Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, said the work done to restore the nearly 160-year-old Pickens Hall in downtown Heuvelton shows the steps that can be taken to bring life back to today's sometimes challenging downtowns in North Country communities.
She said there was never any doubt in the mind of David Kingsley, president of the Heuvelton Historical Association, when he shared his vision with her for the restoration of the building and his plans for bringing the opera house on the third floor back to life.
Funding for the latest phase of the $2.7 million restoration project included a $100,000 commitment secured by Assemblywoman Russell through the Community Capital Assistance Program.
Assemblywoman Russell said Saturday night's Pickens Hall Completion Celebration was the first time she had seen the restored opera house, and she was impressed.
"There was never any doubt. The first two floors were spectacular," she said, noting the final phase of the restoration project met that same high standard and provides a venue for music and laughter to return to the historic structure.
She said Mr. Kingsley was also cognizant during the restoration phase of the project that there was a need to develop a plan to make sure the building was sustainable after the final nail of the renovation work was pounded.
She noted the crowd at Saturday night's was enjoying temperatures thanks to an HVAC system that will make the third floor space comfortableduring all four seasons.
She said she was already envisioning a large crowd on a warm summer night enjoying the cooling of the air conditioning system as they listened to great music and looked out the window at the nearby Oswegatchie River.
Assemblywoman Russell was one of a number of speakers at the celebration that recognized some of the Pickens Hall project's largest financial supporters, the architect and contractor that have worked on the project for much of the past decade and the volunteers that provided the vision and sweat equity that turned the building from a dream to reality.
The night also included music from the likes of John Danis, Barb Heller and Don Woodcock and the Heuvelton Select Choir, a dramatic presentation by members of the Grasse River Players and even a Tai Chi demonstration.
Mr. Kingsley thanked the early supporters who provided the funding to get the project off the ground, volunteers ranging from those who helped him strip the roof in the early days to those who responded on a moment's notice on Thursday to assist him with some last minute tasks.
He acknowledged it had taken a tremendous amount of work to bring Pickens Hall back to its former glory.
"Our approach was to do as much work as we could and raise as little money as needed. To make tonight happen, it took a tremendous amount of work to turn this building into space for tonight, people that are willing to drop anything when you call asking for help. That's how you finish a project like this," Mr. Kingsley said.
"There are just so many people who need to be thanked, anybody that gave a dollar. Patty Ritchie and Addie Russell have been so supportive, and now they need your support," he added.
"I am so excited to be here tonight. This is the same as John Pickens' opening night almost 160 years ago. I think John Pickens would be proud," Mr. Kingsley said.
Lowell McAllister, representing the Heuvelton Historical Association's Board of Trustees, announced the presentation space on the second floor was being named in Mr. Kingsley's honor to recognize his vision, leadership, hard work and perseverance in turning a building destined for demolition at the turn of this century into a source of pride.
The Heuvelton Historical Association was formed in 2001 with the purpose of acquiring and restoring Pickens Hall, a building constructed in 1858 that had sat abandoned for years in the middle of the village's business district.
Pickens Hall was listed on the State and National Historic Registers in 2004. and local donations, several grants and a small mortgage provided the Heuvelton Historical Association with the funding necessary to begin work on the project.
The building's roof was stabilized, a rough parking lot was constructed, preliminary electrical work was completed and a new heating system was installed. The initial effort also benefitted from volunteer labor that helped turn the dream into reality.
The initial work set the stage for the opening of Pickens General Store in renovated space on the first floor of the building in the summer of 2007. The store specializes in Amish crafts created by local residents including quilts and baskets and non-electric household and hardware items.
Following the initial effort to restore the structure, work has been completed in four different phases, ending with the third floor improvements.
The first phase, completed in November 2009, included the repair of exterior masonry, windows, doors and an electrical upgrade.
The next phase, completed in December 2010, involved the rehabilitation of the second floor for use to display Amish furniture and crafts in a manner designed to serve as a living museum of Amish life. The second floor also provides space for displays of local historic interest.
A year ago the third phase of the effort was completed with an addition to the back of the building to house an elevator that now makes the upper floors of the well more than a century old building accessible to persons with disabilities as well as providing rest rooms that meet modern codes.
The latest effort has focused on restoring the historic 19th Century on the building's third floor. Heuvelton Historical Association officials say the newly renovated space on the third floor will provide the community and region with a performing arts venue, a location for social gatherings and additional museum space.
The fourth phase of the now decade-long effort had a price tag of over $600,000, with the majority of the funding coming from a $375,000 grant from the state's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The project included electrical, heating and ventilation and finishing work in addition to the installation of stage lighting and a sound system and paving the parking lot at Pickens Hall.
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When the building first opened in the days shortly before President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, Pickens Hall served as home to Pickens General Store, the Heuvelton Bee newspaper and the post office.
Cheese was aged in the basement, there was a meeting room on the second floor and entertainment was provided in the opera house on the third floor.
Heuvelton Mayor Barbara Lashua noted the community was celebrating the rebirth of a building that was constructed during a time when the 15th president of the United States was living in the White House.
"Horses and buggies filled our streets and road. Interestingly enough, the more things change the more they stay the same," she quipped, a reference to the large Amish community living in the Heuvelton area, a community whose products are now sold at the general store.
She had high praise for Mr. Kingsley's leadership on the project, a theme that was revisted by speakers thoughout the night.
"We decided the best path was to turn back the hands of time to make what was once splendid splendid again. Together we built something. This time we built with great hope. No dream is achieved without a dreamer. Our dreamer, of course, is David Kingsley. The Kingsleys have managed to guide this vision and make it a reality," she said.
"Tonight we are celebrating both the past and the present. Together we built something, something grand, something big. We built a future for our community. This community has been made better because you believed," she told Mr. Kingsley.
State Senator Patty Ritchie, a Heuvelton resident, joked that she had tried to hide her look of terror when Mr. Kingsley first showed her the interior of the building.
But she said Mr. Kingsley, the contractors and the volunteers had restored the building to the vision that had been shared in those early conversations.
"It is even better than what you described to me, even better than I could have imagined. What a great addition to our community," she said.
Allan Newell, president of the Sweetgrass Foundation, recalled a meeting early in the process where Mr. Kingsley shared his vision for a building that looked ready for demolition.
An early grant from the Sweetgrass Foundation was critical to a fundraising effort that has raised approximately $1 million from foundations and individual supporters.
He indicated he was pleased to have played a role in saving the building from the wrecking ball. "We have all witnessed the loss of so many historic buildings throughout the North Country," Mr. Newell said.
Heuvelton native David McCadam hasn't lived in the community for decades but he issued a challenge grant that was also critical to the success of the fundraising drive.
Mr. McCadam said he was pleased to have been involved in the effort. He recalled checking out the opera house space with Mr. Kingsley a couple of years ago when he was last visiting Heuvelton. He recalled he had noticed the roof was falling in during that visit.
"This is a testament to David Kingsley, the volunteers and any of you that helped in any way. This is just a wonderful thing. There are two things that bring people together - music and sports," he said.
After making a reference to the Heuvelton girls' basketball team repeating as the Class D state champions this year, Mr. McCadam said he hoped the opera house space will be used for musical entertainment, wedding receptions and meetings.
"Keep coming. Keep supporting Pickens Hall in any way you can. It's a great thing," Mr. McAdam said.
Architect David Crawford of Crawford & Stearns said it was hard to believe the transformation that has taken place at Pickens Hall over the past decade.
"This is a staggering revitalization, not only for the building but for the community and the county," he suggested.
Mr. Crawford recalled the first time he met Mr. Kingsley he found the president of the Heuvelton Historical Association on the roof of the three-story building putting on a rubber roof. He said about 20 minutes before Saturday's dedication ceremony he found Mr. Kingsley pounding in nails that had popped up in the floor.
David Fairbanks, president of Continental Construction, said work on Pickens Hall has been a labor of love.
"We are nearing completion. We are waiting for some warmer weather to do some final work on the exterior of the building," he said, noting parking lot improvements may also be on the schedule.
IN THE PHOTOS;
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Pickens Hall, April 30, 2016
BOTTOM:
A photograph of the opera house space at Pickens Hall prior to the start of renovation work.
The crowd lingers after the completion of the Pickens Hall Celebration Ceremony Saturday night in the opera house space on the third floor of Pickens Hall.
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, visits with David Kingsley, president of the Heuvelton Historical Association, following the Pickens Hall Completion Ceremony Saturday night in Heuvelton. The celebration showcased the recently renovated opera house on the 160-year-old building's third floor. Assemblywoman Russell and Mr. Kingsley are standing in front of a mural of Lady Liberty uncovered during the renovation work.
David Kingsley, president of the Heuvelton Historical Association, brought his wife, Debbie, in stage to support her for her assistance and support in the renovation effort at Pickens Hall. She now is one of the Pickens Store staff. "She has been the anchor when things were going too fast and the cheerleader when things got tough," Mr. Kingsley said of his wife.
Artist Marion Bradish of Buckton visits with Heuvelton Historical Asssociation President David Kingsley prior to the dedication ceremony recognizing the reopening of the Pickens Hall opera house Saturday night. Marion's artwork is on display through June 30 at Pickens Hall. Thirty percent of the proceeds of her work sold while on display at Pickens Hall benefits the Heuvelton Historical Center.
The Heuvelton Select Chorus was shorthanded Saturday night - half of its members had other commitments, but their performance of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was well received by the approximately 150 people on hand for the performance.
Pickens Hall is already being utilized for a number of activities, ranging from gatherings to make music to a Tai Chi class. The Pickens Hall Tai Chi class put on a demonstration at the completion celebration.
Barb Heller, left, and Don Woodcock, right, were among the musicians that performed Saturday night on the Pickens Hall staff.
Quilts and pieces from Heuvelton's past are on display on the second floor of Pickens Hall.
