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Pearce Auditorium
Photos by
R. Kiefer |
View from the balcony
Pearce Auditorium during Convocation |
In late 1895, a meeting of the Gainesville, Ga.,
townspeople discussed the need for a new auditorium. Dr. A.W. Van Hoose
and Dr. Haywood Jefferson Pearce, president of Brenau University from
1893-1943, asked the community to lend Brenau $10,000 without interest for
five years for the construction of an auditorium. The funds were raised in
a short period, and the contract for the construction was signed April 1,
1896.
The auditorium was completed within only a year and dedicated May 21,
1897, as "the largest of its kind in the South." Nearly 67 years later on
March 26, the auditorium was dedicated in honor of Pearce. |
Pearce Auditorium
during springIn 1978 the building was
named to the National Register of Historical Places,
along with other on the Brenau campus.
Three years later it was closed for renovations and then reopened in the
spring of 1984. |
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"It's difficult to imagine Brenau University without Pearce
Auditorium. In fact, it is hard to imagine Gainesville without Pearce
Auditorium," said John W. Jacobs Jr., chairman of the Brenau board of
trustees, as he began the centennial observance of the dedication of
Pearce Auditorium. The audience
heard Jacobs give a presentation of the auditorium's history and then
shared memories of the auditorium and Pearce. Sissy Lawson, granddaughter
of Pearce and member of the Gainesville City Council, read a proclamation
from Gainesville Mayor Jim West outlining the history of Pearce Auditorium
and declaring May 21, 1997 as Pearce Auditorium Day in Gainesville. |
The year-long celebration began in May
1997, with a dinner hosted by President John S. Burd, for the 30
descendants of Pearce. Pearce played a significant role in building the
tradition of excellence in both the educational and performing arts
programs.
At right: Pearce
Auditorium in the fall. |
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addition to its wide usage by such local groups as The Arts Council, the
Gainesville Theatre Alliance, the Gainesville Ballet, the Gainesville
Symphony Orchestra and others, Pearce Auditorium has been the site of many
famous speakers. Helen Keller, Will Durant, Ted Shawn, Ruth St. Dennis,
Martin Luther King Sr., Letitia Baldridge, Robert Peters, Williams
Warwick, Dan Rather, Jane Fonda and Maria Von Trapp spoke or performed in
Pearce. The Arts Council has welcomed additional guests in recent years as
part of its Pearce Series, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the
New York City Opera, the Joffery II Ballet, the Vienna Boys Choir, Ramsey
Lewis, Dave Brubeck, Herbie Mann, Chuck Mangione,
Steve Allen and Loretta Switt. |
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Every season lends its own
lighting to Centennial Park and the Auditorium, producing a special charm
that is as changing as it is ever-present.
Shown at right: Pearce
Auditorium during winter.
Left: Outdoor
floodlights lend a particular splendor to the building at night. |
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Visit the Brenau Artsweb for a
calendar of upcoming
events. |
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