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On Saturday night, as it has done for nearly a century, the Winthrop Auditorium embraced the community, opening its door to valley old-timers and newcomers, babies and elders, cowboys and ranchers, and territory folks of all types.
At the Barn Appreciation dinner, residents and visitors spanning nearly four generations showed up to celebrate the Barn and its role in this community, as well as to partake in a hearty dinner, listen to live music, and look at photos commemorating the Barn’s rebuilding in the early 1980s.
Winthrop Auditorium Association President Rick Northcott must have been running on fumes after a busy couple of weeks organizing the event, but as some 200 guests lined up to go through the buffet line, Rick finally got a chance to relax and look around the room, noting with satisfaction the excellent turnout. “Free food has a tendency to bring people out,” Rick said with a smile, but acknowledged that people’s attendance was more an endorsement from the heart than an answer to rumbling stomachs.
I asked a few people why they had come out for the dinner. John and Agnes Almquist, who have lived here for 43 years, said simply “We appreciate the Barn and all it offers this community.”
Roxie and Carl Miller, the latter of whom was raised in a homestead out on the Gunn Ranch Road, said “There’s so much history here. Everybody uses this place. It’s such an important structure in our community.”
Seth Miles, who moved to the valley in 2007, says that the concept of the community volunteer effort to rebuild the Barn reminds him of community projects in his tiny hometown of Stehekin. “In small rural places like the Methow Valley and Stehekin,” he said, “certain efforts require the participation of the entire community if they’re to be successful. The rebuilding of the Barn is a testament to that spirit of participation.”
Dave Hobbs, who has been in the valley on and off since 1982, said “It just seemed like a good idea to come down and see everybody,” echoing the draw that has brought Methow Valley residents out of hibernation for the past one hundred springs. At the end of winter, most of us do crave some good old-fashioned socializing.
Winthrop Auditorium Association Vice-president Keith Rowland found himself reminded of the valley’s old-timers who have since passed, as well as those who were in attendance. Keith was touched by the patronage shown by those who came out for the dinner. “This is really something else,” he said, nodding at a basket of paperwork noting new memberships and indicating that some anonymous donations had already been received. “It’s overwhelming to see this enthusiasm for the Barn.
But it was Alan Parker who seemed to sum up the predominant sentiment of the evening, saying as he walked in the door, “I had to come down here, I love the Barn.”
The Winthrop Barn got about all the love it could handle last Saturday as locals packed the place for Barn Appreciation night. The free event included dinner, music and prizes. Historic photographs documenting the Barn’s construction in the early 1980s were also on display. Winthrop Mayor Sally Ranzau and her husband, Wayne, enjoyed the event at a center table. The town owns the Barn, which is operated by the nonprofit Winthrop Auditorium Association, host of last weekend’s dinner. Auditorium Association President Rick Northcott welcomed everyone to the event.
