by Benjamin Mandile
RATON — City officials in Raton are working to preserve “a much loved historical building” through infrastructure improvements at the downtown cultural attraction.
Raton officials pushed forward an effort to improve the Shuler Theater, approving a $55,000 contract for design work relating to utility upgrades at the state historical landmark.
Raton City Commission approved the contract 5-0 during a regular session Tuesday, Jan. 23, pushing the multi-phase effort forward.
The latest in a multi-year effort to maintain the 109-year institution, this approval includes planning for electrical and plumbing upgrades.
City officials are looking to address sections of the theater’s electrical system that still have cloth wiring — an outdated wire system that can pose health and fire dangers, according to industry professionals — and, if the budget allows, replace potable water lines, Jaden Welch, Raton City Engineer, said in an email.
Welch said the electrical system had been addressed as recently as 2019, but that “apparently not all cloth wiring was updated.”
“At the risk of sounding dramatic, we do not want an electrical fire to destroy the building,” he said. He noted in an email that the theater also saw electric system improvements for the main-floor front office in 2017.
The project will bring the facility’s electrical system up to current code and allow for “best reliability and safety practices.”
Raton Mayor Pro-Tem Lori Chatterley called the project “desperately needed.”
The city also hopes to replace galvanized potable water lines and will consider a replacement of cast iron sewer lines at the theater — which is expected to “improve water delivery and maintain serviceability by replacing pipes that have exceeded their expected life,” Welch said.
“In theory this should reduce the risk of leaks developing in aged pipes,” he said.
Currently, the city is projecting to not have funding to include the sewer line replacement in this round of infrastructure improvements.
The overall project is totalled at $351,700 at the minimum — with funds stemming from a mixture of capital outlay funds, private donations, and a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant.
Raton City Manager Rick Mestas said the “much loved historical building” receives ongoing maintenance, but said the facility is “old.” He said the theater saw “some” electrical work within the last few months. The scope of that work was not clear.
“The Shuler Theater is an old building in need of a myriad of repairs and maintenance,” Mestas said via email. “This action is for the utility upgrade at the Shuler Theater Building for the eventual upgrade [and in some cases, replacement of the plumbing and electrical.]
Welch said design work is currently underway with the contract approval, but indicated it was too early to provide a timeline for construction completion.
The commission awarded the contract to Carlsbad-based Mitchell & Cruse Architecture, LLC.
The southern New Mexico-based firm has 50 years of combined experience in a variety of specialties, including historical renovation and commercial work, according to its website.
According to Mestas and a proposal submitted to the commission, Mitchell & Cruse Architecture, LLC, will be responsible for providing a project investigation and assessment in compliance with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, coordination with all stakeholders through the design review, oversee compliance reviews as required by funding agencies, manage the design phase from preliminary design through bidding and permitting, engaging in the bidding process and overseeing construction administration through the duration of the project.
The latest approval follows improvements last year, including improvements to the rear-loading bay.
A “small” project to recarpet the theater is also expected. Details on that were not immediately available.
The Shuler Theater — which saw its first production in April 1915 after being opened under Raton’s first mayor, Dr. J.J. Shuler, according to the theater’s website — is owned and operated by the City of Raton.
The region has recently seen it used for cultural events such as the Colexico Experience Spaghetti and Westerns Fest and The Chief Comedy & Bicycle Festival.
