7th Street Theatre Façade Restoration

The 7th Street Theatre in downtown Hoquiam, Washington, opened in 1928 as a Spanish Revival landmark, designed by Edwin St. John Griffin with Huntington & Torbitt. Conceived as an atmospheric theater influenced by John Eberson, it was created to transport audiences through richly ornamented design and immersive visual effects.

Following its closure in 1957, the theater faced decades of uncertainty before community-led preservation efforts began in earnest in the 1980s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, with ongoing restoration initiatives led by local organizations helping to sustain the building as a cultural venue.

EverGreene’s involvement began in 2014 with an exterior finishes investigation, including microscopic paint analysis and a comprehensive condition survey to document historic color palettes, decorative schemes, and existing deterioration. This work established a critical foundation for future treatment.

In 2023, EverGreene returned to implement exterior conservation and restoration. The scope included plaster repairs, cleaning, and stabilization; conservation of sgraffito murals; recreation of historic Assyrian bas-relief panels; reinstatement of stenciling and polychromy; selective repainting; wood restoration; and the application of protective coatings. Where original bas-relief elements were too fragile to retain, they were carefully replicated and reinstalled, restoring the façade’s visual integrity while ensuring long-term durability.