Cherry Grove Community House and Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cherry Grove Community House and Theatre
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 180 Bayview Walk, Cherry Grove, New York |
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| Built | 1947 |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000373 |
| Added to NRHP | June 4, 2013 |
The Cherry Grove Community House and Theatre is an important historic building located in Cherry Grove, New York. It played a big role in making Cherry Grove a special and welcoming place for many people.
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History of Cherry Grove
Fire Island is a long, thin island off the coast of Long Island in New York. In the late 1800s, it became easier to reach Fire Island by train and ferry. Soon, many resorts opened, including Cherry Grove. By the 1920s, Cherry Grove was known as a friendly and open place for all visitors.
Building a Community House
The people living in Cherry Grove created a group called the Cherry Grove Property Owners Association in 1944. This group helped manage the community. They had committees for things like money, art, the beach, and fire safety.
In 1945, the group decided to buy an old carriage house. They wanted to turn it into a community house for everyone to use. After fixing it up, they formed a board of directors in 1946. This new community house was used for important town meetings, like elections. It also hosted fun social events, such as religious gatherings and fairs. People living in Cherry Grove often gave items to help furnish the building.
The Cherry Grove Theatre Opens
In 1948, the Property Owners Association started an "Artistic Activity Group." This group began putting on plays at the community house. At that time, there were no other live theater shows on the island. The Saturday night shows became very popular because so many people wanted to see them.
Famous theater professionals helped create these shows. These included Frank Carrington, who started the Paper Mill Playhouse, and Cheryl Crawford, who helped create the Actors Studio. Even well-known actors from Broadway and Hollywood, like Peggy Fears and Nancy Walker, performed there.
In 1948, another fundraising event helped pay for a large addition to the theater. The Cherry Grove Theatre became a safe and creative place for people in the community and their guests. The plays often talked about important topics for the community.
A Historic Landmark
The Cherry Grove Theatre is the oldest continuously running summer theater for its community in the United States. It was officially recognized as a historic place on June 4, 2013. The National Park Service added it to the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of only a few places listed because of its special connection to the history of welcoming communities.
See also
