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Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, 6:30 PM Pierce hall
The White River Valley Players will mark the 30th anniversary
of their founding with a gala celebration costume and fancy
dress ball Saturday, Oct. 17 at historic Pierce Hall on Main
Street in Rochester. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., welcoming
everyone to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and an elegant dessert
buffet and program of music by the Rochester Chamber Music
Society, followed by the lively music of Mango Jam for dancing
or listening from 7:30-11 p.m.
Together 16 years, Mango Jam is a five-piece original band
out of Minneapolis, Minn., which has played in support of
artists including Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler, and Soul Asylum
and at an Earth Day rally with the Steve Miller Band and Natalie
Merchant. The evening will also include a sing-along of favorite
tunes from WRVP musical shows, community awards, and short
scenes from shows produced in each of the Players’ three
decades.
This will be the first large social event to take place at
Pierce hall since the restoration process began and seating
will be limited to only 200 people. Tickets may be purchased
in advance at the White River Credit Union and Judy Jensen’s
Clay Studio in Rochester village. Any unsold tickets will
be available at the door that evening. For more information
call 767-3732. More Information
Second Annual Pierce Hall Community
Center Independence Day Dash
Thank you for participating in another successful PHCC
Independence Day Dash. George Moltz was in charge of arranging
the race. Here are the
2009
Race Results.
2008
Race Results.
Volunteer Work Session: May
9, 2009
We had a successful work session on May 9, many thanks
to all who participated by donating their time and effort.
Here is a Photo
Gallery of the session.
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Pierce Hall Community Center, Inc. (PHCC) is a non-profit
tax-exempt organization, bringing together the communities
of the White River
Valley: Bethel, Granville, Hancock, Pittsfield, Rochester,
and Stockbridge.
PHCC formed to restore and provide the facilities and resources
for social, health and wellness, educational, civic, and cultural
activities for residents of all ages.
>>See
the Chronology Highlights of PHCC
Built in 1916, Pierce Hall was designed by local architect
Charles Kinsman and commissioned by Mrs. Julia and Ellen Pierce
in memory of Chester Pierce, Sr. and his son, Edward L. Pierce.
The Pierce sisters planned and envisioned the structure as
a community center. In 1932 Pierce Memorial Hall was given
to Masonic Rural Lodge #29 F&AM who used one room of the
building as their lodge and continued the operation of the
Hall as a community center. In 1971, The Masons deeded the
Hall to the Rochester Town School District for kindergarten
and shop classes. In 1973, the building was closed for large
public gatherings. When the current Rochester High School
building opened in 1974, Pierce Memorial Hall was deeded back
to the Masons, who renovated it for limited use of space.
The Masons owned and occupied the premises for almost thirty
years.
In 2001 nine community members, Charlie Biederman (deceased),
Ken Landis, Dean Mendell, Ann Mills, Dick Robson, Nancy Sanz,
Midge Scanlan, Kathryn Schenkman, and Bill Zucca created a
non-profit association (PHCC) to begin discussions with the
Masons to restore Pierce Hall to its original beauty and its
use as a viable community center. In September, 2002, Valerie
F. Levitan, Ph.D was asked to serve as the (volunteer) Executive
Director. In May, 2004, the Masons voted to give Pierce Hall
to PHCC, Inc., in exchange for a permanent meeting place within
the building. October of 2004 PHCC, Inc., received through
deed transfer, ownership of Pierce Memorial Hall.
During 2004-2005, PHCC worked with the Preservation Trust
of Vermont on plans to most effectively maintain the integrity
of the building and to restore the facility to its original
design. Through a series of ongoing meetings, proposals and
drawings were discussed and reviewed. On October 21, 2005,
The Preservation Trust of Vermont approved the concept designs
for the restoration and additions to Pierce Hall. On November
1, 2005, the PHCC Board of Directors voted and approved plans
for the Project Architect Robson Bilgen to proceed with the
drawings.
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