In 1920, a car dealership built a new building at 5521 Main Ave, Ashtabula Oh. Fast forward to 1980. The building was still there, but had been sitting empty since the dealership moved on. Beverly Windle had a dream. A dream that she could start up a new business, in Ashtabula, offering gymnastics and fitness to the community. She had a vision that the old car dealership building on Main Ave could be converted to a gym. With the help and support of a circle of Beverly’s friends, dedication and a lot of hard work over a few months, that dream became a reality. The Chalk Box opened on December 1st, 1980. Beverly built the business with a strong foundation, just as that old building has. A foundation based on not only teaching gymnastics and fitness, but also emphasizing strong family values. Fast forward to today and even though some things have changed, The Chalk Box is still in the same building. The same foundation for the business is still as strong as ever.

Over the years, there have been several staff kids that have worked here. Most were either current or former gymnast. Also a lot of parents of children attending classes have been on the staff. That is why The Chalk Box is like a family. In 2001, when Beverly decided that she was going to retire, Cathy and David Speelman decided to buy the business. Cathy had been working here since 1982 when her children were taking classes here. It was only natural that someone from the Chalk Box “Family” should take over. Cathy and David continue to this day to keep the values and traditions going that were here since the beginning.

Our motto is “Where every child is a champion”. We are proud that we have trained some excellent gymnast through the years. Our competitive teams have brought home many trophies. However, we believe that not every child has to be a champion gymnast to benefit from our facility. There have been many wonderful memories through the years, and the benefits go far beyond the medals and trophies. 

There have been some changes over the years. Those who have been around long enough may remember the old pro shop was actually where some of the bleachers are now. The front desk area, current pro shop and office area were completely remodeled. The Chalk Box colors were changed to black and red. Through the years there have been changes in equipment,(anybody remember when we put the new spring floor in?), and upgrades to keep up with the changes in safety, (remember the old style vault?) Through all the changes, the core values of The Chalk Box have remained the same. To help improve self esteem, coordination, and family values to anyone who takes a class.

Just as when Beverly had the help of some friends and parents to get The Chalk Box started, parents and friends today are still a big part of The Chalk Box success story. Whether helping with a fund raiser, working at one of the home meets, or just lending a hand when we have a project to work on, friends and parents are important to our success. The Chalk Box “family” is why this business will continue to teach family values along with the gymnastics, fitness, and martial arts to future generations.

The Chalk Box sincerely appreciates the long time support of the Ashtabula area community and looks forward to continuing offering our services for years to come.