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STORIES -> Success Stories - Partnerships with Forest Service
Forest Service Partnership has Opera House Singing a New Tune
![[Photo]: The clock tower of the recently renovated Newberry Opera House in downtown Newberry.](/common/images/newberry_opera_house.jpg)
It's an evening in Newberry, S.C., and this town of 11,000 is bustling with activity as folks from
neighboring cities flock to first-rate performances at the renowned Newberry Opera House. Other tourists
dine at the many fine restaurants, crowd the coffee houses and pubs, and peek in the windows of antique
stores and gift shops. After a long evening out, visitors can stay at the newly built Hampton Inn or
enjoy a homier atmosphere at one of the local bed and breakfasts or remodeled motels.
Since the Opera House reopened in 1998, it has been a catalyst for
economic development. The Opera House presents more than 150 events annually and attracts nearly 100,000
people a year. A recent economic development study attributes nearly 52 million dollars in economic
impact to the project. For the people of Newberry, things are looking good.
But it wasn't always like this. Eight years ago, a visitor to
downtown Newberry would have met with a completely different experience. Eighty-three percent of the
nation's persistent poverty is found in the rural south, and Newberry was no exception. At that time,
more than half of the downtown buildings were vacant - the result of a loss of timber revenue and
textile jobs. Younger generations moved away in search of work, leaving Newberry with the eldest
population per capita in the state.
"Newberry had the life's blood drained from it," noted Dr. Jim
Wiseman, Chairman of the Board of the Newberry Opera House Foundation. "People's attitude was down and
downtown was decaying. There were more empty buildings than occupied ones. There were more pigeons and
hawks than people. Like a lot of small Southern towns, we were in dire straits."
But Wiseman had a vision for revitalizing the dying town that
focused on the Newberry Opera House, an imposing French Gothic structure built in 1882. He believed the
dilapidated building could be renovated into a state-of-the-art performance venue that would draw
tourists from neighboring towns, and subsequently bring in new business. He started the Newberry Opera
House Foundation and hired Deborah Smith as his director, but he still needed funding to get things
started. He found a willing partner in the U.S. Forest Service. One of the first grants the foundation
received was $16,000 through the Forest Service's Rural Community Assistance program. The money was used
to create a redevelopment plan and was also leveraged to bring in private donors.
Stephanie Neal Johnson, Rural Community Assistance Coordinator for
the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, said the Forest Service has been working with the people
of Newberry since their redevelopment project began. "We were looking for ways to work with our neighbors
and help them revitalize their economy," Johnson said. "The Economic Recovery Grant was perfect for their
situation. Since one-third of Newberry County is National Forest, our partnership seemed natural."
Since that first grant, the Forest Service has worked closely with
Deborah Smith to bring in funding through the Rural Community Assistance program. Smith says she greatly
appreciates the Forest Service's continued support. "The Forest Service got involved very early on and
caught the vision - to revitalize the community and restore the economy through tourism. They had the
initiative to help support us, and that support gave us authenticity. When we had our local fundraising,
people were more willing to give, knowing we had this big federal agency backing us up."
Johnson says the forest also benefits from this partnership. Sumter
National Forest is promoted in Newberry Opera House brochures, which reach thousands of people across
the country. Next season, the foundation is producing a play on land management issues. Called Weed,
the play describes how the Forest Service and other agencies struggle to make the right decisions on
land management while trying to accommodate the needs of nearby communities. Johnson and the foundation
board believe the play will help bring in a new and wider audience, while strengthening their
relationship with the Forest Service.
The Opera House has become a model of successful economic
development projects and a symbol of pride for the residents of Newberry. It has solidified the
community and stirred people to action. "This town has a high percentage of retirees," said Wiseman.
"Before the opera house opened, they were just sitting around, waiting for their time to come. Now, we
have 300 to 400 volunteers - these same people, but with a new attitude. The project has rejuvenated
not only the town, but also the people."
The opera house project has also made industry take notice of
Newberry. The town's industrial park sat empty for years, and attempts to draw businesses failed once
the company representatives took a look at the deteriorating town. Now the industrial park is filling
quickly, and manufacturers say their decision to relocate to Newberry was swayed by the quality of life
and the "can do" spirit personified in the Newberry Opera House.
Wiseman said, "Now people see the excitement and activity going on
around the Opera House and want to come here. They get excited, too. They want the quality of life we
have here. We are the heart of this forested area, and now we are a strong-beating heart that brings a
greater enjoyment and quality of life."
For more information contact, Stephanie Neal Johnson, Public Affairs
Officer, Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, 803-561-4091, snjohnson@fs.fed.us
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PARTNERING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE
