CALUMET — The Calumet Theatre Chandelier Society’s project to replace a large chandelier that once hung in the auditorium of the theater received a generous donation on Thursday that puts the project a giant leap closer to completion.

The Keweenaw Health Foundation provided a $15,000 check to support the Jim Enrietti Diamond Jubilee Chandelier restoration project. Jenn Jenich-Laplander, Executive Director of the KHF, presented the check to Enrietti in the second balcony of the theater, near where the replacement chandelier will hang.

“This significant contribution will aid in replacing the historic chandelier that once graced the ceiling of the historic Calumet Theater,” Laplander said, “which was sadly destroyed by the fire in the rear stage area during the 19-teens.”

In 1918, a three-alarm fire severely damaged the stage of the theater. Although and asbestos curtain, used as a fire barrier between the stage and the auditorium, was in the lowered position, the heat was so intense that the copper chandelier in the auditorium melted.

Built in 1900, the Calumet Theatre, also once referred to as the Red Jacket Opera House, was designed and constructed at the height of America’s Gilded Age. It reflects the wealth of the community at the time., as well as the wealth of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, to which the village owed its wealth and culture. The first municipally-owned theater in America, the venue has been well maintained, and today is one of the finest preserved examples of a theater of its time in the Midwest.

“This project is more than just about replacing a chandelier,” said Enrietti. “It’s about honoring our history and ensuring that future generations can appreciate the beauty and significance of our past. We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Keweenaw Health Foundation. Their generous donation brings us closer to realizing our vision of restoring the Diamond Jubilee Chandelier.”

Enrietti said the donation puts the Chandelier Society in the financial position to now move forward with the first phase of the project. That is to contract an engineer to study the beams and supports above the ceiling that held the original chandelier, and determine if any alterations are necessary, and how much weight can safely be suspended from the beam. Once those factors are determined, a chandelier fitting those proportions can then be selected and installed.

As Laplander stated in her release, the KHF’s donation will play a key role in the successful steps in the completion of the restoration project, helping to cover costs associated with an engineer weight study, electrical work and acquiring and installing a replica of the original chandelier. The restored chandelier will once again illuminate the historic Calumet Theater, serving as a lasting tribute to the community’s resilience and cultural heritage.

“If everything goes well,” said Enrietti, “by July of 2025, we should have a chandelier in that space.”

A major problem for all involved is that although there are some descriptions of the original chandelier, there is no know photograph of it known to exist.

For that reason, Calumet Theatre Company Board President Dan Jamison has said the Theatre Company has a standing offer a free lifetime membership to the first person who provides a photograph or illustration of the original chandelier.

Jamison said he read a quote describing the chandelier as looking like a dandelion that was just about ready to go to seed.

“Big, round, airy, light,” said Jamison. “There was something like 150 light bulbs in it.”

“Our mission is to enhance the well-being of our community through impactful initiatives and partnerships,” Laplander said when presenting the check. “Supporting the restoration of the Diamond Jubilee Chandelier aligns perfectly with our commitment to preserving the cultural fabric of our region. This project not only restores a historic artifact but also revitalizes a symbol of community pride and heritage.”