Stissing Center

In 1915 philanthropist Mary Ellen Lapham Saunders, who grew up in Pine Plains with her grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Hauver) McIntyre, wanted to honor them and their family.

The widow of a wealthy manufacturer, Saunders built Memorial Hall “…to be used for the purpose of lodge meetings, lectures, concerts, banquets, fairs, celebrations, plays, entertainments” and “public and private meetings of any kind permitted by law, and for public libraries, reading rooms, gymnasiums … and for any purposed deemed beneficial for the public.”

Over the more than a century since its construction, the substantial edifice has been used for all those purposes and more—clambakes, movies, concerts, minstrel shows, theatre, square dances and even, periodically, to send soldiers off to war and to welcome them home after their service.

In 1935 Memorial Hall assumed a role not foreseen by Saunders. As “The Pine Plains Theatre” it became a movie house, screening films through the early 1960s. But its glory days were passing. Sold again in the 1970s, it was subdivided, used by a coffee shop, hair salon, laundromat and offices, eventually falling into disuse and disrepair.

The building was in danger of demolition when, in 2014, three local supporters stepped forward to buy it at auction with the goal of returning it to its original purpose. The 501(c)(3) non-profit Pine Plains Memorial Hall, Inc. was formed and, in 2015, assumed ownership. In May 2019, the building was renamed The Stissing Center and has since resumed its rightful place as a cultural and civic center for the region.

“This has been a pretty exciting project,” said Executive Director Brian Keeler. “I know it is not unique in that small towns and communities across the country have old buildings that were the center of their towns at one time and (people who) say, ‘How can we incorporate these into our lives?’ Here, we have taken this wonderful resource, a beautiful 107-year-old building, and have raised money through the community, individuals, grants and foundation support, and have renovated it and brought it up to the 21st century.”

The building offered many challenges to its restoration. “Be careful what you wish for,” Keeler quipped. “There was no electricity, no plumbing, no way to traverse the interior from one side to the other. We undertook the project in 2017 and spent three years raising money and planning. In 2018, we began construction and, in January 2019, we received an offer from Wynton Marsalis to give a benefit performance. So we entered sprint mode and between January and September we ran as fast as could to get ready for the debut performance. Unfortunately our efforts didn’t include heat or air conditioning.”

The old building was on its way, however, and ran a short season in 2019. But then, in March 2020, Covid hit. “We started our chair series,” Keeler related. “We invited artists, all of whom were out of work because of Covid, to come and sit alone with two cameras and a mic and to perform to the empty space. We then distributed the video to supporters and artists.”

Over the next 16 months of virtual programming, the Stissing Center also produced a chamber music series, LIVE! From The Stissing Center!and the Stissing Summer Variety Show.

Keeler said the enforced intermission was a blessing in disguise, giving promoters a chance to plan and continue the renovation. More than $7 million has been spent to date and work on the building continues. Keeler said a smaller performance place and kitchen is being constructed in the basement. “The Center in the Cellar is half-finished,” Keeler said. “We’re embarking on installing a kitchen which will support both the building and the community. We will also create an ‘incubator space,’ an art gallery and space for collaborative programming on the top floor.”

He said that it will cost more than another $2 million to complete the renovations over the next two to three years.

“It’s amazingly ambitious for such a small town but we have met with nothing but support and encouragement from the community and the state,” Keeler said.

But he added that becoming an arts center is only part of the mission. “Our actual goal is to become a civic and cultural center for the entire region, with the emphasis on civic,” Keeler said, adding that the center will partner with other agencies to help with challenges facing the elderly, young people and the food-challenged.

In 2021 the center was able to announce its Reopening the Doors Fall Concert Series and its second annual chamber music series. In 2022 Stissing Center launched its first full year of programming, ranging from the likes of Bruce Molsky on guitar, to Latin Grammy Award-winning artist Pedro Giraudo and his Tango Quartet, to African American jazz saxophonist Kazemde George and his quintet. Chamber Music at The Stissing Center! returned for season three and a new Keyboard Series was initiated with piano virtuosos who curated their own recitals. New kinds of events were also introduced, such as a multimedia concert, a lecture and recital combination, and a Four Hands, Two Pianos extravaganza.

The season continue through until Christmas with a schedule that includes a November 12th Veterans Day Dance with the Jukebox Junkies (proceeds going to the Pine Plains American Legion and VFW posts); Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, musicians and storytellers who performed Ashokan Farewell as the signature tune in Ken Burns’ Civil War, November 19th; Local Produce Readers Theatre’s Meetings and Greetings, an afternoon of short scenes written and performed by John Pielmeier, author of Agnes of God, November 20th; This Random World: The Myth of Serendipity by Steven Deitz, December 1st and 2nd, presented by the Stissing Theatre Guild; Windborne: Music of Midwinter, December 3rd; a family holiday event on December 10th; BYOG: Bring Your Own Guitar!, a fingerstyle workshop with master guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto, November 17th (Tsukamoto will perform in the evening), and Wilde about Whitman, a two-act comedy/drama by David Simpatico, December 18th, part of the Local Produce Readers’ Theatre 2022-2023 series.

Keeler said the Stissing Center will be quiet in January but the 2023 schedule will be announced soon. The center is located at 2950 Church Street in Pine Plains NY; (518) 771-3340; the website, click the link below.