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Anchor Industries sales manager Dan Seeber , who has worked for the company for 35 years , said this is the second Big Top tent he has helped construct .
“ Canvas is slowly disappearing ,” he said .“ It ’ s being used less and less .”
So , it was a bit of a challenge to find sources for the necessary 3,000 yards of distinctive royal blue and pearl gray canvas .
“ We computed , computed and computed again to be sure we were ordering enough canvas with a safety margin built in ,” he said . “ Because there wasn ’ t any going back to easily get more .”
The company called in their most experienced sewing machine operators and had a supervisor dedicated to overseeing the construction , answering questions as they came up .
Once sewn , three folders cleared off an area in the loading bays , laid down clean cloth and carefully folded the canvas .
Seeber himself hopes to one day make it north to see a show inside the tent he helped create . “ I ’ m very proud to be involved ,” he said . Operations manager Anich said the tent varies only slightly from earlier models – it is a bit bigger and has a square back that will allow a different seating arrangement at the rear of the tent that will create better sight lines when the walls are raised – people sitting on the hill rising behind the tent will have a less obstructed view to the stage . Those sitting in the rear will find a new bleacher arrangement as well as box seating .
Anich said the new canvas will be stretched over three metal trusses – three arches spanning 60 feet spaced 15 feet apart that create a 60 x 30 – foot clear space in the center of the tent . The arches sit on hinged baseplates imbedded in cement pillars sunk 6 feet into the hillside .
The new tent will be “ infinitely stronger ,” Anich said , with new seams , stitching and lines all engineered with strength in mind . A big new tent required a special round of fundraising . “ Our long-time friend and supporter Don Funk really wanted to inspire people to be part of purchasing the new tent ,” Matier said . “ That ’ s why he offered his challenge to match people ’ s donations
to the tent fund . We called it the ‘ New Canvas Challenge ’ and everyone that gave a gift to the challenge before May 24 will have their name written on a panel of the new tent . Plus Mr . Funk will triple their gift by matching it two to one . The response has been terrific .”
Taking the long view , the Big Top board has established a “ canvas fee ” added to each ticket price – a small surcharge dedicated to creating a fund that will ensure infrastructure in the future .
“ In addition to the challenge , every ticket buyer helps build up that canvas fund ,” Matier said . “ We also have an endowment fund created by the Keepers of the Magic group . The interest from that fund , held by the Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund , will contribute toward the purchase of the new tent . This year Big Top will get a new big tent and raffle tent and next year they ’ ll be working on a new concession tent .
“ I want to personally thank everyone who helped cover the costs of the new tent ! It ’ s been a heartwarming outpouring of support .”
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