Guild saved Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
A group of locals interested in making orchestral music a part of the fabric of North Louisiana founded The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra in 1948.
It has become the oldest continually operating professional orchestra and one of the most respected regional orchestras in the United States, according to its website.
Throughout its history, thousands may have heard the strains of Brahms, Beethoven or Bach without knowing that the orchestra owes some of its existence to Magli, Prada and Pearson. That’s because behind every great orchestra there is probably at great Guild that works to keep the funds owing.
In Shreveport, the Shreveport Symphony Guild is responsible for that work. It’s been doing it for a while. In 1956, the Guild saved the original Symphony House from demolition. It was built at the corner of Fannin and McNeill streets in 1872 by Col. Robert Lindsey. The Guild paid $300 to purchase the structure, then cut it into three pieces and had it moved to its current location at 2803 Woodlawn Ave., on the Centenary College campus. For a time, the house was the base of operations for the Symphony Women’s Guild Exchange Shop. In 1971, the shop moved when Somdal and Associates undertook the restoration of the house.
Faye Boykin, the chair of the Encore Shop Projects for the Guild, said the ladies moved up the street to sell items to raise money for the orchestra. Eventually, they operated out of three houses on Woodlawn from which they sold clothing for men, women and children as well as household items.
Alyce Labanics is co-chair of the Encore properties and chairs the Symphony House Maintenance Committee. “The Guild supports the Symphony, the Wideman [Piano Competition], the Youth Orchestra and they help maintain the [Symphony] House. But the majority of [the income] goes to the symphony,” she said.
A few years ago, the Encore Shop moved across Kings Highway to 3112 Alexander Ave.
When they moved, they dropped the men’s and children’s items due to space constraints. “When we had the three houses, we could out t anyone. When we moved over here, something had to go,” Boykin said. Now, according to Labanics, “We only have women’s things and household items, linens and gift items, jewelry.”
People drop off items for the Encore Shop and either donate to the Guild or put their items on consignment. Only the items in the best condition ever see the sales oor, the women said, because of their limited space and because their customers expect the best quality from the Encore Shop.
“If it’s got a spot, or a rip, or a tear, button missing or something like that, it doesn’t go out,” Boykin said. “We discard what is not acceptable to us.” Three charities bene t from the items the shop does not sell, Providence House, Goodwill and the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission.
Boykin said the Guild’s Encore Shop operation was the local trendsetter for thrift shops. “The Guild moved Symphony House to its present place and they immediately sent Pauline Lewis, who was a volunteer manager for a hundred years, up to New York to study their Encore shop. From there on other shops [around town] opened up.”
Boykin and Labanics said there are about 400 members of the Symphony Guild and 400 to 600 people who donate or consign with the shop. Boykin said about 100 people a month bring in items. Labanics said that it’s not always the same 100. “We can out t you for anything from going on a picnic, to jeans to casual, to professional wear, on up through evening wear,” Labanics said.
Quite a few items are brought in with the original price tags still attached. The tags bear names like Oscar de la Renta, Gucci, Bruno Magli, Prada and others.
Boykin said, “We have people who tell us that when they think of something they need, they come here rst.” She said they know they will usually nd something unique in the store. “Plus, the prices are so reasonable.”
About 40 volunteers staff the shop, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Joe Todaro may be reached at [email protected].
