If you like historic cemeteries and discovering the diverse history of our state, keep an eye on the Oregon Commission of Historic Cemeteries which is working to discover and share the stories of interesting Oregonians who have passed on. The Commission’s Cemetery Stories project aims to illustrate all the ways that cemeteries hold value and relevance to us today by sharing fascinating stories of people interred in Oregon’s historic cemeteries. 

Cemetery Stories can be accessed via the Oregon Heritage blog, which is updated regularly. A future story still in the works will focus on a historical figure from Oregon’s LGBTQ+ past that you may have never heard of before!

If you are interested in learning about interpretive signage for historic resources, or the development of really incredible cemetery infographics, you can view a recording of Becky’s presentation on YouTube here. 

And if you would like to visit or learn more about the historic cemeteries in your community, this detailed map provides locations for all of the historic cemeteries registered with the Oregon Commission of Historic Cemeteries statewide.

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Hearts are aching at Restore Oregon for those suffering and experiencing loss from September’s historic wildfires. Our staff is reeling from the immensity of destruction throughout our beautiful state and doing all we can to learn what has been saved and what has been lost.
As people whose personal and professional lives revolve around placemaking and the protection of endangered historic resources, our spirits are heavy. Yet, we cannot begin to understand what many of you have experienced. Still, we know that Oregonians are strong, and these tragic events have proven that we’re even stronger together. 
Many of you banded together to save historic resources in your communities. Your efforts were nothing short of heroic, and we thank you. We would also like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers, firefighters and emergency responders from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and beyond who put their lives at risk to help Oregonians. 
Restore Oregon staff members have participated in several state and national level meetings with Oregon’s heritage organizations and FEMA to discuss how to respond to and better prepare for future disasters. Rest assured, work is being done at the state level to create a disaster response and a recovery plan for Oregon’s heritage interests. 
In the meantime, we would like to recognize several historic places that have been affected by this disaster:
 

• The Almeda Fire in southern Oregon claimed nearly 3,000 total structures and caused smoke and water damage to local archives and museums in the decimated communities of Talent and Phoenix. An off-site storage area for the Daughters of the American Revolution in the area was also lost.
• The McKenzie River Valley was similarly devastated by the Holiday Farm Fire, including the near total loss of the small unincorporated community of Blue River, which was home to around 925 people. The fire claimed the Mckenzie River Mountain Resort, including its historic ranger cabin, built in 1900. The McKenzie River Fish Hatchery campus also lost a building, but a dedicated team of firefighters did save the 1938 Goodpasture Bridge spanning the McKenzie River near the town of Vida.
• Near the Opal Creek Wilderness, the Beachie Creek Fire destroyed most of the 1930s-era off-grid community of Jawbone Flats, a one-of-a-kind destination for outdoor recreation and education. And most heart-wrenching of all, the Beachie Creek fire claimed the lives of five people, including George Atiyeh, the legendary environmentalist who helped preserve Opal Creek in the 1990s.
• Another truly devastating loss is Willamette University’s Thetford Lodge, the summer home of Charles A. Sprague, who was the 22nd Governor of Oregon (1939-1943) and the longtime editor of the Oregon Statesman Journal. The lodge was built by Pietro Belluschi in 1948. Donated to the university for use as an educational and recreational facility by the Belluschi family in 1963, the lodge served as a retreat for generations of faculty, staff, and students.
• Sparked by lightning during a historic windstorm Labor Day weekend, the Lionshead Fire ravaged the Willamette, Deschutes and Mt. Hood National Forests, including the Santiam Canyon. Breitenbush Hot Springs lost half its structures and much of the residential community of Devil’s Creek across the river. In addition, 264 resident homes and most businesses were destroyed in Detroit and the communities of Gates and Mill City were similarly ravaged. Amazingly, the historic Gates School was spared, apart from some heat damage, while the buildings surrounding it were destroyed.
• We are happy to report that the recently relocated Molalla Log House—possibly the oldest pioneer dwelling in Oregon history–survived the fires in the Hopkins Demonstration Forest. 

This short list does not begin to encompass the enormous loss Oregonians have suffered over the last several months, but we are encouraged by your stories of strength, resilience, and resoluteness. Restore Oregon stands by those who have lost their homes, businesses, livelihoods, and memorable places, commends those who risked life and limb to save our resources, and continues to work hard to preserve historic places in the areas affected by wildfire. 
We will continue to share information as we learn about additional resources or ways we can advocate for and support any and all recovery efforts for places of meaning and significance throughout the state.

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This unique movie theatre has spanned the eras of silent films, talkies, Technicolor and the modern “blockbuster.” Originally built in 1922 as a garage, the building was remodeled in 1925 into a theatre. Architect Carl F. Berg designed the interior and exterior with Egyptian Revival architecture. The theatre is one of only four known Egyptian Revival movie theatres in the United States and one of the best examples of Egyptian Revival on the West Coast. The theatre includes its original Egyptian style décor, light fixtures, furnishings, hand-painted vaudeville flats and a Wurlitzer pipe organ. In April 2006, the Egyptian Theatre was purchased by the City of Coos Bay when the owners put it up for sale. The City signed a management agreement with the non-profit Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association (EPTA) to manage and operate the theatre. After the March 2011 earthquake/tsunami, City officials determined that the Egyptian Theatre was not safe for occupancy. The Egyptian was closed March 14, 2011 and not scheduled to reopen until after the appropriate repairs were completed. The theatre was nominated to Restore Oregon’s first annual list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places in 2011. After three years of intense community advocacy, Coos Bay’s beloved Egyptian Theatre shined bright once again.
At the time of its listing as an Endangered Place, the theatre had only a handful of supporters and very few dollars to back-up the vision of a revitalized downtown gathering space. Starting with a feasibility study for the theatre, funded in part by a Restore Oregon Most Endangered Place seed grant, over a million dollars was raised to resolve structural issues, replace failing systems, and provide for critical restoration inside and out in just three years. On June 20, 2014 the ribbons were cut and the Egyptian opened once again. By the end of 2015 the Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association had raised the remaining funds needed to complete the last step of the façade restoration plan. By May 2016 installation of the new canopy, the mounting of the new “ETPA logo” marquee, the refurbishment of the Egyptian head pylon sign, decorative painting at the entrance and above the canopy, and the installation of new display cases with LCD TVs was completed. In 2016, the Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association received a DeMuro Award for Excellence in Preservation, Reuse, and Community Revitalization from Restore Oregon for saving the movie palace and bringing it back to its historic splendor. The ETPA has set the standard for savvy preservation and business planning, with extraordinary community engagement.
 
Resounding Success and Challenges By 2019, after a long and astounding list of restoration accomplishments, the priority for the ETPA became installing a new roof. With a project cost around $160,000, the organization will now be able to commence with roof replacement with funds from the Historic Revitalization Subgrant, $10,000 from the Henry Lea Hillman, Jr. Foundation, $20,000 from the Coquille Indian Tribe granting foundation, project support from Waste Connections, Inc and the City of Coos Bay and donations of over $12,500 from individuals specifically for the roof project. 
The resounding success of the Egyptian carries with it many lessons applicable to community landmarks across Oregon: Commission a feasibility study. 
The first strategic step for Egyptian advocates was to prepare a market feasibility study to demonstrate that a revitalized theatre was viable in Coos Bay. Funded by a seed grant from Restore Oregon, it provided credibility for all future fundraising.
 
Build a “friends of” coalition. Advocates organized under the umbrella of the Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association, a nonprofit through which organization and fundraising could take place. They developed a strategic plan, enlisted skilled board members, and sought training. City staff and volunteers were included every step of the way and the Association made their presence known at fairs, markets, and community events.
 
Ask for outside help. An initial estimate to reopen the Egyptian came in at $3.7 million, a figure far in excess of what community leaders knew was feasible. Restore Oregon referred advocates to consultants and other regional experts to identify ways to bring the price tag down to a level that was manageable. 
 
Money attracts money. Raising large sums of money in a small community can be daunting, especially if the cost seems insurmountable. Lining up city and grant support early in the fundraising process built confidence among local donors and created a snowball that attracted others and momentum grew. 
 
One bite at a time. Taking a phased approach avoids biting off more than you can chew. While the Egyptian re-opened in 2014, there was still work to be done. Phasing the rehabilitation allowed the theatre to start generating income and helped grow support within the community.
Just for fun: 
Theater vs. Theatre – What’s the Difference? Actually, nothing! In most contexts, there is no difference in meaning between theater and theatre. Neither has any special definitions in general usage. The main thing to know is that theater is the preferred spelling in American English, and theatre is preferred virtually everywhere else. We use both in context with the theater/re’s official name.
 

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B. A. Beierle

ADVOCATE.

EDUCATOR.

PRESERVATIONIST.

 
Preservation is about people.
Our stories and connections to each other, our shared past and sense of place are embodied in the places where we live, work, and play. As it turns out, when we’re mindful of the irreplaceable value these places bring to our everyday lives, we learn we have a lot in common. Each year, we travel the state and meet people who are making a positive difference in the livability and sustainability of their communities through historic preservation. We think it’s time to recognize them. This series, People in Preservation, highlights the stories, views, and projects of Oregonians who are working to save and pass forward the places that matter to all of us. For this installment, we sat down with B.A. Beierle. Here’s her preservation story…
B.A. Beierle founded the local preservation education group Preservation WORKS in Corvallis, where she also serves on the City/County Heritage Tree Committee. Beierle, an educator by training, moved to Corvallis with her husband, Lenny, in 2002 after stops in New Jersey and Wyoming. She currently represents the Mid-Willamette Valley as an adviser to Restore Oregon, and helped coordinate Restore Oregon’s first Heritage Barn Workshop. As a private heritage consultant, B.A. works with individuals, groups, and communities preparing heritage plans, neighborhood advocacy, heritage tourism, and education programs. She and her husband are currently rebuilding an 1894 farmhouse that they rescued from a fire training exercise. 
 
In Wyoming, her former home state, Beierle:

• Served as the president of the statewide preservation organization
• Saved two 1880s Victorian houses from demolition and adapted them for new uses – one a 135-seat restaurant and the other as Section 8 housing
• Managed downtown Main Street redevelopment
• Advocated for the arts industry as a governor’s appointee and for heritage resources as Adviser to the National Trust for Historic Preservation

As a Field Representative for the National Trust’s Mountains/Plains Regional Office, B.A. worked hands-on with preservationists – and would-be preservationists – in over 108 communities in Colorado, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
R.O. Why should Oregonians be advocates for historic preservation?
B.B.: Oregon has compelling stories to tell. Our geology sculpted our land as the stage for complex themes: early migration of humanity to our continent; First Nations and their hunter/gatherer traditions and later their semi-permanent homes, early agriculture, and land management; early Europeans from Russia, England and France. Our roots reach deep into our democracy. Lewis and Clark’s Expedition of Discovery selected Fort Clatsop by an astonishing vote of white men, a Black enslaved person, and a Shoshone woman long before our Constitution enfranchised Black men, women, and Native People.
Our rich and diverse cultural heritage is rife with anguish. Oregon’s dreadful treatment of Native People, African Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Latinos, and others continues to teach critical lessons about inclusion, equality, and justice. As Lincoln told us: “The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched…by the better angels of our nature.” Preservation of sites tied to our regretful past will only teach us all to embrace our better angels.
From the early 1830s through 1869 about 400,000 settlers, farmers, miners, ranchers, entrepreneurs and their families traveled the Oregon Trail. Their destination was the Eden at the end of the trail, the Willamette Valley. Once there were over 4,600 Euro-American homes and farmsteads throughout the Willamette Valley built with hand-technology by intrepid pioneers. Today less than 220 of those hand-made structures remain. Many are deteriorated or abandoned, and every year more are lost due to developmental pressures, economic challenges, functional obsolescence, weather, age, neglect and a lack of understanding of their cultural importance. These buildings represent the culmination of the Oregon Trail experience. In spite of the importance to Oregon – and American– history, little attention is given to the conservation and protection of these fragile historic properties.
 
R.O. Why does preserving the historic fabric of a community matter?
B.B. Preservation helps us define who we are in space and on the ribbon of time. For some of us, it is a visceral sensation. It conveys a deep sense of homecoming, comfort and belonging. These historic environments, moments and experiences define us. We belong to a place, a time, and our people. I believe these threads weave their way into the tapestry of our individual and collective identities.
 
R.O. What is the future of the historic preservation movement, in general and/or specifically in Oregon?
B.B. Like politics, all preservation is local. Strengthening local efforts and advocacy is key. That said, Restore Oregon must continue to work for statewide incentives and funding.
Unfortunately, historic preservation faces several challenges:

• Funding. COVID-19 will challenge funding in the foreseeable future on the local, state, and national levels. The unanticipated pandemic costs will devastate government budgets with direct and indirect results on preservation programs. Significant pres- sure will fall on philanthropy to fund critical health and well-being needs. Commercial underwriters – like program sponsors – face their own existential threats. Valued partners – particularly travel and arts institutions – already feel keen budget shortfalls. And we will all be competing with one another for scarce dollars

• Leadership. Our leaders are aging; fewer, younger leaders are ready to assume the mantle of leadership. We must actively look to our allies and partners for potential recruits who haven’t identified themselves as preservationists – yet.

• Perception. Like the arts, too often preservation is unfortunately perceived as fluff and dispensable. It falls on all of us to more effectively communicate preservation’s pivotal role in sustainability, economics, community development, community building and identity, livability, sense of place, education and creativity.

Consider the mayor who described her community as “charming,” but completely failed to understand that the pedestrian-scale neighborhoods she valued as “charming” were its historic districts.

• Language. We have a language problem. The term “Historic Preservation” has been weaponized as intrusive on personal freedoms. Suggested alternatives include “heritage conservation,” that may more accurately describe our activities. Are they historic resources or historic assets? Rehabilitation suggests recovery after misfortune. We need to reinvent our vocabulary to demonstrate that responsible stewardship and personal freedoms are not mutually exclusive.

 
R.O. How do you think historic preservation can be part of solving major issues we’re dealing with today like climate change, affordability, and sustainability?
B.B.: Preservation is the keystone to all the above issues. Responsible stewards of the built environment are also responsible stewards of the natural environment. Reduce, reuse, recycle applies not only to bags, bottles, and containers, but also buildings, neighborhoods, and entire communities. When we lose a historic resource in whole or in part, we waste not only the memory and culture housed in the resource, but also the materials used in the structure, the earth the landfill sits upon, and the structure’s embodied energy. Indeed, the greenest building is one that is already built.
Modest historic homes provide affordable housing; larger ones provide affordable congregate living. The Oregon challenge is that the land itself is the expensive component of affordable living. We have an opportunity to balance needed, sustainable, densification while respecting those historic resources we value as a community. The first step is to inventory what we have, decide what’s important, and protect those valued resources. We then steward our land thoughtfully and responsibly. COVID-19 has taught us that staying home and driving less is measurably good for global environmental health. Walkable neighborhoods with commercial amenities accomplish the same thing. Often these places are our existing historic neighborhoods. The return of the historic street car – mass transit in all its forms – accomplishes the same thing.
 
R.O. Restore Oregon is working to bring preservation and its tools to more places and people of Oregon so that it can be used to preserve the cultural heritage of all Oregonians, not just the buildings. Do you have any thoughts on that?
B.B.: Cultural heritage is manifested through tangible forms: buildings, landscapes, or artifacts, and intangible forms: traditional skills and technologies, religious ceremonies, performing arts, storytelling, and others. Our tangible and intangible heritage are inseparable, so we must preserve them together.

• First Nations. Climate/weather, agricultural practices, and land development impact the built cultural patrimony of the First Nations who lived in Oregon. It is our sacred responsibility to protect and celebrate the heritage of those who first called Oregon home.

• Place specific. The cultural landscape is where historic structures sit; context is everything for storytelling. Lighthouses need to stand on oceanside promontories, or their significance is lost. Bridges need to span waterways or their function is meaningless. The Oregon Trail corridor can only be valued where it is, much like the Columbia River Highway. But more modest resources like mill races and Witness Trees tell our story as well.

• Viewsheds. Oregon showcases spectacular vistas. These cultural landscapes combine human and natural systems. Climate change will impact these iconic viewsheds sooner rather than later. They also merit our attention and protection.

 
R.O. Any other thoughts? Words to live by?
B.B.: These quotes continue to inspire me:
“These old buildings do not belong to us only, they belong to our forefathers and they will belong to our descendants unless we play them false. They are not in any sense our own property to do as we like with them. We are only trustees for those that come after us.” -William Morris
 
“Here is your country. Do not let anyone take it or its glory away from you. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches, or its romance. The world, the future, and your children shall judge you accordingly as you deal with this sacred trust.” -President Theodore Roosevelt, Antiquities Act of 1906
 
“In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decision on the next seven generations.” -Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy
 
“A country with no regard for its past will have little worth remembering in the future. -Abraham Lincoln

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Denyse McGriff

OREGON CITY COMMISSIONER

NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION,

ADVISOR PORTLAND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, RETIRED

 
Preservation is about people.
At Restore Oregon, we believe not only in saving and rehabilitating the historic places that define our heritage as Oregonians, we believe in YOU. Each year, we travel the state and meet people who are making a positive difference in the livability and sustainability of their communities through historic preservation. We think it’s time to recognize them. This series, People in Preservation, will highlight the stories, views, and projects of Oregonians who are working to save and pass forward the places that matter to all of us.
 
Meet Denyse McGriff
Denyse McGriff grew up in a military family and gained an appreciation for the small older communities adjacent to the bases. She arrived in Oregon in 1975 to attend graduate school at the University of Oregon and went on to graduate with degrees in Political Science (MS) and Urban and Regional Planning (MURP).
 
She’s had a life-long interest in preservation and has worked for a number of local governments, including the Lane Council of Governments, Columbia County, City of Tillamook City, Deschutes County, City of Oregon City and rounded out her career at the Portland Development Commission. Her public service career was multifaceted with an emphasis on historic preservation/conservation, adaptive reuse and land use planning. Denyse is active in several preservation organizations and efforts in the Portland metro area including the Bosco-Milligan Foundation, the McLoughlin Memorial Association, Restore Oregon, Canby Historical Society, and the Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation.
 
Denyse was appointed to join the Board of Advisors with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2009, representing the State of Oregon (along with Restore Oregon’s Ex Officio Rick Michaelson and advisor George Kramer). Her work with the Trust includes two National Treasures: the Willamette Falls Locks and Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
 
In 2013, she was awarded the Ruth McBride Powers Memorial Award for Service. The award notes the following: “Denyse’s passion for preservation and love for her community is very evident. No matter what hat Denyse has worn over the years, she continuously pushes everybody she meets to try a little harder and aim a little higher”- Vicki Yates, Oregon City Historic Review Board member. In addition, in 2018, she was a member of the Rose Farm Management Committee who received the Ruth McBride Powers Memorial Award for their service.
 
Her civic activities include eight years of service on the Oregon City Planning Commission, as well as a member of her neighborhood association. Earlier this year, Denyse became the first person of color to serve as an Oregon City City Commissioner.
 
For the last twenty years she and her family have been restoring their circa 1912 home in Oregon City…walking the talk! Let’s find out what she has to say about historic preservation in Oregon. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
 
R.O. Why should Oregonians be advocates for historic preservation?
 
D.M. Our historic built and unbuilt environment gives us a sense of our past and our identity. Whether it is a building, a site, or a landscape, we should all be advocates for preservation. It is a part of and reinforces community pride and produces tangible economic benefits, as well. Our places, buildings, and sites not only connect us to our past but also provide a catalyst to our future.
We must be and continue to be advocates for our historic places because if we allow them to be neglected, or demolished, we lose the unique character of those places and we lose the sense of ourselves and our past.
 
R.O. Why does preserving the historic fabric of a community matter?
 
D.M. Older buildings, places, and sites should be preserved, not just because they are old, but because they are a part of who we are and where we come from. Our future is linked firmly to our past. For example, I may be the owner of my 1912 bungalow, but really I am just a caretaker–maintaining it and telling its stories. I am preserving it for the next caretaker.
 
R.O. What is the future of the historic preservation movement, in general and/or specifically in Oregon?
 
D.M. What preservation means to Oregonians has evolved from one of mainly saving buildings that have architectural significance to a broader view of telling the stories of the people who inhabited those places. This “new” approach has reached out to many more people who never thought they were preservationists. Those stores were always there, just waiting to be told.
 
R.O. How do you think historic preservation can be part of solving major issues we’re dealing with today like climate change, affordability, and sustainability?
 
D.M. Historic preservation is definitely a part of the solution to our sustainability issues. Our society also has to change its lifestyle. Our current way of life is not sustainable because it is predicated on endless growth. This growth has led to a disposable society where everything that is consumed is generally thrown away, including our built environment. This cannot be sustained. Older buildings can be upgraded to be more efficient (funding is needed) using less resources. Older neighborhoods are generally more dense than suburban areas. New construction uses a great deal of embodied energy – preserving an older building saves all of that embodied energy. The greenest building is the one that is already there.
 
R.O. Restore Oregon is working to bring preservation and its tools to more places and people of Oregon so that it can be used to preserve the cultural heritage of all Oregonians–not just the buildings. Do you have any thoughts on that?
 
D.M. There are many more stories to be told about the places that matter to us. These stories deserve to be and need to be told. I look forward to discovering and sharing these stories with my fellow Oregonians.

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What is a historic conservation easement?

• A legally binding agreement to protect a historic property from activities that may harm the property’s integrity, including neglect, demolition, and insensitive alterations. 
• It allows the owner of a historic property to retain title and use of the property and, at the same time, ensure its long-term preservation. 
• An easement typically includes the exterior envelope of a property and airspace above, but can include interior elements.

Benefits

• Protection of a donor’s personal interest in preserving their family’s heritage and home.
• Preservation of a building on which an owner has spent considerable time and resources restoring.
• Potential for tax savings and/or reduction in estate, gift and capital gains taxes.
• Improvement of one’s community through long-term preservation of a significant landmark.
• Long-term professional assistance with technical preservation issues.

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On a grassy, rural hillside three blocks north of Main Street in the Eastern Oregon town of Moro, sits the Sherman County Courthouse. Built in the Queen Anne Style in 1899, this charming National Register-listed building is one of only three Oregon courthouses which can claim continuous use since construction. (The other two can be found in Benton and Polk Counties.)
The Sherman County Courthouse does more than house the county’s courts. It also provides a home for county administrative functions and houses the offices of the district attorney and sheriff — a lot to ask of one small building. 
With the goal of providing more space and increased security, an ambitious renovation and addition conceived by Henneberry Eddy Architects has transformed this charming courthouse and its grounds into a civic and community destination. 
Despite its large size, the new addition does not overshadow the original building. Set back and sitting a full two feet lower than the historic courthouse, the addition boasts sustainable design features including solar panels, and offers twice as much square footage as the original building did, providing space for new courtrooms, high-security areas and offices. An attractive 25-foot glass enclosure links the new building with the old, providing an appropriate separation between the two.  
While much of this project’s construction was completed in 2017, in the spring of 2018, the county turned its attention to the original courthouse building. Using historic photographs as their guide, the Henneberry Eddy design team faithfully reproduced the structure’s long-missing cupola with a lighter-weight fiberglass replica and restored the cupola’s original paint colors and unique striped pattern. The Hennebery Eddy team then created a public art gallery within the historic courthouse, and filled it with submissions from the community featuring Sherman County-themed artwork that celebrates the past and present, while also promoting a healthy work environment, sense of place and civic pride.
For designing a modern, vastly larger addition that successfully manages to allow the smaller, original historic courthouse structure to remain in the spotlight, and for creating a center of civic life that uses art to blend everything from law enforcement to local history, Restore Oregon was delighted to celebrate the restoration and expansion of the Sherman County Courthouse at our 2019 Restoration Celebration gala by presenting a well-deserved DeMuro Award to Henneberry Eddy Architects.
 

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As part of our Oregon’s Most Endangered Places program, Restore Oregon combined forces with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to bring an unprecedented grant opportunity to rural historic theaters in Oregon!
Last year, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), which includes the Oregon Main Street Network and the State Historic Preservation Office, received $665,000 as one of only nine grants awarded by the National Park Service for their Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program. This matching grant program was open to rural historic theaters to receive funding  between $15,000 and $100,000. Restore Oregon provided technical assistance with eligibility determinations for the National Register of Historic Places (listing is a requirement of the grant) and the application process.
“For over five years Restore Oregon has been supporting the revival of Oregon’s historic theaters. They are central to the revitalization of Main Street economies and important community cultural centers that connect us with our roots. These grants will be transformational and the impact will benefit generations,” says Peggy Moretti, Executive Director of Restore Oregon.  “We are delighted to be a partner with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office to help facilitate much needed investment in historic theaters across Oregon. Especially rewarding is the long-term impact that our Oregon’s Most Endangered Places program can have on places like the Egyptian Theater, listed in 2011. It is a shining example of how a place can go from endangered to saved through the efforts of dedicated preservationists, creative thinking, and support from Restore Oregon.”
Eight theater projects were selected in this competitive grant process and have been awarded $615,000 in federal grant funding for their preservation projects. The following organizations will be receiving awards:

• Dallas Downtown Association, for roof, masonry, and other repairs on the Dallas Cinema in Dallas.
• Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association, for roof repair on the theatre in Coos Bay. 
• Lakeview Community Partnership, for electrical and lighting repair, fire door replacement, and curtain and rigging work at the Alger Theatre in Lakeview. 
• Little Theater on the Bay, to replace the roof and missing Moorish roof domes on the Liberty Theater in North Bend. 
• Newberg Downtown Coalition, to update seats and acoustical drapes in the auditorium and repair exterior lighting on the Cameo Theatre in Newberg. 
• OK Theatre, to restore façade and store fronts, update the concessions area, and add a bar service area to the theater in Enterprise. 
• Rex Theater, to restore the marquee neon and reader board, paint the exterior, repair the roof and ceiling, and install HVAC in the Theater in Vale.
• The Dalles Main Street Program, to install new fire doors, HVAC, and awnings on the Granada Theatre in The Dalles. 

Funding also covers the cost for the preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations for four of the theaters not currently listed. These include the Dallas Cinema, Liberty Theatre, Rex Theatre, and Alger Theatre.
“These projects will significantly impact the local communities,” said Chrissy Curran, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer. “We are pleased to have been awarded this funding so that we can support local theaters and foster our vibrant rural communities in Oregon.”
As the economic impacts of COVID-19 in Oregon are being felt across the state we’re only just beginning to understand how far and wide the effects will reach. While we unite to help each other through these troubling times it’s important to remember the positive things that are happening around us. Restore Oregon is honored to be part of bringing rural communities an infusion of funds that not only promote the benefits of historic preservation but help bring communities together during troubled times. 
Restore Oregon is also receiving grant funds to continue working with SHPO and grant recipients to provide technical preservation support. We will keep our members updated on the progress of these noteworthy projects! 
Egyptian Theatre Spotlight – One of the very first Most Endangered Places, Class of 2011
The Egyptian Theatre is the cornerstone of the downtown district in Coos Bay. This unique movie theatre has spanned the eras of silent films, talkies, Technicolor and the modern “blockbuster.” Originally built in 1922 as a garage, the building was remodeled in 1925 into a theatre. Architect Carl F. Berg designed the interior and exterior with Revival Egyptian architecture. The theatre is one of only four known Egyptian Revival movie theatres in the United States and one of the best examples of Egyptian Revival on the West Coast. The theatre includes its original Egyptian style décor, light fixtures, furnishings, hand-painted vaudeville flats and a Wurlitzer pipe organ. 
In April 2006, the Egyptian Theatre was purchased by the City of Coos Bay when the owners put it up for sale. The City signed a management agreement with the non-profit Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association (EPTA) to manage and operate the theatre. After the March 2011 earthquake/tsunami, City officials determined that the Egyptian Theatre was not safe for occupancy. The Egyptian was closed March 14, 2011 and not scheduled to reopen until after the appropriate repairs were completed. 
The theatre was nominated to Restore Oregon’s first annual list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places in 2011. After three years of intense community advocacy, Coos Bay’s beloved Egyptian Theatre shined bright once again. 
At the time of its listing as an Endangered Place, the theatre had only a handful of supporters and very few dollars to back-up the vision of a revitalized downtown gathering space. Starting with a feasibility study for the theatre, funded in part by a Restore Oregon Most Endangered Place seed grant, over a million dollars was raised to resolve structural issues, replace failing systems, and provide for critical restoration inside and out in just three years. On June 20, 2014  the ribbons were cut and the Egyptian opened once again.
By the end of 2015 the Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association had raised the remaining funds needed to complete the last step of the façade restoration plan. By May 2016 installation of the new canopy, the mounting of the new “ETPA logo” marquee, the refurbishment of the Egyptian head pylon sign, decorative painting at the entrance and above the canopy, and the installation of new display cases with LCD TVs was completed.
In 2016, the Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association received a DeMuro Award for Excellence in Preservation, Reuse, and Community Revitalization from Restore Oregon for saving the movie palace and bringing it back to its historic splendor. The ETPA has set the standard for savvy preservation and business planning, with extraordinary community engagement.
By 2019, after a long and astounding list of restoration accomplishments, the priority for the ETPA became installing a new roof. At a project cost around $160,000, the organization will now be able to commence the roof replacement with funds from the Historic Revitalization Subgrant, $10,000 from the Henry Lea Hillman, Jr. Foundation, $20,000 from the Coquille Indian Tribe granting foundation, project support from Waste Connections, Inc and the City of Coos Bay as well as donations of over $12,500 from individuals specifically for the roof project. 
The resounding success of the Egyptian carries with it many lessons applicable to community landmarks across Oregon:
Commission a feasibility study. The first strategic step for Egyptian advocates was to prepare a market feasibility study to demonstrate that a revitalized theatre was viable in Coos Bay. Funded by a seed grant from Restore Oregon, it provided credibility for all future fundraising.
 
Build a “friends of” coalition. Advocates organized under the umbrella of the Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association, a nonprofit through which organization and fundraising could take place. They developed a strategic plan, enlisted skilled board members, and sought training. City staff and volunteers were included every step of the way and the Association made their presence known at fairs, markets, and community events.
 
Ask for outside help. An initial estimate to reopen the Egyptian came in at $3.7 million, a figure far in excess of what community leaders knew was feasible. Restore Oregon referred advocates to consultants and other regional experts to identify ways to bring the price tag down to a level that was manageable.
Money attracts money. Raising large sums of money in a small community can be daunting, especially if the cost seems insurmountable. Lining up city and grant support early in the fundraising process built confidence among local donors and created a snowball that attracted others and momentum grew.
Taking a phased approach avoids biting off more than you can chew. While the Egyptian re-opened in 2014, there was still work to be done. Phasing the rehabilitation allowed the theatre to start generating income and helped grow support within the community.
 
Theater vs. Theatre – What’s the Difference?
Actually, nothing! In most contexts, there is no difference in meaning between theater and theatre. Neither has any special definitions in general usage. The main thing to know is that theater is the preferred spelling in American English, and theatre is preferred virtually everywhere else. We use both in context with the theater/re’s official name.

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