New Seats for the Auditorium

OLD seats in the Auditorium are to be replaced by NEW seats from the Tivoli Theater in May, 2025. The existing seats shown are marked with signs indicating required spaced seating during COVID in 2020.

New seats taken from the Tivoli Theater in downtown Chattanooga are expected to replace the old seats that were installed in about 1949. The Auditorium seats 200 and is available for rent.

American flags with only 48 stars are still proudly displayed along the walls inside the Auditorium. The building was constructed in 1921 by the local people, and local volunteers will remove the old seats and install the new ones after they clean, sand, and refinish the floors.

IN 1921, the Auditorium was built by the local people who covered the exterior with pine boards and battens. Notice the shed roof, and the sign above the door. The original sign was found stored in the basement. In 2023, the sign was placed over the stage inside. Local citizens will again do the work of replacing the board and batten siding.

After they removed the shakes to see the materials and construction of the walls, board members Neal Cox, Vicki Love, and Mark Dwyer, left to right, listen as Johanne Albright comments on the old shakes. See a close view of the same wall section, below.

This close up view of the old shakes shows how they are badly deteriorated and are disintegrating. These shakes were on the wall in the same spot pictured above. Next comes repair and installation of insulation before house wrap and finally white-oak siding is applied by volunteers.

President Mark Dwyer shows the white-oak lumber that has been seasoning for two years in a drying kiln in the basement of the Auditorium. The lumber was harvested from trees on Signal Mountain, sawn by a local mill, and arranged in perfectly flat courses to await installation now. Volunteers will install the siding. 

The children love playing under the tree in a special place set aside just for them at the Birthday Bash. Volunteers are needed to help with the children and in other areas such as the games for grown-ups and kids.

The hayride is a favorite with children and adults alike. Here Andy Jones drives the wagon pulled by the antique tractor loaned to WRCL by attorney Dave Evans. Volunteers have a good time supervising loading and unloading the happy passengers.

Enjoy FREE cake and ice cream to celebrate the 104th anniversary of building the Auditorium. Won't you volunteer to help at a table? It's easy "work" and you get to visit with everyone who comes to celebrate.

      Storytellers entertained at the third annual TELL IT on the MOUNTAIN  April 5, 2024. We look forward to hosting another storytelling event next spring.

        WRCL offers four seasonal events every year: TELL IT on the MOUNTAIN in spring; the BIRTHDAY BASH in summer, SMOKE on the MOUNTAIN in fall, and a MERRY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS the last Friday before Christmas.

Signal Mt. Mirror published a story about saving the structures at Walden's Ridge Civic League. The buildings are badly in need of restoration.

A Happy Fiddler remains only as a Ghost on the front of the Auditorium. Note the siding is badly deteriorated and needs replacing. 

Thanks to Senators Bo Watson & Randy McNally and Representatives Patsy Hazlewood & Cameron Sexton for Tennessee Senate Proclamation honoring 100 years