Mattinson explained that the historic opera house is located on the second floor of the town hall. She said the Heritage Commission maintains and leases the opera house and dressing room areas - where the windows were replaced.
“They really had desperately needed new windows to preserve the costumes we have there and to make sure rain isn’t running down the walls and destroying the brick work," Mattinson said.
The Springfield Foundation awarded $1,900 for the replacement of two windows, Susan Carey, director of grants and scholarships at the Springfield foundation said.
“The Springfield Foundation Board of Trustees provided the grant because it benefited both the Village and the Heritage Commission Corporation and provides grant support to eastern Clark County," Carey said.
Victoria Sorg, director of development and marketing at the Springfield Foundation said, “We receive requests from a variety of nonprofits all throughout Clark County and our mission is to raise and distribute funds to Clark County."
She added that once they receive a grant request, a grant committee looks over the request and takes a vote.
The windows that were replaced were original, dating from 1878-1879 when the town hall was built by Edward Edwards, who built many of the historic structures in South Charleston, Mattinson said.
She said the village is in a “unique position” of having a building that has been existence for that long.
“It provides South Charleston with a sense of community and a central identification - we’re known for the opera house and we want to preserve it for future years," Mattinson said.
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