Press Release

Restoration progress

Date: 10/25/10

COLDWATER, MI— With several new restoration gifts and pledges in hand, Tibbits announced it is within $142,000 of beginning demolition on the front of the opera house to remove the 1960s façade, the first step for restoring the historic theatre to its original 1882 beauty.

In September Tibbits Opera House kicked off its campaign “Strip the Tibbits…What’s Under the Brick?” The restoration committee introduced the architect on the project and announced it was within $162,000 of the $1 million mark. That dollar amount represents 100 percent of the match required for the Federal Scenic Byways grant of $500,000 and allows Tibbits to start the façade work.

Since the September announcement Tibbits staff and volunteers have been making presentations on the project and what it means to our community. According to Ken Delaney, co-chair on the Restoration Campaign, “Once these funds are raised the ball starts rolling. By next year at this time we could be looking at a beautiful new front, attracting attention from across the country.”

New gifts and pledges have been received from Jean Biringer, Georgann Reppert and Mary Smith. Says Delaney, “All three of these ladies have been very generous to Tibbits; they’ve supported the previous restoration efforts, they support the operations and now have come forward again with their generosity.”

While the funds are being raised, work is also moving along preparing for the demolition. Architect Tom Roberts has completed preliminary drawings for the demolition. These drawings have been submitted to the Michigan Department of Transportation and the State Historic Preservation Office for review and approval. Both agencies are involved because of the Scenic Byways grant the City of Coldwater received on behalf of Tibbits Opera Foundation. The grant administered by the Federal Highway Administration represents federal funds and therefore requires guarantees the historic integrity of the building is being preserved.

Roberts prepared a colored drawing of the stripped façade (c.1964), to help committee members understand the elements involved in the façade restoration and the process for demolition and restoration. The drawing shows the portion of the brick that was finish brick as well as the portion which was common brick, a lower grade brick, and covered with decorative metal elements. Through the colored drawing Roberts also shows the areas of brick that are of concern and will likely require replacement. These areas are at the bottom of the building and at the very top above the center window. The mansard at the top of the building needs complete rebuilding this is the angled roof which originally displayed the B and the T (for Barton Tibbits) and was filled in with cement block. These areas will not be demolished until reconstruction begins but are likely to be the first areas rebuilt.

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.

Note:

Tibbits has one newspaper print of the theatre from the transition when the Art Deco movie theatre façade was removed before the current façade was added. Additional photos would be very helpful. Any other old photos of the interior prior to the movie theatre era or of the transition from opera house to movie house in the mid 1930s would also be appreciated. Anyone with photos is encouraged to contact Tibbits at 517-278-6029.