When Hurt’s Cleaners burst into flames last week in downtown Dalton, Ga., the band director at Dalton High School immediately had a sinking feeling.
David Henry knew that, just a week earlier, the school had dropped off between 80 and 90 of the students’ marching band uniforms at the shop.
“I designed those uniforms, so in some ways it’s like losing a child,” Henry said. “You really go through stages of grief.”
But what makes it worse is the replacement price. Custom-designed band uniforms cost as much as $500 apiece, so the loss could total $40,000 or more, Henry said. The cleaner’s insurance likely will cover some of the loss, but perhaps no more than the depreciated value of the 5-year-old uniforms, he said.
Meanwhile, the Marching Catamounts have a televised parade appearance in Atlanta on Dec. 4.
“We are putting together a commemorative uniform for that performance” that will consist of an embroidered sweatshirt and black pants, Henry said.
The school system laid off 24 teachers earlier this year to shore up a multimillion-dollar financial shortfall, so it will be difficult to pay for new uniforms outright, the school board chairman said.
“The economic situation is just terribly tough right now,” said Steve Williams, chairman of the board of education.
Since the fire, the band has received an outpouring of support. Other schools offered to lend band uniforms for the Atlanta parade, and community members have offered financial support.
“We are grateful for all the offers of support, but we don’t want to give the impression we are in dire straits,” Henry said. “We have set up an account at Dalton Public Schools for anyone who would like to help.”
Williams said Dalton “has a history of looking after its kids.”
“This is something we ought to be able to sit down at a table and figure out a long-term solution,” he said.