Save Our Steinway Moving Forward

BATES COUNTY, Mo – The Bates County Historical Society hosted a “Steinway Piano Restoration Committee Meeting” on Sunday November 16th at the Presbyterian Church in Butler. The committee meeting was hosted by Museum Director Peggy Buhr, with assistance from Sally and Rob Hatten, Donna Gregory, Donna Talbott, Dottie Esher and Chris Wimsatt.

The “Save Our Steinway” project, known as S.O.S, is a campaign that is underway to raise the necessary funds to fully restore our 1877 Steinway Model B Grand Piano. The goal is set at $ 50,000 to be raised by the deadline date of May 2015. Already, over 56 individuals and organizations have raised $18,000 to date.

The Bates County Historical Society offers this update and progress report for our citizens. The hope is that these press releases will inform and update our community of the fund raising progress and will raise awareness of our “Save Our Steinway” community project and help move steadily forward toward our deadline.

Pianist, Blair Penney, of Steinway Specialist Schmidt Music presented power points, explaining the process the piano will go through while it is restored to its original luster. Our 1877 Steinway is a handcrafted 85 key piano, in its day the Steinway was an elaborate hand carved Rosewood piece, engraved with breathtaking detail. Our Steinway piano, is crated and in storage off the museum grounds. The restoration of our community Steinway piano will not be a reality without the funds needed to refurbish this element of grace and beauty.

$50,000 will send this Steinway to New York for much needed repairs and will return to our community to become part of our Bates County history. The Steinway Grand Piano will find a home at the Bates County Museum to be available for piano recitals and other community events. Steinway Specialist Blair Penney, stressed that our investment in the Steinway will be our history in the future, standing for many to see and use for generations to come. When the Steinway is completely refurbished the piano will be valued close to $100,000 or more.

Watch for the December Issue of the Osage Valley Rural Missourian, a complete press release on what Bates County as a whole, is planning to do to raise the needed funds to restore this bit of history for our County. The media will continue to provide project reports to the public as we band together to promote the endeavors of the “Save Our Steinway” fund raising goal.

For more details regarding donations contact Museum Director, Peggy Buhr. 660-679-0134 or find her on the web at www.director@batescountymuseum.org or on Facebook at Bates County Museum. Donations may be sent to PO Box 164 Butler Missouri 64730. This organization is a 501(C) 3.

Save Our Steinway Moving Forward