Volume 5 Issue 1

January 2001

The year 2000 began with high hopes of being able to continue the momentum gained from receipt of the grant from the Washington State Building for the Arts Program in 1999.  Unfortunately any major funding for an organization as small as the HOHS is hard to come by.  We were grateful to receive a grant in November 2000 from the U.S. Bank Corp. in the amount of $5,000 to pay for installing a fire escape from the 2nd floor.  Until this is installed we will be unable to put on any further performances in the Opera House auditorium.
Last February 12th, a busload of senior and not so senior citizens from the Medical Lake/Spokane area toured the Opera House. Refreshments were served.  The first 2 days in April saw volunteers manning both sides of the rest stops at Schragg from 6 a.m. till
11 p.m.  Hosting free cookies, punch and coffee for I-90 travelers.  Nearly 240 dozen cookies were served.
On the 16th of May, the Opera House auditorium came alive with the sounds of the Arnie Carrothers trio.  Although attendance was light, the music was "heavy" and much enjoyed by the audience.  May 13th was a family night event at the school multi-purpose room with a spaghetti dinner and featuring the very talented "America's Most Wanted Kids."  All in attendance were enthralled with the program.
The summer months saw miscellaneous maintenance projects done on the Bank Block Building.  Jeff Brown painted a "Harrington Opera House Society" sign on the plate glass window next to the barber shop.  Bob Lucht's old apartment was cleaned out and belongings were stored.  Double doors to the main stairway were repainted, and a second Coat of preservative was applied to all exterior woodwork.
In September, another group of seniors stopped to tour the Opera House.  A yard sale for HOHS was also held in the old
Harrington Drug Store building.  In October, Wayne Rodenbough donated to the Opera House the original old coal burning stove that was used to heat the auditorium stage area. 
HOHS hosted intermission refreshments for the K/P Production performances of "Fiddler on the Roof" in early December.  A big THANK YOU  to all who furnished cookies and to those who helped set up and serve.  On the 10th of December HOHS sponsored a Christmas concert, "Night of Miracles", at the Congregational Church.  The performers, directed by Monte Swenson, came from various communities in Adams County.  On December 16th, the HOHS, Lions Club, and Chamber of Commerce joined forces to present the 2nd annual "Christmas Extravaganza" and auction.  This year's event was even more successful than last year's.  "Thank you" to all the individuals and businesses who donated items and "thank you" to all who bought them!
Contributed by Ed Haugan

To HOHS Home Web Page

www.harringtonoperahouse.org

From Your President

As the new president of the Harrington Opera House Society for 2001, I am looking forward to continuing the progress that has been made these past few years. When a small group of us gathered with Mrs. Douglass Rudkoff in 1992 to hear her speak to the vision she had for the old, dilapidated opera house on our main street, many of us thought that it could never happen.  We could never reroof that leaky old building.  We could never rewire and replumb that ramshackle eyesore.  We could never envision a public performance on the second floor of that old thing, especially with an audience.  How would they get up the stairs?
These are the typical questions we heard eight years ago. Today, we can look at the building, see the new roof AND we can go to the second floor to enjoy everything from a concert to an art auction.  As we continue to revitalize, rehabilitate, and renovate this Grande Dame of the vaudeville circuit, we are still as devoted and enthusiastic as we get ever closer to our goal -- a fully functioning center for the arts.
Our coffers have been fairly strong for the past few years, thanks in part to several grants we have received from area financial institutions.  We have also been very fortunate to enjoy excellent financial support from our community as well as other Lincoln County residents.  We are optimistic that this support will continue as we attend to our task at hand.  As with any organization, we are continually seeking new active members and financial partners from throughout the county.  If you wish to join us in our efforts, please let any of the current officers or members know of your interest.  You may also fill out the membership form in this newsletter.

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