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Blog History
Front row left to right: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Maestro Jack Everley, Original Kate in Kiss Me Kate Patricia Morison, Hollywood Director & Producer John Bowab, Former Newsweek Magazine News Editor Abigail Kimball. Back row left to right: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director Ty Johnson, Soprano and Professor of Voice at Indiana University Sylvia McNair, Emmy-Winning Saxophonist Lorne Schoenberg, Cole Porter Trusts Artistic Director Robert Kimball. October 5, 2007 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member We're ready for Full Line Construction to gut the former meth lab and move that area toward our Innkeeper's Quarters. Lots of work will remain after cracked plaster and lath are removed--an Electrical Contractor will wire the unit/ a plumber will fit sink and bathroom/ and a heating and cooling contractor will fit the apartment with essentials for comfort. July 5, 2007 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member Our big three plans for Porter Festival '07 were all accomplished; as the Air Force puts it.."Mission flown as briefed!" Cole Porter's star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood was unveiled May 21, and the ceremony was followed by a star-studded luncheon attended by Ann Jefferies, Rex Smith, Betty Garrett, Dr. Dan Roberts of Peru and his two Cole Porter Scholars, Daughter Kati and Son Ward, along with Ward's Wife, Annie Roberts. Family member Joey Kubesch accepted the replica star, and posters have been made for sale from the Porter Birthplace gift shop. 11"x14" glossy posters are $10; 18" x 24 " size posters are $15. The Birthplace was dedicated with a wonderful fanfare, on June 8, featuring the Editor-in-Chief of Parade Magazine, Lee Kravitz, flying in to present a plaque for saving a landmark, to the Committee for the Restoration. #3 in the triple treat was the launching of a c.d. of the music from "A Swell Party--rsvp Cole Porter" by Mark Nadler and KT Sullivan of New York. The singing duo was joined by two-time Grammy-winning Loren Schoenberg on his funky sax, and he and Nadler also played the piano. Other Festival parties were a June 7 black tie gala at Westleigh, the home of Cole's Parents, Sam Porter and Kate Cole Porter. Porterhouse for the Porter House featured a lavish meal catered by Ron Short and Bill Crawford of The Siding. Nadler, Sullivan, and Schoenberg were flown to Peru by Karen Lotman of Philadelphia, and performed a "tease" of their full show slated for Cole's actual birthday on the 9th. Tom Gustin's 10 piece Band featured Gustin's special arrangements and the song stylings of Ellen Mock. Sylvia McNair, also a winner of two Grammy awards, sang several Porter songs, thrilling the audience. The thrill of the weekend was the presence of Patricia Morison, the original Kate in Porter's play, Kiss Me, Kate. Pat (now proud of her 92 years' age,)had vowed to her escort, John Bowab (internationally known director associated with Three's Company, The Cosby Show, and many others,) that she would NOT sing in Peru. After the plaque was awarded by Lee Kratitz, Mark Nadler entered the much cooler Birthplace, and sat down at the very tired piano...softly playing pat Morison's signature song from Kate--"So in Love." Pat used one of her new hips to push Nadler down the bench, sit beside him, and begin to sing. "Sing, Pat! I'll FIND your key!" said Mark, and the pair sang and played several songs. Tears were evident on men and women as history was made in the Birthplace. "A Cup O' Cole," an original play written by Kurt Schindler and sung in a Today Show format, pleased audiences for six performances. Ole players and area singers tackled tough Porter lyrics and music, and acquitted themselves quite well, according to Robert Kimball of New York City, artistic adviser to the Porter Trusts in New York City. "Kurt outdid himself this year; the evening was wonderful!" The Miami County Museum hosted a Cole Porter menu dinner, with the music of Tom Gustin's band on Saturday night prior to the Peru High School Nadler, Sullivan and Schoenberg concert. Help with the final 6 room restorations, as well as donations, are still needed. Please come and see the magical gardens planted expertly by the Miami County Master Gardeners' Club, as well as the bed and breakfast suites nearly completed. People wishing to be on the list to reserve a room (s) at the Birthplace when everything is ready, may contact the Peru Chamber of Commerce at 765-472-1923 or e-mail Director Sandy Chittum at chamdir@comteck.com. No time has been set for the first availability of the suites. May 2, 2007 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member
Miami County Master Gardeners are restoring the flower beds. Seascapes garden center will donate the flowers. Remaining aluminum siding came down May 5th and 6th, and cracked or missing wood siding will be repaired or replaced, primed, and painted the three colors of yellow that have been used on the rest of the exterior. A local carpentry school has volunteered to rebuild the east exterior staircase. A donated chairlift will be installed to the upper B&B suites at the Huntington Street entrance. A Peru fireman has volunteered to sandblast and reglaze the three claw-footed tubs in the home. March 15, 2007 - Press Release posted here February 6, 2007 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member Circle your calendars for 7-8-and 9 June '07 for three "Swell Parties" celebrating Cole Porter Festival Weekend. Contact the Miami County Museum staff at 765-473-9183, to be in the "loop" for information and reservations for the 3 gatherings. We still need furnishings! Looking for late 1800-early 1900, serviceable or repairable: chairs, little tables, couches, beds, lamps, wall hangings, a hall tree or umbrella stands. 2-5-07 Don Weeks Contractors began final push of north and east plaster removal and drywall installation. 19 radiators sold, (price to help with heating bill!) 3 ornate radiators to be sandblasted, painted, and kept for historical merit. They will be solidly anchored to the walls in 3 rooms. January 31, 2007 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member January 9, 2007 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member December saw the wiring, which was covered by a $2,500 grant from Operation Roundup of the REMC (Rural Electrical Management Co.), nearly completed throughout the Birthplace. With a $7,500 grant from the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, the installation of our two furnaces will be accomplished. Indoor work is progressing comfortably, with the furnaces blowing warm air indoors. A huge maple tree stump on Huntington Street also was ground out by Pat Gray Tree Service with part of the NICF grant. Sanding and priming is nearly complete in the Anything Goes Bed and Breakfast Suite, with painting planned for mid-February by Arletta Reith of "A Lady's Touch" Professional Paint Service. The Cole Porter Suite has two rooms painted, and the two larger rooms will be first when Arletta returns. Mid-January will find a pair of volunteer woodworkers from Dayton, OH, Andy Fischer and Susan Massa, joining local volunteer Derek Sharp to repair buckled hardwood flooring. Their "shift" will be followed by sanding and several coats of polyurethane to protect the hardwood. Re-plumbing of two upstairs bathrooms will be accomplished before proper sub-flooring and new hardwood floors are installed. We need all specialists in home restoration, as we try to make our donations cover our needs. Some shovel and broom specialists can help clear the way for sanders and painters. To verify any given Wednesday afternoon work party, phone 765-472-2400 Wednesday morning: and 9 am Saturday morning will find a crew at work. Please come and be a part of something beautiful, historic, and special! As soon as the paint dries, we'll be looking for more furniture in the late 1800-early 1900 era. Call Jim Walker 765-472-2400/ or Joey Kubesch 765-473-6584 to arrange a pickup. We'll provide a letter noting your donation to our tax exempt Ole Olsen Memorial Theater Group. October 20, 2006 - Webmaster August 17, 2006 - Webmaster March 28, 2006 - Webmaster Cole Porter update January 16, 2006 December 27, 2005 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member July 15, 2005 - Webmaster June 13, 2005 - Webmaster May 12, 2005 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member May 3, 2005 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member April 1, 2005 - Cole Porter Restoration (CPR :) committee member March 22, 2005 - Webmaster March 16, 2005 - Jim Walker
Well, the work has begun on cleaning out the birthplace of famed composer Cole Porter. A not-for-profit organization, Ole Olsen Memorial Theatre, Inc., has purchased the house and is starting the restoration process. The home has fallen in quite a state of disrepair. At this time, we know we must replace the entire roof, repair the foundation, repair the brick porches, rebuild window frames, replace window glass, rewire the entire house, repair and replace defective plumbing, re-plaster some walls and ceilings, level floors and re-sand the hardware floors. I am sure that we will find surprises along the way as well. But, we knew we had a big task ahead of us when we bought the property. We accept the task gladly and approach it as a labor of love. On this site you will find some pictures that were taken during our clean-up days. We removed 60 yards ( 3 huge dumpsters) of trash, garbage and others items we just don't want to mention to you at this time. Please take the time to review these pictures so that you can follow our progress. Updated photos will appear as we begin the big restoration. Those of us involved with this project are proud to be a part of this effort. We are all volunteers... we have no paid staff. We can see the need in restoring not only a piece of our local history, but keeping the memory of this great composer alive as well. By doing this we can show the world where this great life began and share the gift of his music that he gave to us. After the project is completed, we will open the home to the public as a museum honoring the man and his music. We want to restore it to the 1891 timeframe ( the year he was born ). It is our hope to bring people from around the world to this site. They can actually walk through the home and imagine young Cole developing his musical genius on this very site. While in town you can also visit other sites of interest concerning Cole Porter... including Westleigh Farm, Miami County Museum (some personal items are on display there) and his burial site. We look forward to bringing this home to life. The completion date is to be determined by available funding. If you would like to be a part of this effort through a monetary gift, it would be greatly appreciated. Simply send your gift to Ole Olsen Memorial Theatre Inc., 154 South Broadway, Peru, IN 46970. Indicate Cole Porter Birthplace in the memo section of your check. Your donation is tax-deductible. Ole Olsen Memorial Theatre Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 organization. Thank you, Jim Walker
March 4, 2005 - Webmaster |
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