Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Nov. 8, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is emailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress.net.
HAPPY 100TH FOR MURPHY PARK A familiar Taylor park celebrated a major anniversary this past Saturday.
Taylor Parks and Recreation hosted its Murphy Park Centennial Celebration Nov. 4 with a few hours of festivities. Participants celebrated the 100th birthday of the park through a program, live music and activities for people of all ages to enjoy.
The celebration began with an adult Zumba class at 10 a.m. An hour later, the Parks and Recreation department hosted a tumbling class and a 100-yard dash for the kids.
Additionally, there was a bounce house, a fire truck, food and music performed by Montana Lane.
The celebration concluded with a program that dove into the park’s history. Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Bybee, District 2 Taylor City Councilman Mitchell Drummond, Rev. James Davis and Irene Michna spoke during this time.
Davis said Michna, a longtime member of the Parks and Recreation board, was the featured speaker of the program. She shared stories about her involvement with Murphy Park over the years, such as her celebrating her first birthday there.
A CHANCE TO SAVE HISTORY
Last summer, when the Howard Theater at 308 N. Main St. went up for sale, Channing Kingery-Boles felt certain it would get snapped up right away.
“My first thought was, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be so great if someone bought that?’” said Kingery-Boles, who has owned Taylor Soap Bar since December 2021. “How wonderful would that be for us downtown business owners, the surrounding cities? I really thought someone would jump on it.”
However, after months of the historic venue just sitting there, Kingery-Boles decided to take matters into her own hands by attempting to buy the theater herself. Through an owner financed deal, Kingery-Boles is hoping to use a combination of her own money, crowdfunding from small-money donors, as well as possible corporate sponsorships, other investors and even grants.
Kingery-Boles, who has since researched other historic theater renovations, formed an LLC, developed a website and has launched two fundraising campaigns, has set a Nov. 22 deadline to raise about $200,000 for a down payment on the property and the first year of costs, despite very long odds.
So far, only about $17,000 has been raised after the first week of the campaign, Kingery-Boles said.
“I am not expecting massive amounts of money from just a few people,” Kingery-Boles said. “I don’t expect someone to write me a $5,000 check. I’m hoping for a $500 check, and I am going to sell a seat and put your name on it. I am expecting $1 donations, $5 donations and $10 donations.”
