PORT TOWNSEND — More people looking to score a few items from the Boiler Room are expected at the second “internal rummage sale” Saturday.
The sales — the first was last Saturday — also provide closure for many.
Saturday’s sale will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Boiler Room at 711 Water St.
The nonprofit’s board voted unanimously Sept. 19 to cease operations of the popular teen venue, citing financial difficulties and saying the Boiler Room had unintentionally veered from its mission as a safe place for youth to operating a day shelter for the homeless.
The coffeehouse had closed in August.
Executive Director Amy Howard stood behind the counter of the Boiler Room last Saturday morning as several people milled about, finding treasures.
“We actually opened a half hour early,” she said. “I had someone waiting outside as I arrived. There have been a lot of friendly faces. The only person who haggled with me today haggled up.”
That sale netted about $2,000.
“I’ve had people from out of town saying they always come here,” Howard said. “They bought all of the napkins. People have been quite generous.”
Among the items offered were several dozen National Geographic magazines from the 1960s and ’70s, toilet paper, hand soap, teas and syrups, a stand mixer, bake ware, art and art supplies, furniture and a few guitars.
This Saturday’s sale will include kitchen items, art and art supplies, instruments, office supplies, mementos and furniture.
Buyers are expected to make offers, “and we ask that you be generous. All funds raised now will lessen the burden on the Boiler Room reboot,” according to Boiler Room’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PTBoilerRoom.
Howard said that the Boiler Books — archives of notes left by those who have used the place — the B logo, some of the art and other memorabilia have been put in storage.
“We’re not selling the heart of the BR,” the Facebook post said.
“Rough plans right now are that we are putting the building up for sale,” Howard said. “We’ll be paying off all the debts and the mortgage.
“Whatever money is left we will be probably working with the Jefferson Community Foundation to create a youth symposium and create youth momentum around what happens next.”
Howard is adamant that the community’s youth have a say in whatever the Boiler Room redux looks like.
“I’m not dictating what happens next,” she said. “The board isn’t dictating what happens next. The Port Townsend youth get to say what they want and need.
“The Boiler Room organization isn’t going away as a nonprofit. It will morph into something else. This is an opportunity to start fresh with a cash-flush organization. We’ll have money left over after we pay the bills so they won’t be starting from nothing like the original Boiler Room did.”
Volunteer Torren Snyder, 26, of Port Townsend has been coming to the Boiler Room for the past six years.
“I’ve been needing closure here,” Snyder said. “No one is really happy to do this. The Boiler Room has done a lot for me. It’s done a lot of good things for the whole community.”
Last Saturday, he said he was helping out at the sale and recalling some personal memories.
“This is the first guitar that I ever played,” he explained as he strummed a few notes. “It’s a Johnson. It’s been here probably longer than any other guitar.
“We’ve had some that were taken outside and got left on the street. Some have been broken. But this one survived. It has dings, but it sounds fine. It says ‘established 1993,’ the same year as the Boiler Room.
“If it weren’t for this place, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I wouldn’t be playing music. I would probably still be on a sinking boat and I would not have as many things as I have— friends, community. I wouldn’t have my sobriety.”
For more information, see www.facebook.com/PTBoilerRoom.
Howard also can be reached at amy@ptbr.org.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
