Third and Center

10/13/2026

💙🏡 WOW, FRIENDS. JUST WOW! 🏡💙

We knew we were excited about the next chapter of the former Bartram & Son Grocery Store, but WOW! The response from our community has been nothing short of incredible! 🥹

The shares, the comments, the memories, the encouragement, the donations and the excitement have reminded us exactly why we believe so deeply in what we’re building.

Because this community is worth investing in. ❤️

To everyone who has shared our announcement, made a contribution, offered to volunteer, expressed interest in future programs or simply cheered us on from the sidelines; THANK YOU!

We have also loved seeing the conversations our announcement has sparked. Along with the excitement have come some thoughtful questions about the building, its ownership, our fundraising goal and what the future Community Center might look like.

And we welcome those questions!

Community involvement isn’t just something we hope to create inside this building someday. It’s something we want to practice throughout the entire process. 💙

We’ve been working to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions and we encourage everyone to take a few minutes to explore the FAQ section on our donation page.

You’ll find more information about Third & Center, ownership of the building, our fundraising goals and how we plan to move this project forward.

🔗 www.thirdandcenter.com/donate

And while we’re here, we want to share one important reminder:

The vision is growing. And the work has already begun! 🏡

Our $100,000 fundraising goal is an opportunity to accelerate the transformation of this beloved space, but our commitment to creating a Community Center doesn’t begin or end with a single fundraising goal.

So thank you! For the excitement, the encouragement, the curiosity and most of all, for believing that something wonderful can happen right here at home! 💙

Community Built, Community Funded Bartram & Son Grocery Building to Community Center Project Donate Now Help Us Turn a Community Treasure Into a Community Home!For generations, Bartram & Son Grocery Store was more than a place to buy groceries.It was familiar. It was local. It was part of the rhythm...

10/12/2026

A PLACE WE REMEMBER. A FUTURE WE BUILD TOGETHER. 💙

📣Ironton, we have some BIG news to share.

For generations, Bartram & Son Grocery Store was more than a place to pick up groceries. It was part of the fabric of our community. A familiar stop, a friendly face, a conversation in the aisle and a place woven into the memories of so many families.
And now, this beloved Ironton landmark is getting a new chapter.
Third & Center is transforming the former Bartram & Son Grocery Store into our future COMMUNITY CENTER!

A place for our seniors.
A place for our children.
A place for artists, dreamers, gardeners, neighbors and families.
A place to learn, create, connect, celebrate, and belong.

But here’s what makes this project especially meaningful:
We don’t just want to build a community center FOR Ironton. We want to build it WITH Ironton. 🫱🏻‍🫲🏽

We envision a home for our existing programs, including the Ironton Senior Center, Inspire Arts, and Common Soil Collective; while creating opportunities for new programs and partnerships shaped by the people who will use this space. 💭💙

And now, we’re inviting YOU to help bring that vision to life!

OUR COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING GOAL: $100,000

Every donation, no matter the size, moves us closer to breathing new life into this treasured building.
$5 matters.
$25 matters.
$100 matters.
Every single gift matters!

And if giving financially isn’t possible right now, you can still be part of this journey. Share our story, spread the word, volunteer and help us imagine what this space can become. Because the heart of this project isn’t the walls, the windows, or the renovations. It’s the people who will walk through those doors.

For years, Bartram’s served this community in one way. Now, together, we have the opportunity to make sure it serves our community for generations to come. 💙

The next chapter of Bartram’s begins with all of us!

DONATE HERE: 🔗 www.thirdandcenter.com/donate

From all of us at Third & Center, thank you for believing in what’s possible for our community!

Let’s build something beautiful. Together. 💙

10/06/2026

💙 Community Partners Make a Difference

We have another reason to be thankful for our friends at Ohio State - Lawrence County Extension!

Through the Healthy Opportunities Program, made possible by CDC funding; our Ironton Senior Center received a wonderful donation of kitchen supplies to support our congregate meal program. 🍽️

And pictured here is one of our very favorite people Zoie Clay delivering the goods! 🥹💙

Zoie wears a LOT of hats in our community (including serving on the Third & Center Board) and she is constantly looking for ways to connect people with resources, promote healthy living and make our community a little better. We are incredibly lucky to have her in our corner.

These may look like pots, pans and kitchen supplies, but to us they mean so much more. They help us continue creating a welcoming place where our seniors can gather around a table, share a meal, laugh, connect and belong.

Thank you, Zoie, OSU Extension, the Healthy Opportunities Program and the CDC for investing in our seniors and supporting the Ironton Senior Center. 🫶

It really does take a village and we have a pretty darn good one. 💙😉

10/05/2026

🍂🎃 OCTOBER AT THE IRONTON SENIOR CENTER! 🎃🍂

Our October calendar is here and we have another month packed with good food, good friends and plenty of reasons to get out of the house and join us! 🧡

This month includes Bingo, trivia, crafts, chair exercise, book club, special guests, a birthday celebration, a day trip to Senior Day at Collins and of course our Halloween Costume Party! 👻🎃 We’re also so grateful for all of the wonderful community partners who continue to spend time with our seniors and make these programs possible.

🍽️ A few reminders: The Ironton Senior Center is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning at 9:30am for social hour, programming begins at 10:15am and lunch is served at 11:30am. Title III congregate meals are free for qualified seniors and guest meals are $10. Please call or text (740) 377-5046 by 10am the day of service to reserve your meal.

Take a peek at both calendars for all the October fun and menus, share them with a senior you love and come spend a day with us! 💛

The Ironton Senior Center is a program of Third and Center and we are so proud to create a place where our seniors can connect, laugh, learn, eat and simply enjoy being together. 🥹

See you in October! 🍁🧡

09/30/2026

🪴🚨COMMUNITY PLANT PEOPLE🚨🪴

There are still a few seats left for Plant Bingo Night!

Did we mention there are 15 rounds of Bingo with a PLANT PRIZE EVERY. SINGLE. ROUND?! 🌿

Did we mention your $25 ticket gets you TWO cards for every round and light refreshments?!

Did we mention our last Plant Bingo was SOLD OUT and was an entire evening of laughing, yelling BINGO, admiring plants, friendly competition and grown adults becoming emotionally invested in whether or not they were taking home a plant?! 😂🪴

Because perhaps we have not been clear enough:

YOU WANT TO BE AT THIS BINGO!

📅 Thursday, October 8th
⏰ 6pm-8pm
📍 202 Park Avenue 2nd Floor (Ironton Senior Center)
🎟️ $25-TWO cards per round

And here’s the best part, this isn’t just a ridiculously fun night out. 💚

Every ticket supports The Common Soil Collective, Third & Center’s environmental education and stewardship initiative. Your night of Bingo helps us continue providing free seeds, free community workshops, Junior Garden Clubs, environmental education, community garden programming and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get their hands in the soil. 🌱

So grab your friend. Grab your mom. Grab your coworker who owns 37 houseplants and insists they have room for one more. Grab the person who has never kept a plant alive but is feeling optimistic. 😉

Just grab somebody and GET YOUR TICKETS.

We’ve got plants to give away, Bingo to yell and a community to keep growing. 🌿❤️

👇 Tag the person you’re bringing with you and then go get those tickets before somebody else takes your seat! Scan the QR code or click the link to get your ticket!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1siD7Z9OGDE6py3-QA53Ej4e9NL3bphBPyZ48KzxeTSw/viewform

Come for the plants. Stay for the chaos. Help us grow something good. 🪴🌱

09/25/2026

🍂🌱WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND?! 🌱🍂

Tomorrow is basically a fall little adventure in downtown Ironton, and we’ve got your plans covered! 😂🎃

Start at Briggs Lawrence County Public Library for The Common Soil Collective Fall Seed Swap & Bulb Bar from 11am-2pm! Bring seeds to swap if you have them, grab something new, share some bulbs, talk plants and get ready for next season! 🌷

THEN, because you’re already out and about, go literally a street over and check out Pumpkins on Vernon! They’ll be there 9am-4pm with food, music, vendors and all the fall goodness you could possibly squeeze into one Saturday!

🌱 Seeds and Bulbs
🎃 Pumpkins
🛍️ Vendors
🍴 Food
🎶 Music
🍂 Fall In Ironton Behavior

Come see us at the library, then wander over to Vernon and make a day of it! ♥️

Two events. One little downtown stroll. A whole lot of fall. 🍁✨

09/24/2026

🎨✨INSPIRE ARTS ✨🎤

Last weekend, Third and Center had the honor of helping judge Lawrence County Idol; an incredible event hosted by our friends at Briggs Lawrence County Public Library at the historic Ro-Na Theater! 🎤❤️

And WOW. One thing became very clear, Southern Ohio is overflowing with talent!

A huge thank you to the Library for creating an opportunity for local performers, both adults and youth, to step onto that stage, be brave, share their gifts and let our community cheer them on! That is exactly the kind of creativity and connection we love to see.

And we’re not letting the creativity stop there! 🎨✨

The 2026 Inspire Art Show is coming!
Saturday, October 10th at Ohio University-Southern during Festival of the Hills!

Artist submissions are OPEN NOW through October 1st!

From the stage to the canvas and everywhere in between, keep creating, keep sharing, and keep inspiring! 🎤🖼️💙

✨ INSPIRE ARTS. BUILD COMMUNITY. CELEBRATE LOCAL TALENT. ✨