If the walls could talk at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, they might be thanking Donn Ansell, too.
The dedication of the Lower Atrium in the Community Arts Center honored the late Ansell.
Donn Ansell played many roles in Wilmington: media personality, actor, director and supporter of the arts. One of his key roles: preservation of the USO building on 2nd Street.
In recognition of his efforts, Wilmington city officials named the Lower Atrium Studio, a space used for special events and dance rehearsals alike, after Ansell.
Executive Director of the local Arts Council Rhonda Bellamy says that Ansell would want the theater communities to come together, and she sees this room as a starting point.
“I see it becoming an even greater part of the community as more people begin to discover this wonderful space here in the Historic USO building," said Bellamy. "That they will come in and again be inspired by his many acts of kindness in the community.”
Bellamy says Ansell was so impactful because he was an astute observer of human nature and that helped him bring people together. His legacy will live on in a building that might not be around if it wasn’t for him.