by Carol A. Muratore
Many people are not aware that The Greater Reedville Association (GRA) was formed in 1988 by members of the area wishing to bring the community together. They wanted to offer both the long-standing residents and newcomers venues to learn about the history and enjoy events together.
The not-for-profit entity owns both The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum (RFM) and Festival Halle.
GRA board member and Festival Halle committee chairman Diane McGuire describes it as the two legs of the entity. If you lose one leg, it negatively affects the other.
Unfortunately, Festival Halle needs repairs and has been closed since 2022. The old wood floors need to be taken up so the joists underneath the building can be repaired or replaced and then new wood flooring installed. This alone could cost $500,000, or more. This should come as no surprise since the structure was built in 1909.
Festival Halle was originally built to serve as the Northumberland High School. At some point the building was sold. Ralph A. Birkel donated the large building to The GRA in 2008 in memory of his parents Anton and Augusta. As part of the arrangement, Festival Halle cannot be sold. It can be conveyed to another…
