KipCulver: Caring for the Downtown District

By: Linda Gross

Cities outgrew them long ago and towns have over looked them in a rush to attract box stores and strip malls. Yet memories of a time when the main streets of our childhood literally held the lifeblood in the community is one reason why nearly 30 years ago the National Trust for Historic Preservation developed a program to put the emphasis back on Main Street. The Program was designed to retain that elusive quality lost in Suburbia; community character, and to bring back an economic framework which would reinstate Main Street as a valuable player in a community’s future.

Globe’s own Main Street program began in 1986 when it’s eight-block commercial district was designated a Historic District. Today, it is one of just 15 Main Street communities in the State and 12,000 in the country. The success of these programs can be seen in the numbers; Since 1980 there have been 199,519 buildings rehabilitated, 82,909 businesses added to aging downtown districts, and over 40 Billion dollars invested in physical improvements through private and public sources.

Caring for Main Street

In the last four years, Globe’s Main Street Program has begun to rack up so many small successes that even to the uninitiated the Big Picture is taking shape and making itself felt by locals and visitors. The force behind many of these improvements is Main Street Director, Kip Culver who took over the position in 2005, and today heads up both Main Street and the Center for the Arts. … Continue Reading

Fundraiser for Center for the Arts

Sheriff John Armer and his wife Sue were just two of the hundred and fourty people who attended this year’s gala fund raising event for the Center for the Arts, held at the Old Depot in October. Kip Culver, the Arts Director and Main Street Director, said the fundraiser brought in over $4000 which will go towards the maintenance of the 1906 building and on going improvements (ie the much hoped-for elevator to take patrons to the third floor for plays) and other developments which serve the arts community.

Attendees were treated to special surprise thanks to Culver, and photographer, Jeanette Bronson, who set up the newly refurbished Globe (Theater) marquee as a backdrop for this years photo. Each person who bought a ticket received one complimentary photo to remember their evening. And what an evening it was! … Continue Reading