A Remarkable Achievement: The Story of the Presser Hall Restoration Society of Mexico, Missouri

By The Presser Performing Arts Center Board of Directors

Presser Hall (completed in 1927) was one of the showcase buildings on the campus of Hardin College, in Mexico, Missouri. But only five years after the stunning auditorium was built, the college closed amidst the Great Depression.

Orphaned by circumstances, the majestic theater slowly succumbed to the ravages of time. By 1987 it looked tired and abandoned. With no prospects for adoption and renewal, it seemed that Presser Hall would be lost forever.

But two determined women in the small town decided otherwise. Soon, they were joined by other community members who refused to let the dream die. And so, the Presser Hall Restoration Society was born. That small spark not only rescued a historic treasure, but also kindled the flame of artistic creativity throughout central Missouri. Discover how that arts renaissance unfolded in A Remarkable Achievement.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Nov 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483440101

Book preview

A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT

The Story of the Presser Hall Restoration Society of Mexico, Missouri

THE PRESSER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Text by Kathy Craghead

Copyright © 2015 Presser Performing Arts Center.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-4009-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-4010-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015915566

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 11/11/2015

A Remarkable Achievement

is dedicated to Robert M. McIntosh

and to the community members who shared his vision

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: Historically

Chapter Two :A Grain of an Idea

Chapter Three: The Idea Becomes a Plan

Chapter Four: The First Three Years

Chapter Five: Light at the End of the Tunnel (1991-1995)

Chapter Six: The End is in Sight (1996-2003)

Chapter Seven: Please Sit Back and Enjoy the Show

About the Author of the Text

Special Thanks

Presser Hall Restoration Society/Presser Performing Arts Center Board Members 1987-2014

Introduction

By 1987, the majestic building on the north side of the former Hardin College campus looked tired and abandoned. Dirt nearly obscured the stained glass windows. The roof leaked, some of the doors were warped and inside many seat backs were torn.

There was very little heat in the building, resulting in moisture building up on surfaces inside. Outside Presser Hall, even the American elm and ash trees drooped from neglect.

While the Mexico Public Schools central administrative offices continued to be housed next door (in Richardson Hall), Presser Hall, once the showcase building of the former college, had become little more than a warehouse for the school district.

The last students to use the building had left for the district’s new junior high school in 1976. A few community events continued to be held in Presser Hall, but primarily the building sat silent.

Still, to many citizens the memory of what Presser Hall once was remained alive. From time to time, committees explored the feasibility of renovating the building and various architects and builders assessed