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I know you asked me a long time ago at this point to do a story on the Opera House. Sorry for my delay but is this what you were thinking about? Is there something I am missing? Changes? etc? Let me know. ~ Mary
BACK to GRANDEUR for OPERA HOUSE
The sleepy town of Encampment Wyoming has a building renovation project underway that will bring the old west mining community’s grandeur back. The quaint community of 450 people was once the boom of the copper mining industry. In 1902, the town constructed the Grand Encampment Opera House to provide a meeting place and a year later a stage to perform their famous plays. The grand building was constructed on log beams as the foundation & underwent lack of maintenance and poor construction of additions over the years.
The Town of Encampment’s Mayor Greg Salisbury appointed Councilwoman Mary Martin to head the project back in 2008. The intent of the project is to maintain the visual impact and historical presence of the building and to expand on this impact by creating a more useable and marketable facility. The Grand Encampment Opera House Committee was formed which was composed of representatives from the organizations that use the facility. They held a public hearing at the beginning of the project and 100% of those in attendance expressed the need to renovate the facility and preserve its historical appeal, rather than demolish it and build a replica. With that in mind a careful assessment of the facility was made.
During the process, the committee decided that the project would include preservation of the Bell Tower, the historical signature walls, the stage area and the main hall. All of this plus the remainder of the facility underwent extensive rebuild after the demolishing phase revealed structural problem if left intact. ADA accessibility issues were also addressed through proper entrance, egress, restrooms, etc. A kitchen facility was added into the floor plan as well as ample storage for tables, chairs, exercise equipment, Opera Company props, Community Choir risers and music, etc. A retractable was added in the center of the main hall so that separate meeting areas can be made available. This addressed conflicts in the facility use by allowing more than one organization to meet at the same time. The historical ticket office in the front of the building was also renovated so that it can serve its purpose & house the Audio Visual equipment. Opposite the ticket window a coat/cry room allows a parent to remove a crying baby from the performance area, yet still be able to see and hear the performance through a window and built in speaker system.
The historic Bell Tower is being renovated. It is the focal point of the facility and has an important historical visual impact on the community. A small meeting room is now inside the tower’s base with the bell still in place at the top of the tower. Separate access was made to this meeting area so that it can be utilized independent of the main hall, in an effort to avoid future scheduling conflicts. There is a unisex ADA compliant restroom and hostess sink area added to that end of the facility as well.
The exterior of the facility was updated with white steel siding that will maintain the same visual impact the facility has been known for but now with attractive red trim. On the south side of the Opera House the large cottonwood trees that have damaged the foundation have been removed. Additional ADA compliant parking spaces will be added at the front of the facility and an accessible third entrance was added on the North side through the Kay Ellie Herring Sartin Memorial Park. Proper lighting was added to the exterior and to the park area.
As the summer of 2011 draws to a close the Grand Encampment Opera House’s renovations are getting close to the grand re-opening. It is an irreplaceable piece of historical and cultural history in our community and we are so excited to show off her grandeur again. The funding for the project was provided through Wyoming’s State Land & Investment Board and the Wyoming Business Council; along with the Town of Encampment.
Fine with me. (We are hoping for a Grand Opening around Christmas with a good ole’ fashion Chistmas Party.)
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