Pump House Center for the Arts accepting donations to Fix Our Bricks

Shelby Reeves, Chillicothe Gazette
·3 min read
Director of the Pump House John Payne shows some of the damaged bricks on the building. He said this damage goes all around the building.
Director of the Pump House John Payne shows some of the damaged bricks on the building. He said this damage goes all around the building.

CHILLICOTHE— The Pump House Center for the Arts has been a central location for various forms of art in the community for many years.

The center is now looking for donations to help upkeep the building through the Fix Our Bricks campaign.

Before becoming the art hub of the community the Pump House was the pumping station for the Chillicothe Water and Sewer Company. Starting in 1883 the building would distribute water to a reservoir to be used for fire hydrants and eventually homes. In 1977, the Pump House was placed on the Ohio History Inventory and in 1979, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places kept by the U.S. Department of Interior. In 1984 the building was deemed unsafe and condemned until 1986 when several local groups got together to fix and preserve the building turning it into an art gallery.

Architecturally the Pump House is an example of Victorian Gothic architecture and features a large central tower with Palladian windows, common-bond brick and a low-pitched, hipped slate roof according to the Pump House's website.

The Fix Our Bricks campaign was recently started by the Pump House to raise funds for needed exterior repair and restoration. Several brick, stone supports and lentils need to be replaced to maintain the safety of the building. Director of the Pump House John Payne said without the work he is doubtful the building will survive the next century.

"If we don't do something, I'm worried about the structural stability of this whole thing," said Payne.

This work is estimated to cost over $300,000 to complete. To help raise money the Pump House has applied for $129,000 from the Ohio Facilities Commission, the rest of the funds will have to be raised locally or through other grants.

Donations are now being accepted online, through the Pump House website, and in person. Tier one donors, who give $1,000, will receive a brass plate affixed to an interior wall brick of the Pump House. This plate will feature the engraved name of the donor. These plates on the wall bricks will be a permanent fixture. Tier two donors, who give $500, will have their names engraved on plates affixed to a large wooden plaque to be hung inside the Pump House. In addition to these large donations, smaller donations are also welcome.

"We will take any amount, even a dollar," said Payne. "It doesn't matter what the giving level is, we just want people to get behind this project."

The fund-raising committee for the Pump House is also planning on putting on several events to help raise money such as art auctions, drawings, lessons, a dinner and a concert. The dinner will take place on Oct. 19 at the Postmark event center and the concert will take place on July 27 at the Pump House. Payne said the Pump House will need to have the money raised for this project by the end of the year.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Pump House Center for the Arts accepting donations to Fix Our Bricks