Beneath the Streets misses goal, extends fundraising through next year

Havre Beneath the Streets has been unable to raise the funds needed this year for the matching grant to make repairs to several of its exhibits, Havre Beneath the Streets Office Manager Christy Owens said, but fundraising efforts will continue until next year when they can try to apply for the grant again.

“We have not met the goal that we wanted to try to get it completed at this time, but we are still continuing our fundraising efforts,” she said.

She added that raffle tickets for a 2019 Can-Am Outlander four-wheeler, donated by Red’s Auto-Electric, are still for sale. She said the quadrunner will be raffled by the end of the month and she hopes they are able to get all the tickets sold. Tickets are available at Beneath the Streets, Red’s Auto-Electric, the Havre Eagles Club, Hill County Printing and Northern Home Essentials and are $20 each, or six for $100.

The drawing will be in September and the winner does not need to be present at the drawing to win.

The quadrunner will also be showcased in this year’s Festival Days Parade, she said.

She added that Beneath the Streets will be open at its normal hours throughout Festival Days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Owens said that starting Monday, Havre Beneath the Streets will be shifting into its winter hours and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

In the following year, she said, Beneath the Streets will continue to hold more fundraisers so they can hopefully file for the tourism grant next year. People are also welcome to make donations. 

Beneath the Streets is raising funds to make repairs to the sidewalk in front of the Eagles Club which has leaks which flood into the Beneath the Streets mercantile, dentists office, post office and the auto shop rooms. The leaks were found at the beginning of this year and forced Beneath the Streets to close the exhibits. A few artifacts had already been damaged and are in need of repair.

It is also looking to make some improvements to the tour by making it more handicap accessible. Beneath the Streets is looking at an $80,000 tourism grant, which is a two-to-one match grant, and needs to raise $40,000 before it is able to apply.

It is the most expensive repairs they have had since first creating the Beneath the Streets exhibits in the 1990s.

Beneath the Streets has held several fundraisers in the past year, including a Havre Eagles Talent Find and a Roaring ‘20s event. 

People can walk in and donate to the sidewalk fund at the Eagles Club or at Havre Beneath the Streets. People can also donate to the Sidewalk Fund for Havre Beneath the Streets at Bear Paw Credit Union.

All donations are tax deductible and Havre Beneath the Streets can write people a receipt for their donations.