10 Years Ago 1997

P.J. Parsons stands in the cavernous building littered with wine bottles still wearing paper sacks, where beer cans dot the floor. She is blind to the litter. Instead she sees a bustling theater alive with activity from the dance studios, artists-in-residence, sculptors and thespians. The last permanent and legal resident of the Marysville Opera House left its walls and pressed tin ceiling the color of Pepto-Bismol. Parsons sees no pink, but rather a finished theater that honors the 1911 building. I walk in there and I dont even notice that pink anymore, she said. Its finished in my head. The 29-year-old professional clown hopes to find community support for her dream of filling Marysvilles only historic building with the sounds of a busy arts community center. She has spent months researching the building and more than several hours just sitting on the stage, imagining the future of the 86-year-old building. The building entrance has a certain energy, Parsons said. That energy fueled her enough to dream, plan and even pay for building designs to renovate the Opera House, aka the Oddfellows Hall, that has sat hunkered down on the corner of Third and Cedar Avenue, empty since 1988. The building deserves to be a community center again for something creative, she said. Originally built in 1911 for the International Order of Oddfellows, a fraternal organization, it served as a meeting hall and community center. Lockers for several other organizations were included in the plans, and the theater housed many school plays and traveling shows. The 15,000-square-foot building is two floors high with a full basement. The main floor houses a 24 x 50 stage and a balcony splits the giant room. The second floor is divided into offices, a former cafeteria and the Oddfellows ceremonial room. Although the facility has housed may things over the years, including a skating rink, shooting range, furniture store and even a rumored brothel, the second floor hasnt changed since the Oddfellows occupied it. They disbanded in 1966. The ceremonial room is intact with a peephole, marked by a wooden paddle that spins to reveal who is at the door. Decorative molding is part of the workmanship. Original pulleys from theater sets and curtains are mounted high above the stage. The building needs a lot of work ceilings and walls have several interior holes where a prospective buyer investigated their structural integrity, old toilets sit on stage, mold creeps up the basement walls from holiday storm flooding, People have been breaking in to party. Parsons sees beyond the damage to plans for artists workspace, galleries, dance recitals and pageants. She sees the original ticket booth shining and reflecting off the ornate original pressed tin ceiling. Parsons plans for the second floor include individual studios for artists. The ceremonial room would be perfect for dancers, she said. The studio area has an unusual find, 12 inches x 12 inches solid wood exposed beams. I really want it to be a place for Marysville to share, she said. In the early 1980s, the Marysville Fine Arts Committee got the building registered as a National Historic Place. Carol Harkins, a leader of that committee had plans then for the building as a community theater. But the group fizzled, she said. Harkins went on to found Gene Natri Performing Arts School in Mukilteo, but she continues to live on the Tulalip Reservation. Harkins and Parsons got connected through the school and found out about each others plans for the Marysville building. It was like a full circle had been made that kind of renewed hope, she said. Parsons has approval for a $295,000 loan to buy the building, if she can get a group together, she said. She estimates that it will take another $300,000 to renovate it. Although the money would be nice, she is mostly looking for community support. The building excites people, she said. Its just that nobody has been the catalyst.

25 Years Ago 1982

The winning smile of Katie Foster has earned her top honors in the Payn Save Photo Centers Cute Kid Photo Contest. Katie, the daughter of Bruce and Denise Foster of Marysville, may find herself the subject of much more attention. Her prize in the local contest is $100 worth of free photo finishing services. The contest was sponsored by Payn Save Photo Centers, Sheraton World, Pan Am Airlines, KJR Radio and Week End. Katies picture, submitted by her parents for the contest, was judged the cutest by customers of the Marysville Payn Save store. Theyve still got lots of photo-taking to do, said contest spokesman John Snyder. Who knows? Maybe some more cute kid photos. Katie celebrated her first birthday on July 5, 1982. Grand Prize Winner of the Puget Sound area contest was Stephanie Perceful of Bainbridge Island. She will receive $10,000 to be awarded on her 18th birthday. Contest runner up was Joshua Holstrom, 6 of Blain, who won a trip for four to Floridas Disney World.

50 Years Ago 1957

Appointment of Frank Benny Mardon as a City Councilman has been announced by Mayor Gerald Dudley. His confirmation to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Ernest Virgil is expected at the next meeting of the Council Monday. Mardon, a resident of north Beach Street, will represent the newly annexed area to the north of the city. He has been a mail carrier for many years and is well thought of through out the community.