Press Release

Local Historic District Approves Tibbits Façade Application

Date:2/11/11

COLDWATER, MI— Local Historic District Approves Tibbits Façade Application

The City of Coldwater’s newly formed local Historic District Commission met Wednesday to review and approve its first application, the restoration of the Tibbits Opera House façade.

The Commission issued a Certificate of Appropriateness for the work proposed at Tibbits Opera House. According to procedure the Commission is required to site within the certificate the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation which apply to the project. The standards cited were three and six.

Standard three states “Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historical properties, will not be undertaken.” Tibbits is recreating the façade to its original 1882 French Second Empire design. Through the many historic photographs available and the extensive research the original design is clear. The only changes are practical applications necessary to meet current use of the building and acceptable by preservation standards. For example the addition and improvement of electric lighting is necessary to make the building both safe and attractive for patrons. Gas lights lit the original building.

Rehabilitation standard six says “Deteriorated historic features will be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture, and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features will be substantiated by documentary and physical evidence.” The upcoming demolition of the 1960 brick will allow Tibbits architect to determine what if any original elements remain. Most of them are expected to need replacing. A considerable portion of the original brick is expected to be in good enough condition to repair. The same process will be used as was completed for the brick on the north, south and west walls of the theatre.  

Vice-chair Terri Cohen presided over the meeting as members Christine Lewis, Joseph Ward, David Smoker and City Planner Piers Kirby heard the presentation by Tibbits Executive Director Christine Delaney. Since the Tibbits project has already received approval from the State Historic Preservation Office, most of the Commission’s review had already been completed for them.

Demolition work on the opera house is expected to begin this month.  Demolition is the first step for restoring the historic theatre to its original 1882 beauty.

For more information on the campaign, to make a gift or to volunteer call Tibbits at 517-278-6029 or go to www.Tibbits.org.