Restoration project expected to begin in early 2019
Holland Theatre managing director Chris Westhoff gives a tour of the historic theater to third-grade Bellefontaine Intermediate School students, who were on a Thursday field trip to local historic sites. The Holland has reached a fundraising goal that will allow it to begin improvements in January to the auditorium, balcony and stage, create a concessions area in the lobby and convert a basement into a geen room that meets performers’ expectations. MORE PHOTOS IN FRIDAY’S EXAMINER. (EXAMINER PHOTOS | REUBEN MEES)
With a year left on the clock, the Holland Theatre has raised nearly all the money needed to take advantage of a major grant, but the historic theater board is hoping the generosity of the community continues to pour in as it looks to additional projects.
“We are ready to make the match soon, but we want people to know that the seat campaign and building sponsorships are still available,” fundraising chair Dava Royer said. “We are close, but we are still raising money. We also know there are people out there who want to buy a seat but haven’t done so yet, and we want them to know there is still plenty of opportunity to do so.”
The current campaign total is now at $844,500, board president Kris Swisher said. The theater board was required to raise at least $860,000 locally by June 2019 to take advantage of a $430,000 grant from the Wisconsin-based Jeffris Family Foundation, which funds worthwhile historic restoration projects throughout the Midwest.
With the goal imminent, the board is also announcing that the Holland — built in 1931 by architect Peter Huelskamp as the only Dutch-themed theater in America — will close at the beginning of 2019 to begin the $1.3 million restoration project — a project that is expected to take about six months to complete.
Read complete story in Friday’s Examiner.
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