Webster Township’s Crossroads Community Center, a renovated two-story 1860s cider mill and winery, was unveiled to the community Sunday during a special open house.

“If this building could talk, it could tell a lot of stories,” said Dan Chapman, co-project leader of the massive rehabilitation project that took place during an approximately 6-week period.

The two-story, 2,800-square-foot building, was purchased by the Webster Township Historical Society from the Webster Church for $1 last December, and the members held a $25,000 fundraising campaign for the renovations. The building hadn’t been used since 1996.

Originally, said Chapman, the building renovation project at the corner of Webster Church and Farrell roads at 5501 Webster Church Road was supposed to be a three-year project.

“But when we got in here, every job led to another one," he said, and a small group of contractors and volunteers forged ahead with a transformation of the interior of the historic structure.

It received a face-lift of new paint, as well as refinished floors. Bathrooms were ripped out and completely redone, and a new electrical and heating and cooling system was installed.

Chapman said a new handicapped entrance was installed and “we raised the floors one and a half inches to make them level.”

In fact, additional supports were built in the basement to reinforce the floor above, and block windows were installed in the basement.

All the work was completed in time for the center's first official event — a wedding reception that will take place next weekend. A family reunion has been booked for the building as well.

The Webster Township Historical Society hopes that the building will become a community gathering spot not only for township residents but all county residents. It sits on about half an acre of land.

Any group can rent the building, said Jack Clark, president of the historical society, by emailing WebsterHistory@charter.net for more information or by calling him at 734-426-4928 or 734-646-6566.

The top floor has a meeting space, a small stage for plays and a dance floor. In addition to a large open space and bathrooms, the first floor includes a commercial kitchen with a gas range and a double warming oven. There are also two refrigerators, but no dishwasher.

Seating capacity is 100 people on each of the two floors, according to information about the community center.

Built prior to 1867 by Osbert Williams, the Crossroads Community Center was known as the Williams Apple Cider Barn and Winery, which produced a specialty wine that was popular on the East Coast.

“Dan Chapman and David Calhoun — they were co-project leaders. These guys spent more time here, every day. It seemed like every time I tried to reach them, they were here,” Clark said. “They put in a lot of work.”

Clark said the outside of the building needs to be scraped and painted; and that’s the next project for the group.

Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com.