The small town of Daisetta celebrated a momentous occasion on Friday, Aug. 16, with the groundbreaking ceremony for a new community center at 410 Main St. Funded entirely through a grant from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), this new $3.3 million facility is set to become the heart of the community, providing a gathering place for residents of all ages.
The event drew dozens of community members, including local dignitaries, who came to witness the start of a project that promises to bring new opportunities and a renewed sense of community to Daisetta. Mayor Chancie Bailey addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of the center.
“It is my honor to welcome you to the groundbreaking ceremony of our new community center. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our community, one that is dedicated to bringing us closer together. This facility will not just be a building, it will be a place where we can all gather, learn, celebrate, and grow as a community. It will be a place where new friendships are built, where our children can explore their potential, and where our sense of community will grow. We hope this community center becomes a gathering place for all ages in our community. From educational programs, classes, social events, and providing valuable resources, it will be a home for countless opportunities,” Bailey said.
She continued, “I want to give my heartfelt thanks to each of you for all of your support. You being here today is proof of our commitment to making Daisetta a place that we can all be proud to call home. Thank you for being here and I cannot wait to celebrate all the wonderful moments with you and your family in our new community center. Together we are building not just a structure but the very heart of this city, which we have been lacking for a long time. Here’s to new beginnings and to the future.”
The success of this project is largely due to the tireless efforts of Councilwoman Cindy Burchfield, who played a key role in securing the funding. Burchfield reflected on the challenges she faced, including a near-miss in a previous grant competition where Daisetta finished just half a point shy of receiving funding.
“We were the first-place losers that time. We lost by half a point, and it was one of the worst moments of my life. I wrote emails, appealing and begging,” Burchfield said.
Burchfield believes that historically, the small communities of Daisetta and Hull, which share a school district and tight connections, have been overlooked.
“When we question why don’t we have this, we hear, ‘Well, it is Daisetta.’ How many times have we heard that? We are not just Daisetta or Hull-Daisetta. We are the Hull-Daisetta Bobcats. We are one people and we deserve everything that the rest of this world gets – quality of life. I will spend the rest of my life fighting for us, not necessarily for us but for our children. We want them to grow up and stay here. We have to have a space to do that. Thanks to TDHCA, we will have a space. It will be just as beautiful as it is functional,” she said.
Burchfield recalled how she initially regretted writing an angry letter to the TDHCA after the initial disappointment, only to later be notified that additional funds had been allocated and the community center project had been awarded.
“I emailed back and said, ‘Is this a prank?’ That was the greatest win ever, the best feeling I have ever had. I couldn’t be happier for our citizens because they are so deserving of it,” she said.
Calling Daisetta her “Mayberry,” a reference to the idyllic small town from the Andy Griffith Show, Burchfield expressed her deep love for the community.
“The one thing I know about this community is, when you need help, all you have to do is stand there for a minute because help is coming. I have never been to a place like this one. This is my Mayberry. People will grin about it, but that’s the truth. It’s wonderful to live in a place where people know each other. If you see someone broken down on the side of the road, you are stopping, and you know they would stop for you. It’s nice to know your commissioners or your sheriff or your justice of the peace. That doesn’t happen everywhere. That is a blessing that few places have these days. I am proud to say that I am from Hull-Daisetta. I tell them they are missing out because we have great people here,” Burchfield said.
The $3.3 million community center, designed by Labiche Architectural Group and engineered by Fitz and Shipman Engineering, both based in Beaumont, will be constructed by G&G Enterprises, also from Beaumont. Officials with the City of Daisetta expressed their pleasure that the project’s budget would benefit local businesses and keep the money circulating close to home.
Encompassing 11,000 square feet, the new center will feature a computer lab, bathrooms with showers, a washer and dryer, and a full-service kitchen. It is expected to host a wide range of events, from the annual Mayhaw Festival to private gatherings and educational programs. Burchfield is particularly hopeful that the center will attract a local junior college to offer GED classes, a testing center, and even dual credit or certification courses.
“This center will be just as beautiful as it is functional,” Burchfield added. “We are not just Daisetta or Hull-Daisetta. We are the Hull-Daisetta Bobcats, and we deserve everything that the rest of this world gets—a quality of life,” she said.
Should have used the money on roads old water lines so much more needs done then a new building
That’s very true. The new center, although built with tax payer money, will charge a big price if those same tax payers want to use it for any reason.