Thank you from ARTT
ARTT extends a warm thank you to all the wonderful people and businesses who contributed to our Capital Campaign. Without all of you the restoration would not be a reality. ARTT also appreciates tremendously and thanks Tom Jeffris and the Jeffris Family Foundation for giving the restoration project its impetus by funding our Historic Structure Report and awarding a $400 thousand + matching grant.
Our newest "thank you" goes to the James Phillip Bigley Foundation. Mr. Bigley was always a great supporter of the Viroqua community. His will left specific grants to special projects for the betterment of Viroqua. In addition, he designated some funds for projects deemed worthy by the foundation trustees, Richard Endicott, John Bigley, and David McIntosh. Near the end of November 2001, the trustees asked ARTT to submit a "wish list" to complete the restoration as originally planned in the Historic Structure Report. The building committee hastily met with architect Bill White to assess all the areas that had been cut or down-sized when costs had risen much higher than the original estimates. The foundation trustees received our list and generously granted us the entire amount of our "wish list," $218,800.00. The trustees were very definite about the reasons that ARTT is receiving this grant. It is because so many people worked diligently on this project for so long with such success. Now ARTT can finish the building project without having to initiate further building related fund-raising. Our future fund-raising can be developed to provide support for programming, pay expenses such as utilities and insurance, and establish an endowment fund that will ensure the theatre's existence for many years. ARTT and whole community will be enjoying the fruits of Mr. Bigley's gifts for a long time! We have truly been blessed by his generosity.
ARTT also extends a warm thank you to the many volunteers who have given time and talent to the theatre. Volunteers are the core of the ARTT family.
A very special "thank you" goes to the Scenic Bluffs Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS). These volunteers are currently nearing the completion of the restoration of the original Temple Theatre Wurlitzer organ. After working in the Rotary Lights building in La Crosse for over a year, these dedicated organ buffs have returned the organ console, pipes, and the thousands of pieces that comprise the organ back to the theatre. Their complex work continues as they re-assemble the organ and replace some of the theatre "bells and whistles" that were removed when the organ was used as a church organ in the Coon Valley Lutheran Church. An organ dedication concert will celebrate its completion some time in the year 2004.
ARTT wishes to acknowledge the Vernon County Broadcaster and The La Crosse Tribune, divisions of Lee Enterprises, Inc. for the use of photographs and articles used in this web site. We also thank Architect Bill White and River Architects of La Crosse, who complied the Historic Structure Report, commissioned by ARTT and funded by the Jeffris Family Foundation, for some of the text in our history section.
ARTT also thanks the Vernon County Historical Society for the use of their photos and for their encouragement to the restoration. Volunteers really got the ball rolling with the refurbishing of the theatre seats for the Historical Society's Viroqua Sesquicentennial Pageant