PENNEY FARMS - For many years, the small, structure behind Penney Memorial Church has stood quietly. 

Although the outside seems quaint, the inside is full of big moments in history sure to be remembered. That was ever so apparent when it officially opened as the newly renovated John Williams Archives Building on Wednesday, June 24. 

In honor of Archives Awareness Day, and to continue commemorating Penney Retirement Community's centennial year, the celebration sought to dedicate the space's growing archival presence. Penney CEO Teresa Scott said it was more than just a building.

"We gather to dedicate a place where the story of our community will be preserved for generations to come," she said. 

Currently, the building houses stacks of records and files dating back to the community's founding 100 years ago. Once dilapidated, the building is now decked with a new roof, updated interior, modern sliding file cabinets and countless records stamped in history.

"It's been transformed into a priceless repository that enlightened our community from its earliest beginnings," Hodges said.

Although much of the building's history remains a mystery, it was originally built to provide heat to the church and nearby cottages. When the building was in the state of neglect, and on the verge of being torn down, John Williams, along with the original archives committee, helped to save it. At 102 years old, Phyllis Turner, the last surviving member of that committee, attended the ceremony.

In 1955, the space was transformed into an art center. Later, it became home to the community's weavers. The archives department eventually moved in, but the building's environment proved unsuitable for the materials.

The collection was relocated to the back of the dining hall, growing with century-long photographs, documents and memories to tell the story of how the community flourished. 

When the pieces returned to the building in 2005, then renovations improved protection for the materials. But maintaining them became increasingly hard for volunteers, Hodges said.

Now, a new layout has aided in more organized records and visibility to residents. And with the help of Clay County Archives, the team has expanded its tools and resources to maintain a digital archive system.

Residents will have the opportunity to gather archival material for the sealing of a centennial time capsule. Scott announced that residents will be able to stuff a box, specially hand-crafted by residents, with memorabilia related to their time at Penney. It will be sealed at the end of the year and opened in 2126.