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100 Years of
History Celebrated
Thank you Darke County Center for the Arts
By Bob Robinson
No, I didn’t graduate on the stage of Memorial Hall in 1962. I did that
a couple thousand miles away in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nor have I ever
performed on its magnificent stage. I did that on the stage of Texas
A&M’s historic Guion Hall 40 plus years ago.
Lincoln Southeast High School has probably been upgraded a few times in
the last half century. I doubt I’d recognize it if I ever went back for
a visit.
A few years after I appeared on Guion Hall’s stage, I was saddened to
see the wrecking ball destroy 80 years of history to make way for a new
multi-media and performing arts center. Maybe it was necessary for the
foreseen expansion of the University, but it was sad none-the-less.
By contrast, Historic Darke County has chosen to celebrate and preserve
its heritage. Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall turned 100 years old on May
3. One hundred years and one day later, the Darke County Center for the
Arts kicked off a 3-day celebration of this beautifully crafted
structure’s historic involvement in its community.
A dream, instigated and funded by Henry St. Clair, was completed after
his death by his wife, Ella, and has seen graduation ceremonies, local
student performances, student classes, lectures, political debates and
performances in the professional arts – plus much more – in its
lifetime. It is the center of Cultural Arts for Darke County, and
is expected to offer the same for generations to come.
I was privileged to be on the planning committee for DCCA’s Centennial
Celebration. For a year we worked on and planned the Friday evening
portion of the weekend. It was a great evening that highlighted the
Hall’s history and importance to the community.
State Representatives Jim Buchy and Richard Adams, Greenville Mayor
Mike Bowers and Greenville City Schools Supt. Susie Riegle made
presentations on behalf of their respective offices.
Local performers Joseph Helfrich, Spitten’ Image and The Melody Line
offered great entertainment, along with Encore! Versailles High School
Show Choir, Greenville Senior High School Orchestra and Greenville
Intermediate School’s East Echoes.
My niece performed in East Echoes last year; and my nephew in this
year’s final performance of the season. That made their performance
special. Evidently the audience agreed. East Echoes got a standing
ovation.
Another highlight of the evening was John and Karen Burkett’s portrayal
of Henry and Ella St. Clair. Between performances, our local historic
re-enactors presented a fascinating insight into the two individuals
responsible for the hall.
You couldn’t miss them. The Fort GreeneVille Daughters of the American
Revolution were decked out in period clothing, conducting tours,
selling “Keepsake” programs and generally mixing with those attending
the event.
Darke County Center for the Arts wrapped up the weekend with an
“Evening of Legacy,” featuring the Toledo Symphony Orchestra on
Saturday, and the family event, The Wizard of Oz, on Sunday.
As an Air Force brat, I’ve lived in or visited every state in the
Continental United States. I’ve had the privilege of seeing historic
and natural landmarks from the Washington, D.C. monuments and the Maine
coastline in the East to the Spanish Missions and National Forests on
the West Coast. However, I’ve never before seen a relatively small
community so involved in its heritage and ancestors as I’ve seen in
Darke County.
I’ve toured the bowels of Memorial Hall. I’ve visited it for
educational purposes. I’ve interviewed its performers… and I’ve been
entertained by many of the performances presented there.
Did it bring back memories? Yes.
Not memories of the history of Henry and Ella’s gift to Darke County.
I’m a transplant… my experiences there only go back 11 years. Rather it
brought back memories of the history that was lost to future students
at Texas A&M and my participation in that history. While I was sad
at that loss, I was grateful that the landmarks of Darke County… Garst
Museum, Bears Mill, Downtown Greenville, historic structures of many of
our communities and villages… and Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall…
continue to be valued and preserved.
Thank you, Darke County Center for the Arts, and Darke County
residents, for recognizing and supporting your own history for the next
generations.
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