A doublewide FEMA trailer once home to the Kreutz Creek Library has found new life as the Tri-Town Commons community center, a space available to rent for meetings, parties and more.

Initially used to house a family after flooding from Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972, the trailer was transferred to Hellam Township a few years later, said Sarah Smith, assistant to the township manager.

"The trailer was dedicated in 1979 as the Kreutz Creek Valley Library and fulfilled the reading needs of many in eastern York County," she noted.

In 2019, the township constructed a new facility for its municipal staff, police, ambulance and public works departments. Upon completion, Kreutz Creek Valley Library moved into the former municipal building, leaving the library trailer vacant, but not forgotten.

"Hellam Township places a high priority on the conservation of both natural and historic places and wasn't about to allow the trailer to be decommissioned and fall into disuse," Smith shared. "The trailer was already historic. It had survived many hardships on its way to the township and during its tenure as a library, including a crash on its initial journey from northeastern Pennsylvania to Hellam Township, heavy flooding on the day of its dedication in 1979 and a broken pipe that soaked the interior in 2003."

Additionally, she noted, Hellam Township manager Corina Mann and communications coordinator Kate Nopulos had a mutual love for community outreach.

"Both saw an opportunity to turn the vacant space into a community hub for learning and engagement, as there is nothing that fills that need in the surrounding area," Smith remarked. "The trailer was a hub in the community and hosted frequent programming for citizens."

To transform the trailer into Tri-Town Commons, the space was completely gutted. The bathroom was updated with a new faucet and toilet. New flooring was added, lighting was upgraded and a kitchenette was added, which includes a 12-foot island, an oven and a sink. French doors were added to access a new deck that was installed as part of the upgrades as well. The new space can accommodate 50 to 60 people.

Transforming the trailer was a time-consuming process, Smith said.

"There was an asbestos scare at the beginning of the project, and the air-conditioning system failed and had to be replaced," she commented. "Shortly after the ribbon cutting for the new space, the HVAC system needed to be replaced."

Public Works staff members and chairman of the board of supervisors David Cox completed the work, and continual updates are planned for the future.

"The Tri-Town Commons was completely funded by grants," Smith said. "The township received $98,000 from the state of Pennsylvania through the LSA (Local Share Account) grant program. The remainder of the renovations were completed through in-kind, private and municipal staff."

During the spring of 2025, the public was invited to suggest a name for the new community center.

"Many were suggested, but the one that was ultimately chosen was the Tri-Town Commons, picked for the three (areas) it services: Wrightsville Borough, Hellam Township and Hallam Borough," Smith explained. "The name was chosen to be a symbol of unity between the three municipalities."

She noted that the space is a blank canvas that renters can transform to fit their needs.

"Hellam Township hopes people will use the community space as a regional resource for community and family engagements - research, business meetings, graduation parties, reunions, etc.," she said. "For any purpose the municipalities need, the Tri-Town Commons is there."

Tri-Town Commons is located at 68 Walnut Springs Road, York. For more information, call 717-434-1300 or visit http://www.hellamtownship.gov/tri-town-commons.