By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Della Moore and her supporters cut a ribbon to officially open the new home for the African American Center for Cultural Development Wednesday.
The building at 214 N. Clinton St. is the fifth home for the African American Center. Della hopes it is the permanent home.
It was the former home of the Wagner and Hart law firm. A new sign is in front of the Center, which sits across from Jamestown Community College.
“Please accept my gratitude,” Della told more than 75 supporters at the ribbon cutting. “I am so grateful for God putting you in my life. See, I’m starting to cry and thank you again. I want you to always come and enjoy our place.”
Mo Sumbumdu, an aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who works for Empire State Development, served as master of ceremonies for the ribbon cutting.
He has been coming to Olean for the past eight years as the city has received state Downtown Revitalization funding, some of which went toward the new African American Center for Cultural Development. He became a fast friend of Della. “It’s a project I’ve heard about for a long time.”
Sumbumdu said, “She (Della) put her heart and soul into the project. She’s a ray of sunshine. She loves telling the history of African Americans in Olean.”
The governor sent her congratulations on the ribbon cutting for the center, Sumbumdu said. “I congratulate everyone in the community.” He also thanked the Wagner & Hart law firm for their donation of the building.
A $225,000 state grant has helped renovate the building with new heating and air conditioning, kitchen, restrooms and handicapped accessible. Sumbumdu also noted support the Center received from Jim and Carol Stitt and the Cattaraugus Region Foundation.
Wendy Brand, vice president of the foundation, said the Center “will enrich the lives of our community. I anticipate the positive impact the Center will make. It took a community to get to this point.”
Paula Snyder, director of the Olean Campus of Jamestown Community College, said JCC is excited ton right next to the African American Center for Cultural Development. “We have been collaborating for years.”
Jim Stitt acknowledged, “It’s been a long journey.” Originally the church at the corner of North Barry and East State streets was to be the center. Then the Wagner & Hart building became available. “We had a lot of help along the way,” Jim Stitt said. “This is the starting point. Now we’ve got to go.”
Jim Stitt spoke of using the Center as a way to help get more Black businesses started in Olean. “Each one of you here today are part of Della’s village.”
Della accepted that challenge wholeheartedly.
Julie Schmidt, a representative for State Sen. George Borrello and John Eberth, who represented Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, presented Della with proclamations congratulating Della and the Center on the ribbon cutting.
Afterward, Della gave tours of the first floor rooms of the African American Center for Cultural Development.
What does the new Center mean to Della?
“God is so good,” she replied. “This is part of the vision he gave me. He entrusted me with this.”
The new site will help promote Olean’s Black history with Della’s help as director and the many volunteers, Sumbumdu said.
Della sees the Center as a combination of a museum, an education center, community center and heritage and cultural center.
It will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m.
