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The R.R. Smith Center for History and Art

Three local non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting the amazing community heritage of arts, craftsmanship, and history have joined forces to create the Staunton-Augusta History and Arts Alliance. The1895 Eakleton Hotel on New Street in Staunton has been purchased to house the Center. Using pooled resources, a $3.2-million plan not only will restore the Collins-designed structure to its late-19th-century splendor, but will unite our community’s future of history, arts, culture, tourism, and economic development in a vibrant downtown setting.

Up on the roof - Members of the committee that has been planning the Smith Center had the privilege of inspecting the progress up close. Pictured on top of the roof and beside the newly installed skylight are representatives from the Augusta County Historical Society (ACHS), Historic Staunton Foundation (HSF), and the Staunton-Augusta Art Center (SAAC).  From left to right are: Frank Strassler (HSF), Nancy Sorrells (ACHS), Katharine Brown (ACHS), Carter Green (Frazier Associates), Ed Covert (SAAC),  Bob Schreiber (HSF), and John Moore (HSF).

World-class Art, Local and Family History Library, and Preeminent Collections of Historic Drawings in Your Own Backyard

The R.R. Smith Center for History and Art will house the only climate-controlled, high-security, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts affiliated galleries between Roanoke and Manassas. These state-of-the-art facilities will enable the Staunton-Augusta Art Center to host world-class traveling museum exhibits of art and history.

The climate-controlled archival facility will provide appropriate storage for the Augusta County Historical Society’s rich collection of local history manuscripts and photographs as well as Historic Staunton Foundation’s collection of historic architectural drawings by T.J. Collins and Son, one of the premier collections of its kind in the country.

The Local and Family History Library is a strong collection of photographs, ledgers, journals, letters, and family history materials that will be used by both local researchers and visitors. The Preservation Resource Workshop will be devoted to education, advocacy, and technical support for architectural preservation. It will ensure easy access to information and contacts for projects designed to reuse our architectural resources.

Classroom space for teaching children and adults drawing, painting, photography, pottery, and other media will expand the range of educational services the Art Center can provide. These classrooms will enable Historic Staunton and the Historical Society to offer classes on preservation and genealogy. Offices for each of the three organizations, shared conference rooms, catering kitchen, lecture hall/exhibit gallery and museum shop complete the Center for History and Art. These facilities, approximately 25,000 square feet of combined space, will allow all three organizations to serve our community better.

History and Art are Good Business

The economic impact of this project will be significant. Visitors will travel to the Center for History and Art from near and far for exhibits and programs and to use the research facilities. Cultural tourism has become the fastest-growing market opportunity for tourism bureaus in the U.S.; non-profit arts organizations alone generate $36 billion in expenditures annually.

In America today, genealogy is the third-largest hobby. The Historical Society’s library will draw thousands of visitors seeking their roots. Economic studies* have proven consistently that historic preservation visitors stay longer, visit twice as many places and spend, on average, 2.5 times more money than do other visitors. These visitors represent a significant portion of the $9+ billion spent by travelers to Virginia annually. Highly successful similar efforts in Roanoke (Center in the Square) and Manassas (The Manassas History Museum) have drawn large numbers of visitors who have had a substantial impact on the local economies and downtown renewal efforts.

Construction Progress on the R.R. Smith Center

The mild fall and early winter facilitated construction progress on the interior phase of the historic building that was once the Eakleton / Shenandoah / Watauga / Woodrow Wilson Hotel on South New Street. The sophisticated work to install the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems that will meet museum standards for exhibit galleries, archives, and collections storage is an important part of that work.

Restored exterior of the R.R. Smith Center for History and Art

Interior framing has been completed and inspected. This makes it readily possible to envision the future look of the building with its walls in place. The lecture hall, board room, library, exhibit galleries, and archival storage areas have all taken shape. Great care has been taken in all the rooms on the New Street side of the building to preserve the original room spaces and woodwork. This has been done by the architects and contractor, in accordance with the guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior for the rehabilitation of historic structures, and by working closely with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to that end.

Plumbing, electrical, security, elevator installation, plastering and wallboard work will follow in the late spring. Finishing work will take place in the summer and early fall. Occupancy of the building by the three organizations is anticipated in late November, as each group settles into its new space and begins to develop is programmatic usage there. A grand opening will take place with the return of pleasant weather in the spring of 2006.

Organization Progress on the R.R. Smith Center

Behind the scenes for the past year, dedicated board members and volunteers from all three participating organizations have worked faithfully, meeting twice monthly, to plan for the move into the building.

The LLC, with two representatives from the boards of each group, is chaired by Don Wilson, and meets regularly with Mike Craun, the project manager to review the construction progress and make decisions regarding construction and financing.

A Transition Committee is planning details of the move into the building, including arrangements for computer and telecommunications needs. From this committee’s work have sprung other committees that focus on special aspects of the joint occupation, such as standards for the interior appearance of the building, developing a corps of volunteers, and setting up a successful museum store.

Staffing of the R.R. Smith Center

Billie Guill, a Virginia native and Virginia Tech graduate with extensive professional experience in public relations, is now on board as the office manager for the Smith Center. While construction continues, her office is in the Historic Staunton Building at 120 South Augusta Street. Billie coordinates and attends the meetings of the many volunteer committees working on their various areas of responsibility, and works with the LLC, the architect, and the project manager. Another of her responsibilities is coordinating the preparation of grant applications as the fundraising for the final phase of the work continues. Contact Billie at Billie D. Guill phone 540-213-4664; fax 540 885-5976; cell 540-256-2334 or billiehsf@ntelos.net

Fundraising Fun for R.R. Smith Center

Two events in the fall of 2004 gave participants great pleasure and brought welcome additional funds to the coffers for the completion of construction work on the building.

“Woody,” a musical written by local musician and educator Richard Adams, was produced by Karen Painter and Linda Petzke, with a cast of excellent local actors and musicians for two delightful evenings of dinner theatre at the Clock Tower Tavern and a Sunday afternoon wine, coffee, and dessert event.

In October, a jazz evening at Shenandoah Shakespeare’s Blackfriars Theatre featured talented local musicians. Prior to the concert, guests enjoyed a tour of the Smith Center construction progress and a cocktail-buffet.

How You Can Help

Investing in your community’s heritage is easy. All gifts are tax-deductible. Pledges may be spread over a period from 2005 to 2007. Donors who make gifts in the range from $500 to $2,999 may elect to buy a memorial brick. Donations from $3,000 to $9,999 will be recognized on a special plaque. A few rooms are available to name in honor or memory of loved ones.
For more information, contact any one of the three Alliance Organizations. We have answers.

Augusta County Historical Society
Office address: 18 Government Center Lane , Verona , VA
Mailing address: P.O. Box 686, Staunton , VA 24402 Phone: (540) 248-4151
Office Hours: M, W, F, 9-noon
e-mail: achs@augustacountyhs.org

Historic Staunton Foundation
Augusta Street
Staunton , VA 4401
Phone: (540) 885-7676 Fax: (540) 885-5976
e-mail: hsf@cfw.com
Office Hours: M-F 9-5 p.m.

Staunton Augusta Art Center
One Gypsy Hill Park
Staunton , VA 24401
Phone: (540) 885-2028
Fax: (540) 885-6000
e-mail: SAArtCenter@aol.com
Office Hours: M-F 9-5 p.m. and Sat 10-2 p.m.

 

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