by Bailey White
Staff Writer
By July 26, the first phase of the restoration project at the Snyder Music Center, home of the St. John’s River City Band, will be complete.
Work on the plumbing, electrical and fire sprinkler systems is finished and a stage has been built in the space that was formerly an alter at the old Snyder Memorial Methodist Church.
But there’s still a lot to be done, and the Jacksonville Jaycees are hosting a Mid-Summer Soiree July 26 at the building to help raise funds for the second phase of construction.
“We really wanted to do a fundraising event that was related to historic preservation this year,” said Lisa Sheppard, president of the Jaycees. “State funding for the River City Band’s restoration project fell through and we wanted to give our support to the organization’s efforts to complete their project.”
“We lost a significant chunk of our funding — a $285,000 grant — because of State funding cutbacks,” said Bobbi McGinnis, executive director of the River City Band. “That’s causing us to step back. Instead of going right into the second phase, we’ll stop construction for a while to regroup. So we’re thrilled that the Jaycees chose this project to benefit us. I think it will really help call attention to what we’re doing.”
Sheppard agreed, saying having the party at the Snyder Center will give people a sense of the historic significance of the building, constructed just after the Great Fire of 1901.
“We want people to get a feeling of the space they’re helping to raise funds for,” she said. “The church is a beautiful place to begin with, with its wonderful woodwork and stained-glass windows. And we didn’t want to hide the fact that it needs funds. There was a mezzanine area in the reception area that was taken out, which exposes the full height of the windows on the wall and part of the project is to restore them. There are areas of the floor that need to be repaired and plaster work that needs to be tended to, so people will see where their money is going.”
“People will definitely see a work in progress,” said McGinnis, adding that the Mid-Summer Soiree’s goal differs slightly from Downtown Dazzle’s, the River City Band’s annual fundraising event that was canceled a few months ago because of slow ticket sales.
“The funds raised from that event were going to be more for operations,” said McGinnis, adding that organizers for Dazzle would be meeting this week to discuss its future. “We’re talking about whether to hold it in the fall, as it was originally done, or to start over with the event next spring.”
The Mid-Summer Soiree, hosted by the Jacksonville Jaycees along with sponsor Ford, Jeter, Bowlus, Duss, Morgan, Kenney & Safer, P.A., is scheduled for July 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Snyder Music Center , 26 North Laura St. Entertainment will be provided by The St. Johns River City Band’s eight-piece Satin Swing Group and there will be a silent auction and raffle, hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Tickets are $40 before July 20 and $50 after that date. Call 399-5646 or visit www.jacksonvillejaycees.com. for more.