Society Hall Announces Thanks and Giving Month to Save the Hall

Society Hall, a 501c-3 non-profit organization, came into being in August of 2015 as a place where the community could host concerts and gatherings of all kinds - “Where Community Celebrates!” In the years since, the hall has seen hundreds of fabulous performances from many artists and bands that otherwise would have never come to this area to share their music, as well as many nights of music from local and regional performers, and has also served as a gathering spot for numerous memorials and other celebrations.

The building was formerly the Christian Science Society hall, but was in need of about $80,000 of TLC, as the Christian Science congregation had dwindled until they felt they could not care for the beautiful old building, originally constructed in 1922. They graciously agreed to sell it to the newly formed Society Hall Foundation, with the assurances from the Foundation that the building would be well cared for and would remain in service to the community.

The Society Hall Foundation is both grateful and proud that virtually all of the funds necessary for the remodeling, as well as the ongoing operation of the facility, have come from the generosity and support of the immediate community of the San Luis Valley, both through event ticket sales and through generous contributions from community members and businesses of money, labor and materials.

But since the coronavirus pandemic began back in March, with the need to not have any public gatherings, the hall has been without any significant source of income. “We had a good cushion going into the shutdown, and had a good fundraising event in April”, says board treasurer Pete Magee. He continues, “But those funds are long gone, and we need to do something to continue to be able to pay our mortgage, as well as our heat and insurance bills.” Board president Ruthie Brown adds, “We know it will come back around, and we’ll be able to have these great events again, but we have to hang on a while longer, and we’re hoping our supporters can help us out.”

The hall will be doing outreach activities throughout the month of November through local media, on social media and via website and email, all of which will culminate in an online streaming concert event on Saturday, November 28th, which will feature sets from three different acts, all of whom have played at Society Hall. Susan Gibson, a wonderful Texas-based singer-songwriter, best known for writing the Dixie Chicks smash hit “Wide Open Spaces”, will play a set, as well as local favorite Michael Hearne, formerly based in Taos, New Mexico and then in Austin, and now back in Red River, New Mexico, who will also contribute a set. Then the evening will feature a reunion of the iconic Alamosa-based country-rock band Tumbleweed.

“We’re excited to play, and to be able to help out Society Hall,” says Tumbleweed member and Society Hall board VP Don Richmond. He continues, “This venue is a treasure for our community – there is no place like it anywhere in this region. If you talk to any one of the great artists that have played here, they will all tell you what a gem this hall is. We need to do whatever it takes to make sure that it makes it through this difficult time.”

Music for the November 28th concert will start at 6:00 pm, and will be streaming on Society Hall’s Facebook page. The board has hoped to be able to offer limited seating in the hall for the show, but now feels that they have to monitor the situation with Covid and see what restrictions may be in place. They ask that the public check the Society Hall website at www.societyhall.org and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/societyhall .

Any donations can be contributed via PayPal at www.PayPal.me/societyhall , or via Venmo @societyhall. Checks can be mailed to Society Hall, PO Box 1885, Alamosa, CO 81101, or dropped off with Ruthie Brown at the Green Spot at 711 State Ave in Alamosa. Donations can also be made on the website at www.societyhall.org. All donations are tax deductible. Donations of $100 or more are eligible for Enterprise Zone (EZ) credit. This is an additional 25% of the donation for State tax credit. Please be sure the check has your full address and the last 4 digits of your social security, or if a business donation, the FEIN is necessary for the additional tax credit.

The board of Society Hall is ever so grateful for the past and continuing support of so many in our wonderful community, and looks forward to many years of being “Where Community Celebrates!”

Courtesy photo

Society Hall after (left) and before (right) the renovation.