Wanting to preserve a cherished community space for generations to come, Economy residents are coming together to maintain and improve their historic gym.
A community rummage sale is planned from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the gym, 325 Poplar St., just north of U.S. 35.
In addition to donated items, hot dogs, chips, cookies, drinks and baked goods will be sold.
Organizers include Economy Lions Club, town council, Perry Township Fire Department and Economy United Methodist Church.
They’ll use proceeds toward professional cleaning and what volunteers describe as much-needed updates to the restroom, floor and exterior siding. They’re also pursuing grants for those projects.
The Economy Gym has been in use since its opening more than a century ago, although the Economy School building closed in the mid-1960s and has been demolished. Perry Township manages the gym.
The gym and the school playground to its west, which is filled with about $100,000 of new equipment, both serve as a community hub.
The gym received an exterior face-lift in 2024 as part of the Wayne County Mural Project. The project was part of the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, which also received funding from Wayne County Foundation and Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau.
Artist Carl Leck added a massive basketball, a pennant in the school colors of red and white features a cardinal — the school’s mascot. Other features include a varsity-letter-style “E” and a painting of a trophy commemorating the school’s 1952 Wayne County basketball title.
Shortly after the mural was added, basement moisture was addressed to prevent destruction of the gym floor. A drainage system including a sump pit was installed, mostly paid by the Town of Economy with money from its pandemic recovery funds and some from the Wayne County Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program.
Beyond the one-day sale, monetary donations are welcome anytime toward gym improvements. Checks can be made payable to Economy Lions Club: Gym Fund and mailed to Economy Lions Club, 9328 Newman Road, Williamsburg, IN 47393.
For more information, call 765-914-0066.
A version of this article appeared in the April 1 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.