Harrington news

The Harrington Opera House Society held its gala celebration and dedication of the recently installed elevator and Boston grand piano designed by Steinway on Saturday, October 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. At 4 p.m. the “ribbon” was cut from the lobby to the entrance to the elevator with three scissors, a fete that only the politically connected could manage. Simultaneously, Sen. Judy Warneck, Rep. Tom Dent and Rep. Matt Manweller cut the ribbon, while Gordon Herron, engineer, maintained tension. Cheers escaped as the ribbon fell to the floor and everyone was allowed to see and try out the elevator. Once the ribbon was cut, Linda Zellmer of Davenport began playing incidental music while the reception began in the auditorium with hors d’oeuvres and beverages. A short program followed bout 45 minutes later.

Mark Stedman, former HOHS president, opened the program with a few comments regarding the long time it has taken to fulfill these dreams from 1992 to their completion; and introduced Senator Judy Warneck, Rep. Tom Dent and Rep. Matt Manweller. Each spoke briefly. Warneck mentioned that she has roots in the Harrington community and said that her Aunt Laura worked in the bank which is now the lobby of the opera house. She also noted that her father was a carpenter in the early days of the town. Manweller noted that the money invested by the Society in the elevator project and ADA facilities was taxpayer money. He stated, “We are cheerleaders for this part of the state.” Dent addressed the long fight for the grant for our area and the great accomplishment that has been achieved. Billie Herron, current HOHS president, focused her comments on the long struggle for a piano, the efforts of so many, the desire of the donors and the acquisition of this 7’1” Boston grand piano designed by Steinway.

Heather Safe, piano instructor, played “Shreveport Stomp” by Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, a syncopated ragtime piece. The piece was published in 1925. Jelly Roll was an early ragtime and jazz musician and Creole composer. Heather Safe was raised in Metaline, Wash., and is married with three children. At present, she has 12 students. She earned her Master’s in Piano Pedagogy and Performance Studies from the University of Idaho.

Rebecca Hardy, who has a Master’s in Piano Performance, played “Rhapsody in Blue” composed by George Gershwin and arranged by Rebecca. Gershwin combined classical with jazz into a form that almost defies classification. When he originally composed this piece, he titled it “American Rhapsody,” but upon seeing James Whistler’s impressionist art, “Harmony in Blue and Violet,” Gershwin changed the title to include color. Rebecca Hardy teaches piano part-time but has a nearly full schedule; she practices three hours a day, “whether I need it or not.” She has performed several “Grand Interludes” in the Harrington Opera House in the past.

At the conclusion of the program Billie Herron invited the audience to take turns playing the piano. Those who stayed to visit were able to enjoy an extension of the musical performance. The youngest contributor was perhaps four years of age. “Friends of the Piano” had their names engraved on plaques mounted inside the piano which were viewed after the event.

Much as Billie Herron warned that it is impossible to mention a few without neglecting the mention of others, this author would like to note some of the guests who attended the gala celebration: Jerry and Karen Allen of the Hotel Lincoln, former Mayor Paul Gilliland and wife, Cassandra Paffle-Dick (president of the Chamber of Commerce), Peter Davenport (Director of UFO Center), Steve Whiteside (violinist with the Gonzaga Symphony), Margie Hall (Lincoln Co. EDC), and many others.

The grand piano and elevator are truly new additions to the historic building on the corner of Third and Willis, originally known as the Bank Block. This site in 1898 was the location of the Pacific Hotel, formerly called Tinsley’s Hotel. It was literally jacked up, put on rollers and wheeled around the block to the area just east of our present post office. The site was cleared and made ready for the construction of the 1904 Bank Block, established by the Bank of Harrington and R. Brenchly. The construction contract was awarded to J.R. Burrill & Co. The stone work was begun in June 1904; Masson and Tierney fired up their local kiln which contained 270,000 bricks to be used during the summer. By September the roof was being put on and completed, with tin shingles added in October. The bowling alley, which was in the basement of the Brenchly portion of the building, had arrived in November and was being installed. In December, J.R. Burrill & Co. was asking the public to stay off of the opera house floor until after it was waxed. The Citizen newspaper moved into the building in the area now called the Art Room. To the west of that became the home of J.E. Williams & Co. (harness shop).

“New Opera House Opens. The Lady Minstrels to Have that Honor Tonight. The new opera house will be opened tonight by a home talent entertainment, ‘The Lady Minstrels,’ under the management of Mrs. Clara Lusher. ‘The Lady Minstrels’ consists of the newest songs, jokes and catches, the participants being all Harrington ladies. Classical music and the most popular songs will also be introduced. The New Auditorium has just been completed. It has a seating capacity of 350, there being 160 reserved seats, the latter being folding chairs. There are eight curtains, the first having [a] scene from the Alps, which is surrounded by advertisements of the different firms of the city. The other curtains are to be used as needed in shifting views, etc. The stage is large and roomy, contains two dressing rooms and a toilet room. Another toilet room and cloak room is on the opera floor for the benefit of the pleasure seekers. Gas, with a switch bard is used for lighting. Altogether it is, we believe, the best arranged show house in the county.” (Citizen: 12-16-1904)

This first event in the new opera house auditorium consisted of 30 of “Harrington’s best feminine talent” for a period of nearly two hours. They believed there were 375 in the audience. The Fisk Orchestra played several selections during the evening.

The varied performances that first year included J. Frank Fouche (dramatic and comedy artist); Walton-Mitchum, entertainment (singing, readings, monologues, impersonations); The Ulster (home talent comedy-drama); anniversary celebration of the Odd Fellows, preaching, entertainment-drama by St. Joseph’s Academy (Sprague); commencement exercises; Charles Phipps (palm whistler and imitator); boxing/wrestling; “The Convict’s Daughter;” McEwen the Hypnotist and his mediocre vaudeville cast, and dances.