COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Even with the arrival of cold weather, the historic Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater will be warm inside. The 50-year-old boilers in the opera house have been replaced.
While the heat is on and working well, the effort to raise the funds to cover the improvement continues. To date Tibbits is $18,000 shy of the $61,500 total project cost.
Donations have been received from Coldwater Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club of Coldwater, Altrusa International of Branch County, Coldwater Exchange Club, Branch County Community Theatre, Quincy Rotary Club, The Smith Memorial Concert, and several private donors.
Tibbits also received a capital improvement grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs as well as a rebate grant from Efficiency UNITED.
Since the 1960s Tibbits has been heated by two boilers located in a small building behind the theatre. In recent years, one boiler now beyond repair was used for parts to keep the second boiler operating. Extensive repairs to the second boiler last winter kept the system working for a short period. Another needed repair, however, forced its early shutdown for the balance of the season.
The old boilers have been replaced with two high-efficiency natural gas boilers. The project also required repairs to the building in which the boilers are housed to protect the new equipment and improve the boilers’ efficiency. The energy-efficient units are expected to provide an immediate savings in the utilities for the theatre.
For more information on contributing toward the replacement of the boilers, contact the Tibbits offices at (517)278-6029.
