Doors Open Jamestown

Getting acquainted with your community's history and attractions can lead to a greater appreciation of "this place we call home." The Jamestown Chamber of Commerce sponsors a very smart annual promotion in the dead of winter, Doors Open Jamestown, a day when the local museums and attractions waive their admission fees and invite everybody in to discover what they're all about.

Today was the big day, and Tom and I had been looking forward to it. The following places were on the list:

• Audubon Center and Sanctuary
• The Fenton History Center
• Lucy-Desi Museum and the Desilu Playhouse
• Robert H. Jackson Center
• The Roger Tory Peterson Institute
• Bill Cody Billboard at the Reg Lenna Theatre
• Open skating at the JSB Ice Arena
• The Sports Hall of Fame

We didn't think we wanted to rush through everything in one day, so we had to make some decisions. We've already visited the Audubon and Jackson centers. The snowfall today made for messy driving conditions, so we decided to keep close to home. That means we went downtown. Well, not quite downtown.

First stop was the Fenton History Center, technically not downtown, but near downtown, to discover the local heritage. "Fenton" is Reuben Fenton, Governor of New York from 1865 to 1869. As one of the founders of the Republican party, he was also a close associate of Abraham Lincoln. The museum is housed in the landmark Italian Villa style Fenton mansion, built in 1863, and when you enter, it is like stepping back in time. A very nice time. Fenton made his fortune in the lumber business and investments, before entering the political arena, and the scale of everything in his home is ginormous--the height of the ceilings, the towering windows and mirrors, ornate moldings, massive chandeliers, mansion-sized chests and bookcases, a sweeping main staircase--it's all very elegant and indicative of Fenton's public life.  The Fentons would have done much entertaining. The array of historical information and artifacts is quite impressive (and with the holiday exhibit still on display, festive too!), from the Civil War battle flag carried by the 112th NY Volunteer Regiment from Chautauqua county, to an embroidery sampler stitched by the the future wife of Jamestown founder James Prendergast. There are artifacts from lakeside hotels in "The Golden Age of Chautauqua Lake" (19th century) exhibit, a display of wrenches made by the Crescent Tool company of Jamestown, and a tower room from which is it said Mrs. Fenton would watch for her husband coming home from work and then alert the servants to get dinner. The Fenton Center is a great resource for the community to discover their links to the past, making their library and geneology database available to the public.

Well, then it was time for lunch, so we went downtown and stopped in at the Labyrinth for a cup of Jeff's amazing beer cheese soup and the best coffee in town. Go there. We always pop in at lunch time, but I hear it's a happening place for live entertainment in the evenings. Did I mention that Jeff is an amazing cook?

Batteries recharged, we walked down Pine to Third to visit the Reg Lenna Civic Center. This is a grand old theater, opened as a Palace Theater in 1923. Like many grand old theaters in the age of multiplexes and arena concerts, it fell into disrepair. When Harry Chapin played there in 1981, he got rained on. Indoors. A major community effort eventually saved  and restored the theater to its previous grandeur. It reopened as the Reg Lenna Civic center in 1990 and serves as a local venue for the performing arts.

But...the main purpose of our visit was to see the unique historical artifact on display inside the inner lobby of the theater: a completely restored 130+-year-old, 26 x 10 ft. billboard, discovered underneath a crumbling brick building facade  in 2002. The billboard was an advertisement for a live theater performance of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show in Jamestown in 1878. We'd heard about the billboard and its restoration from our friend Pat Anzideo, who was the Project Manager, but this was our first time viewing it. Impressive, Pat!

We followed that by trekking down the street to the Lucy-Desi Museum and Desilu Playhouse for a look at more recent history. Yes, really--this was our first ever visit there. In a town that celebrates the birthday of its native Queen of Comedy with a Lucy festival every August, bringing in hordes of fans in character costumes, we've been surprisingly insulated. Not that we don't love Lucy. I was a bit young for the original programs (I was born the same year as Desi Jr., and what a good-looking guy he turned out to be!), but I grew up on re-runs. Everyone loves Lucy. But I'm not what you would call a fanatic about it, and face it, the admission to these attractions is a bit pricey if you're trying to live on a budget.

Well, I loved it. Loved learning more about Lucy and Desi, loved seeing the TV sets (I have a set of Pyrex bowls in primary colors just like the ones in their kitchen!), the costumes, the video clips. It was fun. You won't catch me dressing up like Lucy at a festival, not even for her 100th birthday celebration this year, but I'm happy to be an admirer of her contributions to television, back when television was actually entertaining.

That was as far as we got today.  I feel that I know Jamestown a little bit better now. We met lots of people, whole families with grandmas too, out having a good time today. It's nice to know your community has a pulse, even on a snowy Saturday.  Kudos to the Chamber for this brilliant promotion.