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When the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater first opened its doors 10 years ago, it became popular so quickly that a coat closet immediately became a two-person office and a storage room became a teen lounge.

"The biggest surprise was just how quickly the community embraced the JCC," said Doron Steger, who was one of the driving forces behind the JCC's creation and growth and served as its first president from 1999-2001.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, the JCC in Bridgewater marked 10 years of serving the local Jewish community at a festive gala held at the Martinsville Inn in Martinsville.

The 10th anniversary celebration honored the JCC's five past presidents, each of whom served a two year term: Doron Steger, Alvin Levine, Harriet Blank, Barry Ages, and Addie Kluger.

The JCC serves the entire Jewish community of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren counties, providing fitness, recreational, social, cultural, and educational opportunities. The center houses a salt-based indoor pool, a gymnasium, a fitness center, a group fitness studio, and also hosts a popular swim club.

In addition, the JCC's Blaustein Early Childhood Center offers programs for ages 15 months through kindergarten, its "J" Crew program is its after-school program for grades K-4, and its Camp Ruach offers programs for children ages 2 through teenagers.

The JCC first opened its doors in December 1999, after six years of planning, fundraising, and building.

"Everyone recognized the civic responsibility to the community that this building would be," said Barry Ages, the JCC's fourth president. Levine, the second president, echoed that sentiment.

"It was fun organizing it before we opened, it was fun part of it while it was being built, and it's been fun to be a small part of it," he said. Within a year or two after the JCC first opened in the late '90s, it became apparent that a larger space was needed. Consequently, the JCC expanded its space by approximately 60 percent, a project that was completed a year ago.

"It's really amazing what we have achieved in our community," said Harriet Blank, who served as the third president, citing that after only a few years the JCC had already required a larger space to serve the community's needs.

Currently, the JCC is looking to expand with plans to build a bubble over the outside pool, expand the fitness center, and develop the second floor of the recently completed new wing. Steger said that in addition to these, one of the long-term goals is to establish satellite offices so that the needs of the community, which includes members who live more than 30 minutes away from the JCC, can be more effectively met.

"[The JCC] gives us a place to bring the community together and represents the Jewish community to the general community," said Ed Tolman, president of the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties.

Peter Hercky of Martinsville, who grew up in the Weequahic section of Newark, recalled how the local YMHA served as the central place for the community. Hercky, who was involved when plans for the JCC were first discussed, said that he had hoped that the JCC would be a focal point in the community like the Y had been during his childhood.

"We were questioning if it would ever open, but with hard work and diligence it became a reality, and the staff and volunteers deserve all the credit," said Hercky.

"Its wonderful to celebrate a milestone like this," said Joe Weinstein, a member of the board and a resident of Bridgewater. "It's a testament to the people who worked so hard to get us here; it's a testament to the presidents and all of the other people who worked so hard to get us to this point."