Sharon's Cultural, Educational, Recreational Association (SCERA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and advancement of culture, youth training, education, recreation and affordable family entertainment. It was founded in 1933 by members of the Sharon L.D.S. Stake, including Victor C. Anderson and Arthur V.Watkins.
The aftereffects of the Great Depression had robbed many of lifetime investments in farms and homes. Spirits were low, and worsened with the drowning of a small child in an unprotected canal. SCERA's new leaders met and determined to provide programs and facilities to build the body, enrich the mind, touch the soul, and unity the family. Their first goal was to build a swimming pool. To High School, with families admitted for one dollar per month. With the community rallying behind, donations of materials were also collected and eventually made possible the Rosalawn Swimming Pool, located on the site of the parking lot east of the SCERA Center. A more modern swimming pool was built just north of the original in the 1960's.
Within a few years, the original motion picture program grew in popularity enough to support a new building. The L.D.S. Church donated land for the building with the stipulation that SCERA did not show movies on Sundays and allow the church to use the auditorium for meetings. The new SCERA Show house was financed through $25 bonds purchased by area families and a massive cooperative effort from which came donated labor and materials. Ground was broken on March 23, 1940. The 745-seat Show house opened on September 1, 1941 with a showing of Shepherd of the Hills starring John Wayne.
Since that time, SCERA has continued its unique status by showing only G and PG-rated films. SCERA undertook an expansion of the building in 1995 to a full community center with multipurpose rooms, an art gallery, a second show house and a home for the Orem Heritage Museum. SCERA also owns and operates the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theater, a 4,000-capacity performing arts amphitheater.
Today, SCERA remains true to the vision of its founders.
(Orem Historic Homes and Sites of Interest. Orem, UT: Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, 2009.) Used with permission.
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