Carol Lockshier lives across the street from the White House, the historical mansion at 1850 Elm Street in Stratford. She was one of about 100 people who gathered on the lawn of the White House on Thursday afternoon to support preserving the 18th century grand mansion.
“Every day I have to look at this and it’s so sad,” she said. “Every other town saves their history, saves their heritage.”
The White House and adjoining building, the Shakespeare Theatre, were the focus of Thursday’s rally, the latest development in between Mayor John A. Harkins and residents who wish to restore and revitalize the two buildings.
In April, Mayor Harkins ordered the Shakespeare Theatre closed and locks changed due to concerns over health and safety standards. Volunteers had been cleaning the theater of debris for two years by then.
Ed Goodrich, a member of Stratford's Arts Commission, addressed the crowd and urged an end to apathy.
"I believe in Stratford and I believe we'll use this building once again," he said from the peeling steps of the White House. "This building is not taking from the town, it's giving to the town. The Shakespeare Theater, too."
Where the money to fix the dilapidated buildings will ultimately come from is unclear. A statement by Marc Dillon, the mayor’s Chief of Staff, said that the mayor is unwilling to use town tax revenue to help with the renovations.
“The Mayor's stance regarding the Shakespeare Theatre remains unchanged,” the statement read. “This administration remains committed to finding a long-term answer for usage of this property, without doing so on the backs of the taxpayers.”
After assessing health and safety regulations on the Shakespeare Theater,
Paul Joy, vice chairman of Stratford’s Historic District Commission, said that he is working to make the properties part of the town's historic district, albeit non-contiguously; he pointed out that the boundary is where Elm Street meets Stratford Avenue, and it doesn't extend down to the White House.
Kevin Weiss has lived in Stratford for 23 years and wherever he travels around the country, people seem to know the town for the Shakespeare Theatre.
“I’ve never even gotten a chance to enjoy it,” he said. “I’d love to see real seats in the theater.”
Rob Weiss, 23, takes a speical interest in the theater because he minored in theater studies in college. He said the theater could help restore the town’s name.
“It has so much potential, to let it go to waste is terrible,” he said.
[Editor's note: this article was originally published on May 25]
Harkins left a window open (yes - a very large window) after he took the keys away. Lord knows what is going to be living in there now and more damage from the weather will be done. Harkins should put the money he gets for "Blues on the Beach" towards the repairs.
He says he won't use tax dollars to do something called investing in Stratford -- he won't use tax dollars because he's done nothing to bring in new tax dollars into this community. We have no commercial development going on in Stratford -- Harkins is still trying to hit a "home run" with the Army Engine Plant (what happens when Sikorsky downsizes)!? He should be cleaning up Barnum Avenue to attract businesses. We should be working on bringing in new small businesses to Hard's Corner (who will come when we have an attraction like the Shakespeare Theater)! Instead what we see is small businesses closing their doors because Stratford is doing nothing, nothing to keep them here! No innovative tax policies. No marketing,. Why don't you take a look at what the Monroe Economic Development Commission did to promote their community? Instead we have a Mayor with a locked office and gatekeepers like Marc Dillon and a new unimaginative Economic Development person like Karen Kaiser. We have a Mayor with no imagination. We also have a Mayor who's yet to create a new vision for Stratford, or tell the community what he's going to achieve. The only thing he's achieved is a higher salary.
I don't think you'll like this one much either: http://stratfordcharter.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/transferred/
Silly Matt thought his district elected him. He must not have realized that his success depended on his catering to Harkins and not his voters. Perhaps this recent "slap on the wrist" by the RTC's Golden Boy will teach him. I hope not though. I hope he tells them all where to go come next council election. Run indie Matt, you'd still win and you would be able to do your job representing Stratford as you have been trying to do, without facing this unfounded resistance from your supposed partners.
If the Theatre somehow "mysteriously" catches fire, now we will know who to call. Comon guys? Tax payer money is NOT on the table at this time. Goodie, you obviously only read the CTPost propaganda form the Mayor's office. The ACG report says clearly (if you are able to read some factual stuff) that the $30mm is ALL FROM FUND RAISING. What is the Mayor, Jim Connor and company and the Mill River crowd afraid of? That the volunteers and a fund-raising campaign just might succeed?? You guys would rather cut the effort off before it starts and then claim victory? What a sham! The FACTS keep getting in the way of your rhetoric and politics. You hide behind blowhard statements about tax payer money and slam Ed Goodrich and Matt and say they have done nothing, but the FACTS say your wrong and the advocates are right and should be given the chance to prove once and for all whether the not-for-profit effort can succeed. Do you really think that the people who actually live in the Historic District are going to allow JOm Connor to put a Sports COmplex or some commercial enterprise on that property in the heart of the district and in a residential neighborhood? That my friend would be the fight of the century. "To be or not to be Stratford, What is your answer?"
I did notice that the listing for “Stratford Mayor’s Charity Events” has its Exempt status revoked.