by Curt Kovener
Community involvement, community participation and …as always… community money is needed to keep the Crothersville History Center and Museum at Hamacher Hall maintained for future generations to enjoy.
In the late 1990’s a local group—the Greater Crothersville Heritage Foundation— was formed to seek ways to use for a community purpose the former Presbyterian Church and adjacent manse that had closed. The group was successful in obtaining a grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson County to purchase and renovate the historic frame church which they re-named Hamacher Hall as homage to the community’s founder in 1858 John Hamacher.
Early on there were well attended fundraising dinners with classical music to introduce Crothersville residents to the possibilities of what a performing arts cultural facility could provide.
It was grand fun when the GCHF members dressed in formal tuxedo shirts and bow ties served a catered dinner as the local staff to provide dinner service complete with glasses of wine (much to the nearby Baptist Church members’ chagrin).
The GCHF organized a community first— a Holiday Home Tour—where local residents decorated their homes for the holidays and then opened their homes for a special night of community…all to financially support Hamacher Hall.
Later, when the Elijah Bess statue at the Crothersville Cemetery was vandalized and knocked broken to the ground, local pickers and singers were organized in a fundraiser to repair the statue. “Help Elijah Back On His Feet” was a successful fundraiser with more than enough money raised to effect repairs and to clean both of the marble Bess statues to their original pristine white condition.
History has shown that Crothersville area residents are generous to financially support local endeavors when sufficient effort is put forth that show the community’s pride.
The Crothersville History and Cultural Arts group was organized and performed a number of theatrical performances and began decorating the historic building’s interior with local historical artifacts to share the community’s early history with newcomers and future generations.
Some years back the GCHF deeded ownership to the Hamacher Hall properties to the Crothersville History and Cultural Arts group.
But as all things in life: interest wanes, people move, people die.
It has been over 25 years since Hamacher Hall came into existence and just like our personal homes, maintenance and upkeep are required.
So now the question is being posed: Who’s going to fill their shoes? Who has the interest to carry on the tradition? Who has creative fundraising ideas? Bake sales and spaghetti suppers are not sufficient sources of revenue.
The current board of directors of the Crothersville History and Cultural Arts meets the third Thursday of the month and will meet at Hamacher Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19.
No doubt needed maintenance and raising funds to pay for them will be a topic of discussion. Got some ideas? Want to be a part of the community’s greater good? Want to see local history preserved and displayed? Or maybe just show your moral support and show up at the gathering.
Or do nothing, think someone else will step forward, and watch another historic structure slowly go the way of too many other significant buildings in the community.