PORT TOWNSEND — A crowdfunding campaign designed to install holiday lights on historic buildings is short of its goal, but sponsors are optimistic about raising enough to make a difference this season.
“We want to get people to give a little because if a lot of people give a little, it adds up to a lot,” said Mari Mullen, executive director of Port Townsend Main Street.
As of midafternoon Tuesday, the campaign, begun Oct. 10, had raised $5,337 toward a $25,000 goal.
“In our conversations, we’ve found that people want to see more lights, and we want to see if we can make things a little brighter,” Mullen added.
The campaign will continue until 11:59 p.m. Monday.
To contribute, visit http://tinyurl.com/PDN-lightfund.
Organizers plan to make do with whatever is raised but say $10,000 would cover City Hall, the Pope Marine Building, the Cotton Building and the Bell Tower in lights.
At the $15,000 level, they also could light up the Port Townsend Post Office, and the full $25,000 would finish the job by decking the halls of the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Unlike Kickstarter and other crowdfunding programs, Indiegogo releases the contributed money even if the goal is not met.
The Port of Port Townsend has provided a grant to light Union Wharf, Mullen said.
That will be done this year, she added.
City and port staff install lights on their own structures, which often require special attention because of the age of the buildings, Mullen said.
Lighting the courthouse will present its own challenge “because we’ll have to hire a steeplejack to get up the tower,” she said.
The campaign offers a variety of incentives, ranging from $6, for which “we will blink the lights in your honor,” to a VIP visit with Santa Claus and tree-lighting honor for $5,000.
In between, contributors can get a personalized snowflake for $60, a tree ornament for $100, a shout-out on KPTZ 91.9 FM and a plate of cookies for $163 — because Port Townsend is celebrating its 163rd anniversary — a Victorian parlor tour for $250, a walk-on role at Key City Theatre for $500, a VIP First Night package for $1,000 and a Christmas ship lights tour for $2,500.
According to the Indiegogo page, the success of the campaign “will result in a dramatic visual impact making Port Townsend sparkle.”
The lights to be used are soft-white LEDs.
They will be ordered from Henery Do it Best Hardware in Port Townsend using a quantity discount, Mullen said, with the number of lights purchased depending on the funds raised.
For more information, visit www.ptmainstreet.org or phone 360-385-7911.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
