$15 grand for the Grand Theatre
The Red Oak Grand Theatre is starting out 2020 with a large financial boost from Houghton State Bank.
On Jan 2, members of the Grand Theatre Board and staff were presented with a $15,000 check from Houghton State Bank president Karl Bormann and other members of the Houghton staff. Bormann said the idea for the donation started with the efforts of Greg Brower.
“Brower had approached us in regards to the effort that the theater had put forward over a long period of time here in Red Oak, before I even came, and I contacted Jeanice Lester, who serves on the Grand Theatre Board, about a tour,” Bormann said.
Bormann added he shared with Lester he had a passion for historic restoration, and asked to see the existing improvements, and discussion of what the theater was aspiring to.
“She graciously took a good hour and we toured everything. It was so exciting to me to come into the additional space that is going to be restored and to see it through her eyes, and all the planning and hoping about what it could be,” said Bormann. “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to support the theater, because for me, and the experiences I’ve had, if you have a core volunteer group like this who are willing to move a project forward, there will be a ripple effect over the whole community, specifically the downtown, and neighboring buildings will take a look at the project and aspire to do additional work. Our contribution is a small portion of what is going to be required here, but over time, it will have a real multiplying effect.”
Following Bormann’s tour, Grand Theatre representatives requested $15,000 from Houghton.
“We looked at it, and some of us had to work just a little bit harder, but it was a pleasure for us to donate that requested amount and be a part of it. We take a look at requests as they come, and what we can do to help, and with this particular project, we just feel if we contribute to it, again, there will be a multiplying impact. This is permanent. This is the downtown, and will be here 100 years from now. A lot of the refurbishments that go on in the downtown will all tie back to all these early efforts,” commented Bormann.
Bormann also praised the volunteers and their contributions who run the theater, serve concessions, take care of admissions, and screen the films.
“This is extremely unique, but in this day and age, it’s also so necessary. You begin to see that these types of volunteer groups keep a community vibrant and moving forward. I’m terribly impressed with this whole project. None of these things are easy, and most people would have turned back. You know this is something special when the volunteers not only do what they do, but aspire to more. It’s very unique.”
Bormann said he is looking forward to what additional exciting things will happen in the Red Oak community in 2020 and said he and Houghton State Bank are pleased to be a part of it.