Athena’s Gem, Inc, is a nonprofit, 501c(3) tax exempt organization with a purpose and goal of renovating the 1901 Gem Theatre building located in downtown Athena, Oregon. The project also includes the renovation of the Star Saloon next door, rebuilding it in an Old West-style facade.

The Project

The Gem Theatre began as a project in 2003 when the building was donated to the City of Athena for the express purpose of renovating it as a theatre and community meeting space.  The building gift came with $1,500 which was used to conduct the initial survey of the building.  When the survey indicated that the building could be saved, a standing city committee was established with four members.  Early efforts focused on airing out the building, parts of which had been closed up for many years and removing a century of accumulated junk using donated labor from the committee members and anyone else willing to lend a hand.

With city assistance, the old fixed awning over the sidewalk and the old electrical systems were disconnected/removed as safety concerns.  No one knew much about the early history of the building, so many hours were spent researching county records, reading newspaper microfilm and seeking out photographs.

The City of Athena expressed a desire to disconnect the municipality from the project.  The committee members raised the money and created the organizational framework necessary to found a non profit and upon recognition in June of 2006, the City of Athena deeded the property/project to Athena’s Gem, Inc.  The project thus began it’s second life with six members and $500.  The first hurdles included liability insurance, raising money for a feasibility study and commencing volunteer driven demolition of the interior of the building.

In 2007 Athena’s Gem arranged for a Ford Institute Community Leadership Class to be brought to Adams, Athena, Helix and Weston.  The outcome of this class includes a class project.  The masonry façade of the theatre was selected by the class with funding provided by the Ford Institute, the Wildhorse Foundation and AWERE.  With volunteer labor, three layers of paint (using an approved method) were removed from the brick façade and the entire front repointed by a professional mason in the summer and fall of 2008.  Completion of this first project unfortunately coincided with the collapse of Wall Street.  With funding sources in very short supply, the Gem board decided to move forward with small projects using small funding sources and a large amount of volunteer sweat equity.

These projects have included:

Theatre marquee and new stucco front (2009) West wall masonry restoration (2009-2010) Back wall removal/repair and seismic steel frame installation (2009-2010) Star Saloon front (recreation of compartment’s original 1901 saloon façade (2010-11) Digital architectural model (2012) Removal of auditorium floor and new concrete slab (2013) Fire/safety code consultation in Salem (2013) Commission and completion of full plan set (2014)

Athena’s Gem members have logged over 3000 hours of volunteer labor working on all projects to bring us to this point.  The board now has thirteen members.  One of the original four committee members remains and intends to see things through to the end.   We are at a crossroads where moving forward means bigger scope and much more funding.  In November of 2013 Athena’s Gem received it’s first major financial gift with a $200,000.00 Incentive Grant from the Ford Family Foundation, to be dispersed once matching dollars are obtained.  Athena’s Gem is grant writing towards the match and beginning a new local fundraiser with engraved brick pavers that will ultimately net $52,000.00.

The Board

The Board and Executive Committee of Athena’s Gem, Inc., manage and operate the organization on a day to day basis. Members represent a diverse cross section of the community with a collective guiding wisdom to lead the project’s activities

Executive Committee

Board Members at Large

Deborah Hayward	Business owner
Chris Mayer	EOTC Facility Coordinator (retired), former city councilor
Bill Muilenburg	Mechanic, youth activity volunteer
Sam Pambrun	Umatilla Morrow ESD Curriculum Director (retired)
Lloyd Shank	Business owner
Chuck Swanson	Mechanic, (retired), Hodaka liaison

History of The Gem

Please read our article covering the history of the building leading up to our renovation project which started in 2004 with the acquirement of the Gem from the city of Athena.