The city of Vergennes and the volunteers on the Friends of the Vergennes Opera House Board have a lot to celebrate as they announce the award of $10,000 from Green Mountain Power toward the restoration of the City Hall/Opera House marquee.
‘Together Vergennes and Green Mountain Power have a very long history’, said GMP corporate spokesperson Dorothy Schnure. ‘GMP started in Vergennes, at the city falls, more than 120 years ago, making Vergennes one of the early communities with electric power,’ she continued. ‘So it is with delight that we help to revive the city’s public marquee bringing the clock back to life and helping to turn the lights on where all the people of the city and those passing through will see that light shining.’
The marquee, which was created by local sculptor/artist Dennis Sparling, was created for the City/Opera House more than 15 years ago but has suffered deterioration at its base due to salt treatments during snowy and icy weather and general wear and tear. The restoration funds will allow the marquee to be moved to a secure space over the winter, where it will be restored and treated with a weather resistant coating. Additionally, the non-functioning clock will be replaced, as will the lighting unit within the marquee.
Originally the marquee was underwritten by enlightened individuals from the Vergennes-wide community, as well as area corporations and foundations, and was erected as a keystone during the most intensive phase of the Vergennes City Hall/Opera House restoration. This bronze-plated marquee stands 14 feet high and is adorned with a two-sided clock upon which sits an eagle alighting.
‘GMP is certainly a friend of the Vergennes community and has shown its commitment to the Little City with this generous restoration gift,’ said Gerianne Smart, Friends of the Vergennes Opera House Interim President. ‘This gift of $10,000 will allow us to completely restore the entire marquee and will allow us to have it returned quickly to its place in front of City Hall.’
The marquee restoration work will be completed by John Baker of Wildflower Ironworks and the clock work restoration will be completed by David Welch. It is hoped that the restored marquee will be completed and installed by the summer of 2014.