The Dawn Theater opened to the public for the first time since its renovation, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 4 sponsored by CL Enterprises.
After cutting the ribbon, the CL Real Estate executive team welcomed the public to take a look inside the theater and offered free popcorn, cotton candy, and live music from Hillsdale College Phi Mu Alpha band Stella Anne & The Half Pints. The public opening is the start of what CL Enterprises co-founder Peter Lindberger hopes can be a revitalization of historic buildings in downtown Hillsdale.
Gianna Green, communities manager for CL Real Estate and general manager of the Dawn Theater, thanked the community for attending the event.
“It is great to see everyone enjoying the theater today. More people turned out than we expected,” Green said. “It is great to hear all the memories. We hope to make more memories here in the future.”
Mayor Adam Stockford said support for the opening is evidence of Hillsdale’s appreciation for its history.
“It’s obvious with the community here,” Stockford said. “I hope the community gets continued use out of it.”
Dan Bisher, a local author and historian, was one of the community members present at the opening. He said he first visited the theater to watch a movie in 1949.
“I watched movies here as a kid and sat up in the balcony,” Bisher said. “It was a thrill.”
Bisher said the theater looks much different than he remembered.
“It’s totally different,” he said. “I like the overall fresh design.”
Bisher also said he looks forward to seeing what the Friends of the Dawn do with the historic Wurlitzer organ, which the group plans to install in its original housing when it receives sufficient funding.
“I think it will be an important asset,” Bisher said.
Hillsdale College Visit Coordinator Margaret Braman said there were more people who turned out than expected.
“It’s a great turnout,” Braman said. “I am so glad.”
Heather Tritchka ’99 said the finer details of the building particularly turned out well.
“As an artist, I am impressed by the stenciling,” Tritchka said. “All the details are well thought out.”
In a short ceremony, Hillsdale Tax Increment Financial Authority chairman Andrew Gelzer handed the keys over to CL Enterprises co-founder Peter Lindberger. CL Enterprises has been overseeing the property since March 1, according to Green.
Lindberger gave a speech about his motivation for the company, which finances and supports small towns. After coming to America and marrying his wife, he said part of his inspiration was getting to know the characters in “The Andy Griffith Show.”
“I come from a small town in Germany, and I fell in love with a small town called Mayberry,” Lindberger said. “I also met many people in real life in small towns in America.”
He said he supports bringing businesses and people back to downtown Hillsdale through his work with the Dawn Theater, along with his bigger project, the Keefer House.
“I call it the ‘Mayberry Effect.’ We hope the Dawn and the Keefer will be just the beginning,” Lindberger said. “It shouldn’t be that at 6 p.m. everyone leaves. They should be coming downtown.”
The opening of the Dawn helps bolster their initiative in finishing the bigger project of the Keefer House, according to Lindberger.
“It’s wonderful to be standing here, a proof of the continued work on the Keefer,” Lindberger said. “This is the first phase of the larger project of the Keefer House.”