Mulkey fundraising climbs past $11k

The Mulkey Theatre was in the news again this week, this time on the front page of Tuesday’s Amarillo Globe-News, and fundraising has now passed the halfway point for restoring the marquee.

Globe-News reporter Cheryl Berzanskis and photographer Stephen Spillman spent Friday morning exploring the theatre and visiting with Clarendon Economic Development Corp. board members Roger Estlack and Bill Stavenhagen.

The well-written piece highlighted the history of the Mulkey and its namesake, Homer Mulkey, and also focused on the continuing effort to raise money to “Bring Back the Mulkey.”

As of this week, more than $11,000 has been raised or pledged, which is more than halfway to the $20,000 goal set by the CEDC and the Mulkey Advisory Committee. If that much money can be raised, the CEDC will pursue restoring and lighting the theatre’s marquee, a project that is estimated to cost about $35,000.

One of the principal fundraising efforts is for donors to sponsor one of the 12 letters spelling MULKEY on the north and south faces of the theatre’s marquee for $1,000 each. Eight of those letters have already been sponsored.

Donors who give $50 or more will be recognized inside the theatre, and donations can be made to Donley County Historical Commission, PO Box 905, Clarendon, TX 79226 and note “Mulkey” in the memo of your check.

Clarendon’s downtown merchants are also supporting the effort by selling paper light bulbs which can be purchased for $1 and are displayed in stores downtown.

The Mulkey project was also bolstered earlier this month when the CEDC and the City of Clarendon approved measures to create a visitor’s center in the theatre’s old barber shop. The CEDC is committed to using its own funds to renovate that space, and city aldermen have agreed to cover the cost of utilities out of Motel Bed Tax funds. The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce has also expressed its support of the visitor’s center, which would also be used as office space for the Chamber.

The Clarendon Enterprise plans to print a series of Mulkey Memories submitted by readers and project supporters. You can share your memories of good times at the Mulkey by writing or e-mailing the paper, visiting www.ClarendonLive.com, or posting comments on the Enterprise pages on Facebook.

For more information about how you can help “Bring Back the Mulkey,” visit www.ClarendonEDC.org or check out www.facebook.com/mulkeytheatre.