect Henry Powell Hopkins (1891-1985) and is the last surviving example fo this architect’s work. It was completed in 1928 and served as Oxford’s elementary and high school until it closed in 1971, when the few remaining students living in town were transferred to schools in Trappe and Easton.
The building was scheduled for demolition in 1978, but a groundswell of community support by the Save Our School group saved it from the wrecking ball. In 1982, the Oxford Community Center was born.
OCC was awarded LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certified building for its major 2012 renovations. Today the OCC is a cultural center and meeting place with state-of-the-art geothermal HVAC, sound and lighting systems, a large auditorium, a full commercial kitchen, and several classrooms. It provides residents and visitors alike a year-round schedule of educational, social, cultural, and recreational programs and events.
The history of the Community Center is an important part of the stories of the Chesapeake, a story of how citizens in a small rural town managed to unite and energize a community to preserve a beautiful building and its place in history and looked forward to its best use in the future —giving the town a gathering place that was lost when the school building closed.
Nearly 250 members of the community signed a petition to “Save the School” and 5 signed on as Founders, convincing the town of their cause. A united voice making change for the good of the
community.
The Oxford Community Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022, showcasing its history with a video, touch screen presentation, and an exhibit of photos and memorabilia. The exhibit video includes interviews with members of the “Founding Five” who remember that exciting and urgent time.
The Oxford Community Center’s 40th Anniversary Exhibit and Video is made possible by support and funding from
Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and Stories of the Chesapeake.
