Press Release

Cupola raising scheduled for 02/13/09

February 10, 2009

COLDWATER, MI—

A once-in-a-lifetime event is scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, as a 23,000 pound newly constructed cupola is raised and installed on top of the 126-year-old Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett Street, Coldwater.

Tibbits’ website, www.tibbits.org, will have scheduled updates on the status of the cupola raising throughout the week. This event will take place as weather permits.

The design-build team is composed of Milt Winters, construction manager at Foulke Construction, Hillsdale, Michigan and Jim Winter-Troutwine RA, architect for the cupola project and President of Winter-Troutwine Associates Inc. Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jim Winter-Troutwine said "These types of projects raise awareness in a community about the importance of the build environment. The raising of this cupola represents a statement of hope, bringing back to life a piece of Coldwater's history for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. This installation, including future restorations on the Tibbits Opera House, will quickly become an economic engine to revitalize Coldwater. I am proud to have been a part in making this community event a great day for Coldwater. Congratulations!”

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) partially funded restoration of the cupola. The cupola is part of Phase 3 of the restoration project which has the goal of totally restoring the façade to its original 1882 French Second Empire design. Tibbits’ original ornamentation, including the cupola, was removed and covered with an Art Deco façade in the 1930s when it was turned into a movie house. During the 1960s that façade was removed and a temporary façade was put up. Within this phase the theatre has already restored the brick on the north, south, and west walls.

Previous phases of restoration included: design development; demolition of an adjacent building; removal of hazardous materials inside the theatre; repair of the boilers; improvement of emergency exits; and installation of an elevator, a barrier-free entrance, and a barrier-free restroom.