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Firehall blitz Friday Saturday $1 1112 Earth Examiner Published by Canadian Newspapers Company Limited 16 Baytield Street Barrie Ontario Robb PublisherGeneral Manager Walls Editor Emeritus Monday January 19 1976 Henshaw Managing Editor One dollar per person buys cultural centre The Friends of the FOF have issued challenge Roger Oatley chairman of the organization dedicated an old firehall into cultural centre for Barrie said this week the Friends will soon start $50000 fundraising drive The Barrie community will be asked whether it is paying lip ser vice to the concept of an arts cultural centre or really wants it to changing Mr Oatley told the Club of Barrie branches of federal and provincial governnfient have or restoration estimated to cost promised funds $500000 The plan is to have the Friends raise $50000 then go to senior Firehall to centre Optimist the tle levels of government and get the rest of the cash the Friends have been assured is available So until the end of May Barrie and area residents will have the opportunity to buy their own Then it will be up to the Friends to get the money out of provincial and federal FOF is involved in negotiations pare approximately $100000 from the cost of the building Some of the grand concepts ap parently will be scaled down lit pockets $50000 campaign is not unrealistic Surely Barrie and residents can come up with one dollar each If you plan to say no you havent looked inside If you plan to say no you haventlooked inside Why save it its nothing but heap of rubbish By those who have never ste ped inside or dreamed litt thats been the general comment around town Friends of the Firehall think differently though and invite you to jump on the ban dwagon now instead of mar velling afterwards about what good idea it was En joy the thrill ride with us as we make this historic building into history making centre of activity Lots of people think we should have the chance The dean of restoration ar chitects Eric Arthur does He says Barries Firehall is well worth saving and superior architecturally to most of the Firehalls that have been saved in Toronto Robert Phillips Executive Director of Heritage Canada thinks so too rather strongly He says of the FOFs efforts now at last some citizens have stood up to the vandals not just to save their heritage but to give their children little of their birthright Barrie has thrown away so much Perhaps no one is more respected on such issues as Peter John Stokes He was restoration consultant for The Grange in Toronto Niagaraonthe Lake and Victoria Hall in Cobourg He says theres no doubt about the value of this building ar chitecturally and says its in terrific shape Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but when the experts say its worth saving perhaps you should take another look Why save the heap of brick mortar and stories untold Why not Why not with the thousan ds of dollars spent in and by this municipality for ball diamonds tennis courts soc cer pitches beaches flowers and trees and arenas Why cial not with the provin expenditures f0r Children art brings life to waiting walls The vibrant playful colors of childrens art will cover the walls of the Old Firehall from May 22 to 29 as the areas first annual childrens art show is held With primary in termediate and senior public school students competing for prizes in different age categories the show will be on view during business hours at the Collier Street building All contestants must com can Pay The Friends of the Firehall eve the cultural centre can be selfsustaining Estimated annual cost of running the centre with part time curator manager is 86100 That $26100 price tag is small one for any business its miniscule when one considers the num ber of enterprises to be given voice with the rebirth of the old building And it will make money We are counting on mem berships room rentals ticket percenta takes professiona art shows and group contributions The budget if you add it up does balance pete through the schools with prizes being art supplies For information call Liz Oatley 726902 libraries schools and com munity colleges in our area Isnt it time the cultural minority got crack at dream We think so Isnt it time potters could rent wheel and space In kiln tocreate Isnt it time amateur photographers could rent darkroom and create Isnt it time for the public to valuable travelling art exhibit Isnt it time ARCT students had place to share their talent Isnt it time small theatre groups had place to present those thrilling funny and warm productions without paying heavy rental fee Isnt it time for people in Barrie to be able to stop at one spot for any ticket to any upcoming event Isnt it about time Last week the city of Barrie realized it had mis laced valuable firm ma to promote Barrie as cultural and industrial cen ire The Firehall can be live film The Firehall as cultural centre and hub of ac tivities will live on as an ongoing promotion and its residents Give us this chance 1920 several major chan es had been made to facade The three sma doors in the 1874 building had been replaced by one small door one big one to accommodate the first fire truck showu here and two windows The balcony was The Friends of the Firehall begin their residential blitz of the city on Friday April 30 and continue on Saturday become inVOIVed If youd stop no callbacks basis If and see whats been done so May This is your invitation to Local artist Bob Paterson has captured the mood and theme of the Friends of the Firehall dream The young couple on the left are momen ts way from the main entrance off Mulcaster Street It will be relandscaped and enticing and flagstaffs will signal the festive mood inside The like to help on the canvass it will be on 50homes one 1211 ITr arts centre will de where families can youre not sure why not dr0p far the firehall any weekday Esople place downtown entertained and ex perience the arts in all its many forms to ether Only the fire door to the extreme right wi open to provide access directly onto the stage for sets The other doors will be sealed to meet the tour of the firehall ff be able to visit wellhung cenvofr Pgrhgopseeygluavg Bar the somedayin the Old Firehall coffee shop to be located in ries original lockup in basement of the struc ture Sound like fun Sure Lets go on tour and find out what the rest of the building will belike You enter with your guide the fully bri TheYdont make them like that anymore your guide from Mulcaster Street with suns rays dancing color through beautiful ght stainedglass points out tickets for events at the Firehall and all around town and giving out information to local residents and visitors to Barrie arts your left is the curator managers office Hes busily coordinating many activities for the coming month and ar ranging next weeks exhibit from the National Gallery Beside him is the information and ticket office always someone iMOii am sanitizeM3 theres selling theatre As we leave the foyer entering the theatre you hear mixture of sounds but thats upstairs and well tour there later In the theatre you sit down to watch rehearsal for play that opens tonight Everyone looks excited One hundred and fifty people will be here then and among them many visitors from out of town delighted to find theatre alive and well in Bar rie You might even see yourself on the stage or your children or perhaps speaker for that business con ference you still have to arrange Better go speak to the manager for information Art gallery Perhaps next year your toddlers work will be hang ing here too The attendant hands you brochure and ARCrliVES firtlTARlOi probably added and the roof line was changed to accommodate the 1904 addition Restoration will be to the original facade to comply with Ontario Heritage funding requirements you stop to browse for while You wander from the gallery into the studio next door surprised to see your neighbor in an art class hap ly adding the last strokes to first still life Nearby the camera club has its dark roo but the door to that it closed Over there is art rental the hopeful searching for that special picture for the front hall Quietly you leave lest the chess players be disturbed Potters Back to the elevator and down to the basement for one last look The potters are just about to fire up the kiln to add the finishing touches to series of bowls Perha tomorrow if youre lucky the one you like will be for sale at the craft sho For how youll be happy wi wall hanging or print done ri ht here at the arts centre by ocal craft smen Your cars across the street and just before you get in you pause to take look at the restored facade in the sun You might even feel lit tle Bride after all where else is ere complete arts com plex in an antique firehall It just doesnt look like the same place with those ugly white doors replaced by the original entle arches and with the rick work cleaned and the trim glistening Art auction Barries Old Fairehall will be the site of treasure auc tion on Friday May 28 as auctioneer Archer Colwill donates his talents to auction off scores of art pieces With the proceeds oing to save the old buil ing on Collier Street the art auction will involve sculpture in ungs wall hangings an pot tery and it needs your attic treasures Why not do your part to save this building as cultural centre Call chair man Win Muller 7266000 for Pickup of your donation you re looking for treasure for your own home the bidding starts at pm Books Saturday May 15 will offer Barrieites the chance to pick up old books and games at dirt cheap prices as the Firehall on Collier Street becomes book sale centre Any old pocket books and games to be donated to the sale can be left during business hours on the week prior to the sale and co ordinator Walt Strasser will price and arrange the articles to go out to new owners begin ning at 10am May 15 Antiques Got an old horse shoe hanging around Perhaps that paint stained stand in the basement is really in the way look around your garage basement and attic and youre bound to find lots of ingredients for the FOFs antique auction to be held Saturday June 12 at the old building on Collier Street With the donated talents of auctioneer George Pipher ringing through the halls memorabilia and treasures of all shapes and sizes will be sold to new owners proceeds going to help restore the Firehall as cultural centre With Irene Perri as chair man of the event any pickups and donations should be arranged through her at 728 352 Antiques at the sale will be on view during the morning at the firehall with the auc tion startingat2pm Rehearsals Onto the elevator and up to the second floor and all those interesting sounds You find local symphony orchestra rehearsmg intently The first violin smiles hello The sym phony youre told has Bust declared the Old Firehal its home As ou leave this sound behincl your guide takes you into the art gallery The curator has arranged show from the AGO Art Gallery of Ontario and its been smash Next week youll have to come back for the show of sculpture by local artists The first annual childrens Art Show was great success Erica Curtis 7267362 is acoustical needs of the needs organizing the residential canvass and youre invited to sign up theatre behind Barrie good reasons to go downtown Help the Friends of the Firehall turn dream into reality and surely this building will be one of the best reasons weve got Itll cost money but we be got help Estimated cost of restoring the irehall as cultural cen tre in Barrie is set at $511000 This includes architectural fees actual physical labor and completion of the finished product right down the entrance canopy to the Mulcaster entrance Where the money Where will all this money comefrom ouask First of Friends of the Firehall have received com mitted support from three branches of the provincial Ministry of Culture and Redreation The Capital Sup port program for develop ment of arts facilities has committed $75000 while the Community Recreation Cen tres Act has identified another $75000 for Firehall restoration further $50000 has been pledged from the Ontario Heritage Foundation br inging the provincial total to $1200000 Over yearly pledge basis further $100000 has been sought from the federal governments National Museums Policy This brings us to Barrie We need enthusiasm Friends of the Firehall pro posed to visit Barrieites on an individual basis during residential campaign next Thanks The historic photograph on this page is reproduced by courtesy of Simcoe County Archives use of this photograph does not imply the support of this project by any agency of Simcoe Coun ty week asking for $1 donations for the cause For each $1 tossed our way Wintario has promised second dollar so if the $50000 goal is reached on local basis the $100000 total will be forthcoming Fund raising locally focuses on enthusiasm rather than wealth and thats why the aim per rson is mere tax deductib dollar It gives everyone an opportunity to become involved in creating cultural centre for our growing community Can everybody help Campaign organizers are also anticipating that firms within the community rather than donating bulk sum might lend an electrician or plasterer or an individual of other skill to help on the actual restoration work lowering the price tag by possibl $25000 Shou this occur Wintario will match that bringing the total raised to $450000 Afurther anticipation of continuing donations of money and labor all matched by ongoing provincial and federal grants during the first three years of operation will net $60000 bringin the price tag toits complet state Just buck You cant concern yourself about the National Museums Policy respond on April 30 and when the Firehall canvasser calls on you That one dollar bill is drop in bucket which like the fire fighters grows as the bucket fills This is your invitation to become involved