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Friday, January 10, 2025 at 1:57 AM

LCRA awards $11,437 grant for improvemens to Stafford Opera house

LCRA representatives present an $11,437 grant to the Columbus Historical Preservation Trust for upgrades and repairs to the Stafford Opera House. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Mike Hall, CHPT vice president; Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Jack Johnson, Wintermann Foundation president; Julie Prause, CHPT president; Ronny Daley, CHPT board member; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter and Thomas L. “Tom” Kelley, LCRA Board members; Peggy Harrison, Columbus Chamber of Commerce president; Doris Klaus, CHPT secretary; and Brooke Bonorden, CHPT volunteer and grant writer

New smoke detection system, automated external defibrillators move historic venue one step closer to reopening

COLUMBUS – The Columbus Historical Preservation Trust soon will install a smoke detection system and purchase automated external defibrilla tors as part of ongoing renovations to the Stafford Opera House, thanks to an $11,437 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $3,800 in matching funds from the preservation trust, will help enable the group to reopen the opera house for public and private events with new building features that comply with city code and ADA standards.

Julie Prause, president of the preservation trust, said the opera house in downtown Columbus serves as a cornerstone of Columbus’ historic district, but has been closed on and off for event bookings since the beginning of the pandemic because of safety issues and outdated infrastructure.

When it reopens, the venue will continue to host a variety of educational, social and entertainment events.

“These upgrades are a sig- nificant step in restoring the op era house to its former glory as a regional cultural hub,” Prause said. “With a building as old as this one, built in 1886, we’re always looking for ways to improve its safety and bring it up to code. We are excited to welcome more events and provide a safe space for the community to gather.”

The addition of a smoke detection system and AEDs are part of the larger 'Save Our Opera House' campaign efforts to restore the building after decades of deferred maintenance.

“This grant really is a special gift from LCRA that allows us to keep improving the building in different ways,” Prause said. “So far, we have replaced the flooring, remodeled and re decorated. We also plan to renovate the bathrooms in the grand hall and hope to add a more ex- tensive fire alarm system by in stalling sprinklers in the future. This is another step in the right direction to continue hosting vital community programs, from bingo nights for seniors to weddings and educational events.”

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January 2025.

More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.


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