[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO THE TIBBITS OPERA HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM WALBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 2013

  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Tibbits Opera 
House in Coldwater, Michigan, a cultural icon in my district that has 
excelled in arts and entertainment for 130 years. Having recently 
completed a stunning restoration of the building's facade, the 
community will be holding a celebration this weekend to dedicate the 
restoration and tell the story of the people that preserved it.
  Built in 1882, Tibbits is the second oldest operating theater in 
Michigan. The 499 seat venue operates year round, enriching the area 
with professional and community theater programs, community events, 
concerts and youth theater productions. Strategically located on the 
primary thoroughfare between Chicago and Detroit, it has hosted many 
notable performers and acts over the years, ranging from P.T. Barnum 
and John Philip Sousa to Mickey Rooney and Jeff Daniels. From early 
vaudeville performances to a spell as a movie house, Tibbits has served 
as the cultural center of the area.
  As early as the 1950s, locals recognized the need to safeguard this 
treasure for future generations and formed a group committed to the 
preservation of the theater. After falling into disrepair and facing 
the threat of demolition, a group raised funds to pay off owed taxes. 
Further updates and improvements have taken place over the years, the 
most impressive being the authentic restoration of the building's 
facade. Using photographic and field evidence, craftsmen meticulously 
restored the theater to its original French Second Empire design using 
locally selected materials. The effort has certainly paid off, earning 
a 2013 Governor's Award for Historic Preservation. But even more 
important than the accolades, the project ignited an enthusiasm among 
the residents, businesses and other area organizations, who gave of 
their time and finances to support the restoration. The renewed sense 
of pride displayed by the community has been apparent, and I'm 
heartened by their appreciation for the past and hard work to ensure 
its preservation for future generations.
  Today, Tibbits Opera House continues to be a landmark that has drawn 
visitors to Coldwater for many generations and I suspect, Mr. Speaker, 
will continue to do so. With an annual attendance of nearly 30,000, 
there is rarely an evening when the stage is not in use. I commend my 
colleagues to take a trip to Coldwater if ever possible and enjoy a 
show, and I look forward to joining the Tibbits community at this 
weekend's festivities to celebrate this testament to preservation.

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