The H.A.R.T. Center
really began in 1967 as the brainstorm of a dedicated group of
people in the community who saw a need to provide for the mentally
and physically handicapped members of our community. After two
years of planning, the Adams-Hanover Sheltered Workshop opened
its doors on June 23, 1969, in a cinderblock building on Fourth
Street in Gettysburg, PA.
As the workshop grew, a need for larger facilities was met first
by renting a second facility at 835 York Street, Hanover, and
in 1976, purchasing the old Hanover Manufacturing plant on Centennial
Avenue. Over the next few years the need for more space and the
deteriorating condition of the building convinced the board that
the need for a brand new facility to house both the Gettysburg
and Hanover workshops and to meet future growth was necessary.
Plans for a new facility began in 1977 and were spurred into action
in January, 1980, when the state notified workshop officials that
the current building needed major upgrades to meet licensing requirements.
Three months later, the go-ahead was given for a new facility
in New Oxford and a building campaign was initiated.
In October of 1980, work began on the new building at East Golden
Lane. Despite a few problems with red tape and a lost grant, the
33,000 square foot building was completed by June of the following
year, with the help of many generous donations of money, time,
and materials from a number of local businesses.
Thanks to the excellent planning of those
individuals, the H.A.R.T Center today continues to meet the needs
of the mentally and physically handicapped members of our community.
