Dramatic Ending: AACT Says Bye To Fire Hall; Its Verse Is Applauded By All

Dramatic ending: AACT says bye to fire hall; Its verse is applauded by all

In a graceful last act, the Ann Arbor Civic Theater lowered the curtain for good on its months-long effort to acquire the old downtown fire hall.

The group bowed out in favor of a proposed children’s group. AACT played its part in a spirit of Christmas generosity and in verse that drew delighted applause from the audience :

“With malice toward none and with goodwill toward all.”

THE THEATRE group gave the old fire station to organizers of the “hands-on” museum as a Christmas gift and relieved the council of a hard choice between two widely supported programs.

The council earlier this month ordered the vacant fire hall split between the theater and museum groups. But the theater group said there is not enough space for both organizations.

In the past few weeks, the AACT has explored several alternative sites, including the Michigan Theater and the Elks Hall. Other sites included the old county jail, the old downtown post office and a vacant lot on Liberty Street.

MARK E. BOWLES, president of the AACT, in formally announcing the group’s decision, read a hastily composed ode to dramatize the compromise. A partial text of the verse:

Twas the night before council,

and in A A C T

Discussion was stirring

Over what was to be.

The Board, in its wisdom

And I, overweight

Had just settled down

to an evening’s debate

The proposal had been hung

on Sy’s wall with great care

In hopes that a firehouse

Theatre would be there.

But on previous Mondays

There had arose such a clatter

Over hands-on museums

(a very popular matter)

That the council was cautious

To not become rash.

To weigh both proposals

To creep, and not crash.

The weeks, they passed slowly,

And we all held our breath

Till our toes became numb

and I near choked to death.

And then what to our wondering eyes

should appear

A compromise settlement

We all gave a cheer!

But when we checked out the details

and really went through it

We knew in a moment

We just couldn’t do it.

For as much as we liked

The hands-on museum,

The square feet just weren’t there

We just couldn’t see ’em.

So reluctantly, said we

We have to go it alone

And we’ll check the alternatives

And leave unturned not a stone.

So with malice toward none

and good will toward men,

Let me end with a statement

heard now and again,

You’ll hear me exclaim

As I end our long fight

Merry Christmas to All,

And to All a good night!