Harwich Museum Commission Advances $10,000 Outdoor Theater Plan for Academy Grounds

HARWICH — February 17, 2026 — Harwich Brooks Academy Museum Commission backs $10,000 outdoor amphitheater plan for museum grounds. Commission Chair Bob Dickerson led the February 17 meeting, where a member identified as Paul presented a proposal for a small outdoor performance space on the property's north side, featuring a stage, three rows of treated pine bench seating for 30 to 35 people, and a grass-covered hillside setting. Total material costs are estimated at $10,000, with the commission exploring donated labor from the Cape Cod Regional Technical School. The commission is considering naming the space the Bethia Payne Theater and tapping a roughly $620,000 endowment in her name, held by the Harwich Historical Society, to help cover costs. Separately, the project manager reported the building renovation remains on track for a June 2027 completion, with accessibility lift installation identified as the critical-path item.