Capital
Campaign for the Millennium
October, 2000:
Sixty-four
years ago, photographers perched on the Bardavon marquee covered the campaign
speech Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered to a crowd of 12,000 from the balcony
of the Nelson House across the street. Pointing up the block to the county
courthouse, the site of the 1788 ratification of the U.S. Constitution, Roosevelt
proudly proclaimed that New York had agreed to ratify only on the condition
that the document would contain a Bill of Rights.
As we dig into old newspaper issues for the Bardavon archive, we find that
our stretch of Market Street holds layer upon layer of history. Passages in
the Bardavon's own long life span often reflect these moods and moments. Since
its construction as the Collingwood Opera House in 1869, the theater has brought
five different marquees to this vital streetscape, each the sign of a different
era. The marquee that faced FDR in 1936 was by far the most glamorous. Typical
of Paramount movie palaces of the period, it combined stained glass medallions
with a brilliant array of dancing incandescent lights meant to lift America's
spirits after the Crash and through the Depression.
The end of this 2000/2001 season will see the restoration of the Bardavon's
marquee back to the Art Deco splendor of the 1931 structure. As a fitting conclusion
to the five year Capital Campaign for the Millennium, we are proud to
offer our city's downtown this new beacon for progress, one that will bring
the beauty and excitement of Poughkeepsie's distinguished past to the doorstep
of a hopeful future. A companion project will provide façade/entranceway
and box office renovations carefully restoring the stunning William Beardsley
design of 1923.
Launching
the Capital Campaign for the Millennium in the mid-1990's was a considerable
risk when many local nonprofits struggled to survive in the aftermath of a
disastrous economy. Bringing this campaign to a successful conclusion while
institutionalizing the acquired Hudson Valley Philharmonic operations has posed
an even greater risk. Yet, with the generous support of longstanding and new
friends, all this has been possible. Generous funding commitments made by The
Dyson Foundation and Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust enabled us to initiate the
campaign. These pledges and a challenge grant awarded in June 1999 by The Kresge
Foundation have stimulated tremendous matching support on the part of other
foundation, corporate and government donors. Members of the Bardavon Board
of Directors have led with their support, motivating many other individuals
to give generously.
Several
key government agencies have awarded substantial continuing support in recognition
of the Bardavon's importance as a cultural anchor and tourism destination of
the strategic Hudson Valley region. On the state level, NYS Environmental Protection
Fund and Community Enhancement Facilities Assistance Program grants were awarded
through the auspices of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation.
The NYS Council on the Arts Capital Program has been a constant supporter and
reports that the Bardavon is the single highest recipient of NYSCA capital
grant funds in the state. Add to this, generous annual allocations from Dutchess
County and the City of Poughkeepsie, and the result is a stable platform on
which to build strong private sector giving.
The Dyson, Nuhn and Kresge leadership and challenge gifts have rallied exceptional
campaign and program support from the region's foundation community, resulting
in grants from the: Louis Greenspan Charitable Trust; Millbrook Tribute Garden;
McCann Foundation; Plymouth Hill Foundation; Handel Foundation; Thomas W. & Florence
T. Murphy Fund of the NY Community Trust; Logan Trust; Wheaton Foundation;
and an anonymous foundation donor. Likewise, the Dutchess County Industrial
Development Agency has led a major league corporate team starring: Central
Hudson; M&T Bank; Fleet Bank; Premier National Bank; Rohde, Soyka
& Andrews; and D. Wilson Electric.
Sixty-four
years ago, photographers perched on the Bardavon marquee covered the campaign
speech Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered to a crowd of 12,000 from the balcony
of the Nelson House across the street. Pointing up the block to the county
courthouse, the site of the 1788 ratification of the U.S. Constitution, Roosevelt
proudly proclaimed that New York had agreed to ratify only on the condition
that the document would contain a Bill of Rights.
Launching
the Capital Campaign for the Millennium in the mid-1990's was a considerable
risk when many local nonprofits struggled to survive in the aftermath of a
disastrous economy. Bringing this campaign to a successful conclusion while
institutionalizing the acquired Hudson Valley Philharmonic operations has posed
an even greater risk. Yet, with the generous support of longstanding and new
friends, all this has been possible. Generous funding commitments made by The
Dyson Foundation and Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust enabled us to initiate the
campaign. These pledges and a challenge grant awarded in June 1999 by The Kresge
Foundation have stimulated tremendous matching support on the part of other
foundation, corporate and government donors. Members of the Bardavon Board
of Directors have led with their support, motivating many other individuals
to give generously.
Several
key government agencies have awarded substantial continuing support in recognition
of the Bardavon's importance as a cultural anchor and tourism destination of
the strategic Hudson Valley region. On the state level, NYS Environmental Protection
Fund and Community Enhancement Facilities Assistance Program grants were awarded
through the auspices of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation.
The NYS Council on the Arts Capital Program has been a constant supporter and
reports that the Bardavon is the single highest recipient of NYSCA capital
grant funds in the state. Add to this, generous annual allocations from Dutchess
County and the City of Poughkeepsie, and the result is a stable platform on
which to build strong private sector giving.