WELLSVILLE, Ohio — The building has sat empty since the 1980’s, but over the weekend, part of the for 5 and 10 in Wellsville collapsed onto a neighboring business in the 400 block of Main Street.
Allen Owens is the owner of that next door business — Allison’s Tax and Financial services. He said it’s bad timing.
“It couldn’t have been any worse and it’s stressful,” Owens said.
The collapse forced part of Main Street to close and left Owens’ business damaged right in the middle of tax season.
However, in a small community like Wellsville, people don’t stay down for long. Days later, members of the Wellsville Local Schools football program showed up to help.
“The community has given so much back to me and my family, so I just wanna give back, too,” eighth-grader Ethan Corbin said.
The community didn’t stop there as another nearby business owner offered Owens a temporary space so he can continue serving clients leading up to tax day on April 15.
“We’re actually gonna demo the building because they don’t think they can save it for the damage that’s been done on it,” Owens said.
The volunteers from Wellsville moved files, desks, filing cabinets, and other heavy equipment out of the damaged building, relocating Owens swiftly.
“We’re here just to show the community that we’re in it not just for football but as a whole community and to just help out,” sophomore Jeron Jackson said.
Owens said the support has been overwhelming.
“Unbelievable and really touching that someone would come up and do something like this for me,” Owens said.
Wellsville High School football coach Shawn Carter said, in a small village like Wellsville, that’s just how things work.
“We all try to back each other,” Carter said. “Each one, teach one. That’s our model around here.”
Due to safety concerns, the section of Main Street where the damage occurred will remain closed. Village council will conduct a special meeting on Tuesday, to discuss having the former 5 and 10 store building demolished.
For Owens, and many in the community, this has been a reminder that when something falls apart, a community can come together to build it back up.
