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On a clear and sunny 52 degree winter Sunday afternoon recently, more than 100 people gathered at Kiwanis Park in Rutherfordton to celebrate and remember a special friend of the community - Eric D. Wells.
The Town of Rutherfordton, along with the Kiwanis Club of Rutherfordton, Boy Scout Troop 132, family members and friends gathered to dedicate and celebrate the Eric D. Wells Memorial Shelter.
Mayor Jimmy Dancy welcomed the group and described Eric as a friend to all.
"We are all beneficiaries," of his life, Dancy said.
Wells was described by Town Manager Doug Barrick as a dedicated leader whose life was centered on service, kindness, and uplifting others.
"His legacy lives on in this shelter, which will serve as a space where families can gather, share traditions, reflect on the past, and celebrate the future," Barrick said.
Barrick said Eric dedicated his life to helping "others grow and thrive... he understood the strength of our community comes from lifting each other up and supporting one another."
An Eagle Scout, Scoutmaster, active in his church, Kiwanis Club, Trinity Christian School and the community, Eric lived a life of dedication to others.
The shelter is a symbol of Eric's humble spirit and it stands "proudly in full view of the Scout Hut, overlooking the park", Barrick told the crowd.
Barrick thanked the Wells family for their "unwavering support and generosity... without your dedication to honor Eric's legacy this shelter would not be a reality."
He also thanked Dr. Scott Lawrence and all donors who contributed to bring the shelter to life.
The shelter is made even more special, Barrick told the crowd, by the engraved bricks which tell the stories of those who have made both big and small contributions. The bricks form the foundation of this space and each represents the strength and unity that Eric worked so hard to cultivate in the community.
The mantel that graces the shelter was made from a piece of black walnut harvested from the Wells property. The wood was milled and dried by Gilkey Lumber and engraved and finished by Cory Hall, a member of the town's public works team.
"This shelter is more than just a structure- it's a place for laughter, reflection, and connection, where Eric's spirit of community will thrive for generations to come," Barrick said.
Eric's sister, Elly of Asheville, shared stories about her brother and said, "Eric lived what we're all encouraged and taught: put others before yourself."
She said the shelter built in her brother's memory is, "Now yours, ours, everyone's space - a quiet spot to sit and eat your lunch, a meeting place for your community group to plan its next great projects, or the place to come and celebrate a special occasion with family and friends."
"Eric knew the importance of spaces like this to a community," Elly continued. "It's an intentional, Eric Wells-inspired place to gather and enjoy for all times."
She concluded with a quote from the poet Rumi: "Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder."
"I love that quote and Eric lived it," Elly said.
For park rentals, call Town Hall at 828-287-3520, extension 7.
