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Harrington Opera House Society Meeting

The next business meeting will be 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 13th. in The Art Room. Public and new members always welcome!


Vote for the Harrington Opera House Elevator Grant!

Starting Sept. 1st , Opera House supporters can go to Pepsi's refresheverything.com web site and sign in to vote for the Harrington Opera House Elevator grant. Those with facebook accounts can sign in through facebook.
 
The way it works:
Pepsi receives 1000's of ideas every month, and allows people to vote on up to 10 of their favorite ideas each day. Can only cast 1 vote per idea. The projects with the most votes in a month receive funding. So please vote, and ask your friends to vote!
 
To find the Harrington Opera House application, starting September 1st., use key words such as: Harrington, opera house, elevator, in the SEARCH box.


How the World's Greatest Flood ShapedBretz's Flood Book Cover
Lincoln County and the Surrounding Area

Plans are in the works to bring John Soennichsen, Cheney author, to the Harrington Opera House on Friday evening, September 24th.

John has written more than 200 magazine articles and four books. His most recent book is "Bretz's Flood: The Remarkable Story of a Rebel Geologist and the World's Greatest Flood." His presentation will include some of the exciting story of an epic mystery of the western landscape, and how one geologist, using old-fashioned methods of measurement, observation, and scientific deduction, figured out what everyone else had failed to see, and persevered against the odds to change the course of geologic history. The discussion of the channeled scablands will include material related to Lincoln County.

Watch for details soon as final arrangements are confirmed.


Bronn & Katherine Journey are returning to the Harrington Opera House!

Bronn & Katherine Journey
Bronn & Katherine Journey
in the Harrington Opera House - 2008

Thursday, October 14, 2010
7:00 p.m.


Don't miss this evening of music and humor as Bronn shows his versatility with the harp; from classical to folk to pop, and Katherine adds her incredible soprano voice.

Tickets available at 509-253-4345
(Harrington City Hall) from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m.
or call 509-253-4719. 
Tickets will also be availabla at the door.


Help Restore Part of Harrington's History!

Recently, much of the original equipment from the Harrington Palm Barber Shop was discovered for sale on the Internet. The items, dating from the early 1900's, were quite "pricey" and beyond the Opera House's budget. Rather than risk losing these historical items for all time, arrangements were made to acquire them.

Click HERE for a list of the items and how you can help the Harrington Opera House keep a part of Harrington's History available for public display.


Inland Northwest Community Foundation Logo

     Grant Received!

      The Harrington Opera House Society recently received a
      grant of $18,000 from Inland Northwest Community Foundation in Spokane.  It is a grant from the Community Strategies Grant Program and is for the sheeting and insulating of the Auditorium and Lobby ceiling areas. This is an important step towards being able to heat and eventually air condition more efficiently. INCF-Grant-Reception

The Opera House Society was honored, with other grant recipients at the Foundation's Annual reception at the Davenport Hotel in the Grand Pennington Ballroom on June 10, 2010. Over $800,000 was distributed for the fiscal year 2010 from this grant program.  The Inland Northwest
Community Foundation is celebrating it's 35 years as a community philanthropy organization.  This is the second grant awarded the Opera  House from this organization.  The first was for the building of the new stair case in 2007 for $29,000.00.

 

 

Gordon & Billie Herron at INCF Annual Reception


2010 Events

Doggie Days

The 2nd Annual Doggie Days on 21st. was a success. Several dogs received baths, grooming, and pedicures while a few owners visited the museum and Art Room. The day generated over $100 in donations.

Art Workshop!
Seven students enjoyed the Charlotte Schacher landscape painting workshop - June 25 - 25, 2010 in "The Art Room" of the Harrington Oera House. All would like to schedule another workshop later this summer or in the fall.


Harrington School Band Concert

Director, Monte Swenson, led our Harrington youth musicians in an outstanding performance in the Opera House auditorium on April 19, 2010. The concert included selections played by the Fifth Grade Band, the Middle Schoole Band, The High School Band, and the "Combined Band" (Middle & High School.)

Click photos for larger view

donations for band fund

Audience at Harrington Band Concert

Attendance by dontation to Band Trip Fund The Bands played to a full house!

Tapestry Women's Choir, based in Colfax and
Bel Canto of Yakima
BelCanto & Tapestry Choral Groups on stage
filled the historic Harrington Opera House with beautiful music on April 17, 2010.
Jayne (Ottmar) Beauchene, a 1965 graduate of Harrington High School and current member of the
Bel Canto chorus, instigated bringing both choruses together for a wonderful afternoon of song and fellowship to benefit Harrington Opera House rehabilitation projects.

Click on photo for larger view. More photos soon.


Destination for Tour Groups

Inland Empire Tours brought a group of 11to visit the Harrington Opera House on April 11th. The tourists, originating from Spokane, were also treated to visits to local gardens, arranged by Harrington Opera House volunteer, Ed Haugan. The tour guide was very impressed with both the historic Opera House & Bank Block Building and the yard/gardens and plans to arrange another tour in the summer.

Wedding at the Opera House!Wedding photogrphy in front of H. Opera House

On Saturday, March 20, 2010, Jordan Wagner and Heather Yirak celebrated their wedding in the historic Harrington Opera House.

Click on
Britton Photography -Heather & Jordan Wedding Link
for beautiful photos of event.


A few "non-professional" photos (Click on photos for larger view)

Harrington Opera House Lobby

Billie & Eilleen

Harrington Opera House auditorium for wedding

Heather & Jordan in H. Opera House Lobby

Wagner Wedding in Harrington Opera House

 

 

 


Wedding Car from window

 


Building Update

Recent work included replacing the curtain covering the "Box Office" in the lobby with sheet rock. Eventually, wainscoting may be added to the bottom portion of the wall, replicating the historical decorative styling from the Opera House auditorium.

painting new sheet rock in HOHS Clint D working in HOHS lobby
 
Clint Dinwiddie working on "Box Office"
Click for larger & more views

HOHS featured on Cathy McMorris Rodgers August 2009 Web Page


FaceBook Logo Become a Fan!
  Visit our new FaceBook page & invite others to become a fan!


The Annual Meeting
on January 11, 2010 was well attended. Gordon Herron, President, presented the 2009 Annual Report. Word Document   PDF accompanied by PowerPoint slides.

The February meeting was also well attended, and the next meeting is Monday, March 1, 2010 - 7:00 p.m. in the Opera House or Harrington City Hall, depending on weather.
New members welcome! Click HERE for more


Grant Received!
OnMonday, December 7, 2009, the Lincoln County Commissioners awarded the Harrington Opera House Society with a grant of $9,000 which will go towards installation of lighting in the Opera House auditorium and stairways.


2009 Events


Santa & Elf arrives in Harrington WA on fire truck.

 

Santa & one of his elves
arrives at the
Harrington Opera House
& Bank Block Building on
December 5th.

Santa & Elf arrive at Harrington Opera House

First Visit with Santa!

 

First Visit with Santa!

. . . and he's been a very
       good boy!

 


Also on December 5th -

the Harrington Opera House

ART ROOM


Opened with orginals and prints by
Charlotte Schacher
and prints by Doolittle, Bateman,
Seerey-Lester, and
Ed Tussey offered for viewing & sale!

Hot Chocolate & Coloring Activities for kids.

Harrington Opera House Art Room

Harrington School Band on the Harrington Opera House Stage

Harrington School Bands
play to a full house on
November 24, 2009



Thank You

Peter Davenport


for another interesting presentation on

UFOs and the National UFO Reporting Center



Proceeds from the

The October 30th evening
benifitted the Harrington Opera House Renovation Funds



Soda Creek 3 Folk Trio - Harrington Opera House Stage Click photos for larger view

Soda Creek 3 Folk Trio in Harrington Opera House

      
The Soda Creek 3 (Formerly known asThe Fourth Grade Choir)with Jack  Harroun, Stan Timperley, and Chuck Balkwill, perform at the Harrington Opera House on September 25, 2009.

A wonderful evening full of great folk tunes and humor. The trio donated all proceeds to the Harrington Opera House!

They also played in the park the next day during the Harrington Fall Festival BBQ.


Historical Group Visit
On Tuesday, September 1st., Evelyn Fricke, who used to live in Harrington, and a group of people from the Rockford Historical Society toured the Opera House.  Local soprano, Eileen Paulson, performed a few vocal numbers to demonstrate the amazing acoustics of Opera House auditorium.



Toweling wet dog
Dog Days of Summer
Dog Wash & "Yard Sale"

August 15, 2009
Elevator Fundraiser


Harrington Opera House Dog Wash Fund Raiser
2 Dogs
Dog grooming
       

Cathy McMorris Rodgers signs the Harrington Opera House Guest Book

Photo by Karen Allen

On Friday, August 14, 2009,
The Harrington Opera House Society
 welcomed

Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Cathy McMorris Rodgers on Harrington Opera House Stage

Photo by Peter Davenport

to the
Opera House & Bank Block Building

Left: Cathy McMorris Rodgers signs the Opera House Guest Book

Right: Volunteers and Cathy McMorris Rodgers on
Harrington Opera House Stage.
Left to right: Wanda Budrius, Cathy, and Carol Giles



Tea Time at the Harrington Opera House Afternoon Tea
with
Presentation and Book Signing
by Author/Artist
Nona Hengen
was held in the
Harrington Opera House
July 18, 2009
Nona Hengen signing books
Images

Article by Karen Allen
Published in August-Septmber issue of Wheat Life Magazine

More about Nona at: 
www.icehouse.net/spangletown/nona.html
and
www.palousepress.com/


Thanks to Alan Whitman and Washington Window & Door in the Spokane Valley
for the donation of the replacement window in the South wall of the lobby!
And thanks to Alan & Ed Haugan for the installation!


Thank you to
Spokane's Pages of Harmony!
"Broadway, Barbershop Style" on June 20th was a wonderful evening.

Pages of Harmony on Harrington Opera House Stage
Pages of Harmony on Harrington Opera House Stage
Click for larger view

Star

The Harrington Opera House
A shining star in the heart of Lincoln County

Click HERE for article by Karen Allen,
printed with permission from the May 2009 issue of Wheat Life,
the official publication of Washington Association of Wheat Growers.


Harrington Opera House Tile Project
Recent Grants Received


4,500 from U.S. Bank

$2,500 from the Avista Foundation
to be applied to our lobby & auditorium heating projects.

Thanks to Billie Herron for writing the grants and
to Avista & US Bank for their support!


 Wanda Buddrius helps with the bathroom tile project

 

Two Day Oil Painting Workshop
with Charlotte Schacher
May 15-16

Charlotte Schacher is a well known artist and an admired art instructor in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. Along with wildlife paintings, she paints portraits and a wide variety of custom paintings.  Her work has earned her numerous awards and has been featured in private galleries in the Pacific Northwest.

Charlotte Schacher teaching oil painting class
Charlotte Schacher (left) gives student, Renea Larmer, some oil painting pointers.
U.S. Bank managers observe progress.
Students in Charlotte Schacher Oil Paininting Class
Wanda Buddrius, U.S. Bank Manager, Harrington Branch,
checks out class progress on Friday, May 15th in the Harrington Opera House "Arts Room."

 

Deb Hendrickson posing with Charlotte Schacher Paintings

Debra Hendrickson, 2009 Harringon Opera House Events Chair, posing with some of Charlotte Schacher's paintings in the lobby of the Harrington Opera House.

 

 

Click photo for high resolution file

Top

 

The Harrington School Bands & Chorus
under the direction of Monte Swenson
entertained a full house on Thursday, April 16, 2009


Click Photos for larger view

Harrington 5th Grade Band        Harrington School Chorus

Harrington School Combined Bands          Harrington School Band & Chorus Members



On Saturday, March 21, 2009


Peter Davenport


Gave a GREAT Presentation

on UFOs and the National UFO Reporting Center


A fascinating evening in
support of the Harrington Opera House!

Thank you Peter, and ALL who attended
GREAT turn-out!
Watch for story in The Inlander
!


Harrington Opera House Annual Report

December 31, 2008
Word
      PDF

Top
Davenport Theatrical's Way Off Broadway Revue Logo

was a Crowd Pleaser in the Harrington Opera House on Feb. 22nd!!
Thanks to the joint efforts of the Harrington Opera House Society and Davenport Theatrical the audience enjoyed a great show of music, comedy, and a little bit of choreography. Davenport Theatrical brought in professional lighting and sound system to help "set the stage" in the historic old auditorium.

Bronn Journey Concert
IN The Harrington Opera House!

12/6/08
WOW!
What an incredible event and performance by Bronn & Katherine Journey ! And, what a great way to reopen the Harrington Opera House after 10 years of bringing the old gal up to code. Many thanks to all the supporters who made this reopening possible. And to Bronn & Katherine Journey for making a special effort to include the Harrington Opera House in their solid schedule of performances for the Christmas season.

Bronn not only coaxed his harp to sound like a whole orchestra, but his sense of humor and his awareness of his audience was so entertaining that even spouses who were "drug" to the concert found themselves enjoying the performance. And Katherine's exquisite voice was purely joyful to behold.

Their selections ranged from Broadway to Celtic and Christmas, with snippets of Johnny Cash and even a Bronn Journey original, "Ode to My 401 K", thrown in to the obvious appreciation of our mostly rural crowd. And speaking of the crowd - the room was packed to capacity with Eastern WA folk as well as groups that traveled from Montana, Oregon, and Seattle! Quite a draw to this little town of Harrington!

And thanks to all the people who were ready to pitch in and help at a moment's notice when the night before the performance we had a false fire alarm! An alert Harrington citizen noticed "smoke" coming from the Opera House roof and saw an orange glow through the auditorium windows. Turns out, it was one of the first nights for our newly installed heating system. There was a bonfire on a hill outside of town that was positioned at just the right angle to reflect off of the windows. With the smoke/steam and the fiery glow, a 911 call set off a flurry of activity and an outpouring of instant support. What a scary way to discover how many people treasure our efforts to resurrect this grand old building and monument to our cultural heritage.

We still have a long way to go and major funding is still needed to renovate the auditorium and stage. Now that we have the required bathrooms, electrical service, heat, and the beautiful 2nd staircase, we can begin to use the building for concerts, art shows, dances, weddings, receptions, etc. Still rustic, with her history showing, the bare bricks, flaking plaster, and open rafters, are both reminders of her rich past and the amount of work that lies ahead.

Slide Show below of the event!
If anyone has good photos of this Concert, or historical photos of the Opera House or Harrington,
please send to Karen Robertson with permission to post to Harrington websites.

 

Harrington Opera House Building at Dusk

The HOHS at dusk the week before the Bronn Journey Concert held on December 6, 2008

Picasa Slide Show
Click on slides to see larger view.

If you would like prints of any of these pics,
contact Karen Robertson at

robertsonarts (at) harringtonbiz.com

Click here to see Listen to Bronn & Katherine Journey perform Oh Holy Night at another venue

Bev Doolittle Print: "Prayer for the Wild Things"
SOLD!!
Info

Top

Harrington Bank Block Building in 3-D

Ron Hall of Cheney, WA created a 3-D Model of the Bank Block Building that can be viewed with Google Earth.

Street View (IE click "View Larger Map)

View Larger Map

3-D Model of Harrignton Opera House by Ron Hall

HOHS 3-D Model Info

Free Google Earth Download
Presentation for Senator Morton - Sept. 2008 (PDF)
Good overview of the history of the Bank Block Building
and goals of the Harrington Opera House Society


Annual Report -
For an overview of HOHS activities in 2007, read the 2007 Annual Report.
                            Word Version     PDF Version


The Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) Annual Meeting, "Evening for the Arts,"
Sponsored by Lincoln Co. EDC & Century Tel on March 27th, was a gala evening. Held in the Harrington Memorial Hall, attendees enjoyed a sumptuous dinner hosted by the Harrington Opera House Society. Visual arts exhibited included the works of Joseph Goldberg, Jim Bauer, Edward Haugan, and Les Lepere. Pam Kelley, EDC Director, facilitated the evening with mini-presentations by sponsors and spokespersons for PDA projects throughout Lincoln County. Eileen Paulson, accompanied by Sara Jane Johnson on piano, provided interludes of music with Eileen giving an encore from the stage of the Harrington Opera House at the end of the evening.

HOHS members did a great job planning, cooking, and serving the meal which received numerous well-earned compliments. Thanks to HOHS volunteer efforts, the upstairs auditorium was equipped with temporary lighting so that the EDC meeting guests could experience the amazing acoustics while enjoying Eileen's encore musical numbers. Visit the Lincoln County EDC News page for a few photos. More photos coming soon.


HELP!!!

Desperately Seeking Susan . . . or ANYONE to assist with upcoming events or to complete some of our current renovation projects. See Agenda & minutes on Meeting Page for more information or contact HOHS President, Gordon Herron at 253-4594

Harrington Opera House Society Awarded Grant

Excerpt from Davenport Times, 1/10/08
The Lincoln County commissioners agreed to help fund five local projects recommended by the local Economic Development Council.

Grants were awarded to . . . (and to the) Harrington Opera House Society - $12, 150 to complete renovation of
the lobby area.

1/7/08 - Building Restoration Update

Temporary heat was recently set up for "work days" in the bank corner. The contractors working on the stairs need the heat to be installed in the lobby to finish woodwork. Gordon Herron is gathering bids for the heat installation.

Work was stopped after Christmas on the bathrooms. 2 more walls and ceiling joists need to go up before wallboard can be put up.

Gordon reported that some damage was done to the roof during the last wind storm and there is leaking. HOHS is looking for a contractor to repair the roof.

The February 4, 2008 HOHS meeting will be held in the HOHS lobby!!! Meetings are open to anyone interested in efforts to renovate the "Opera House" and the Harrington Bank Block Building. Memebers are reminded to submit "HOHS Payment-In-Kind Forms" to Billie Herron or Sheryl Stedman for any donations of time or materials.

To donate materials, expertise, labor, or services; contact Billie or Gordon Herron at 253-4594 or Edwin Haugan.

Neighboring Ritzville Exploring Trade School for Preservation Arts
Check out the video on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPxyPWs_jf8

8/18/07 - Building Restoration Update
Remodeling of the bathroom adjacent to the dance studio on the first floor of the opera house has been completed except for painting. Labor for new sheet rock, flooring, & new toilet installation was done by Tim Hampson of Davenport Washington in conjunction with Warner Construction Co.

Mr. Mark Wetjen of Harrington, Wa. donated labor & materials to do the wiring in the bathroom and throughout the rest of the South West end of the ground floor.

Sanding, painting, and finish work is in progress. To donate materials, expertise, or labor; contact Edwin Haugan or Billie Herron at 253-4594.

Restoration of a County Landmark Takes Great Perseverance
By Megan Rieger
The dramatis personae of the Harrington, Wash., opera house still haunt the century-old stage. A chalked entry above the bathroom doorway reads, “In honor of Macer Scott, the boy who got tough with Teddy the Bear.” In the wings, the names of 12 cast members of “Why Smith Left Home” are listed.
Click HERE for More
Grants breathe new life into Opera House project
From the Davenport
TIMES
February 15, 2007
Easter came early for members of the Harrington Opera House Society.
   Two grants received from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INCF)* and the Lincoln County Economic Development Fund (EDF) for $29,337 and $10,000, respectively, will breathe new life into the society's plans to renovate the facility so it could be ready for performances in three years.
   Society treasurer, Billie Herron, said she and her colleagues were encouraged by the grants, which will go a long way toward constructing a second entry/exit stairwell from the second floor Opera House to the downstairs area that once was the "bank" of the "Bank Block Building."
Click HERE for more

Inland Northwest Community Foundation Logo

*The Inland Northwest Community Foundation serves twenty counties throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Founded in 1974, its mission is to foster vibrant and sustainable communities in the Inland Northwest.  In partnership with the donors they serve, INCF has awarded $29 million in grants and scholarships throughout the region since its inception.  These awards have enriched education, promoted arts & culture, provided critical human services, supported community and economic development and ultimately impacted thousands of lives in the Inland Northwest.
Bank Block Bulletin - January 2001
   PDF File (slow to load - best for printing)
   HTML File
May 8, 2001 News Article

7/26/2001 - Opera House Receives Grant!


Download FREE Adobe Acrobat to view & print PDF files.

PO Box 618, Harrington, WA 99134
Contacts     infoat symbolharringtonoperahouse.org

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