Happy New Year to all of Ramona from your mayor. As we contemplate what 2021 will bring, I have a few wishes/concerns for our community.
First, transportation. I think that State Highway 67 has been ignored long enough and should be brought up to standard as the heavily used road that it is. We need and deserve safe roads coming into our community.
Second, Ramona Hall Town is now 126 years old, and our Town Hall is one of the very few remaining in the nation. It also promises to be a vibrant venue for community gatherings, performances, film screenings, lectures, events, gallery exhibits and meetings in the years to come.
Construction to bring our auditorium back to life is the next phase in restoration. This phase will include new north and south walls, a seismic retrofit, a steel structural frame to maintain the integrity of the building and a new roof. You won’t notice any of this as it will all be covered with adobe brick in the style of the late 1800’s.
Renovating a historic building is not inexpensive. Since Town Hall is on the National of Historic Places, attention to detail and correct historicity is essential. And we want an elegant venue of which we can be proud — a performance venue that is state-of-the-art. We’re proud of our history and we want to save its legacy for future generations.
It will take about $2.5 million to complete the restoration. This phase will cost around $250,000. But that will get the walls back in place and make the building safe. I’m excited by this — and hope we are able to raise the funds to get it started.
Ramona Town Hall was completed in February 1894 at a cost of $17,000, donated by The Barnett family. The Barnetts established an unpaid five-member board of trustees in perpetuity to ister the Town Hall’s operation and upkeep. For over 120 years, the Ramona Town Hall has operated solely on private donations, fundraisers, grant funds and rent collected for use of the building.
The Town Hall is not owned by the Town Hall Board of Trustees, nor is it a public agency. Each resident of the town of Ramona owns the Town Hall.
The Ramona Town Hall is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization (ID # 51-0147121) and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Finally, my third desire for Ramona is additional non-motorized trails, specifically, Santa Maria Creek Greenway. This will be a San Diego County linear park/trail from the Wellfield Park to Ramona Grasslands. Imagine a safe, healthy path, and some part ADA compliant, for Ramonans to travel by bike, horse or foot, along a creek, through town and beyond. Please visit Santa Maria Creek Greenway facebook page for ways to become involved.
Again, a Happy Healthy New Year to all!
John Degenfelder is honorary mayor of Ramona
