As the date plate indicates, this gymnasium was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Numerous structures of this type were constructed by the New Deal agency to not only provide jobs but to improve the cultural and recreational opportunities for communities all over the nation. In small towns like Buena Vista, such facilities often served a broader purpose, hosting musical acts, dances, dramatic endeavors, and charity events. Basketball was the central focus, however, and it was more popular than football in most communities until at least the 1960s.
The building is in a state of serious disrepair and has likely been unused for many years.
