A few years ago, the Struthers Library Theatre wrapped up a capital campaign that ungraded the physical structure.

During that process, Juliet Mason Hornburg made a generous gift.

“Juliet responded early during out 2015 capital campaign,” retired Executive Director Marcy O’Brien said. “We made a substantial ask. She said, ‘I have a larger number in mind.’ That never happens.”

“She waved her hand with such grace and helped us close the campaign,” Executive Director Wendy McCain said.

Juliet Hornburg ­ holding the League of Historic American Theaters 2018 Outstanding Theater award ­ and her family (clockwise from left) Nathan Mason, Camy Mason, Britni Brundidge, Ann Mason, and Barry Mason, were honored by Struthers Library Theatre at a reception on Wednesday.

While she could have pictured her money as a new curtain for the stage, new seats for the patrons, or any other major upgrade that people would see and enjoy, Hornburg saw it somewhere else. “I always thought of it in the roof,” she said. “Without the roof, you’ve got nothing.”

Hornburg has made another major contribution to the 138-year-old theater.

This time, she invested in another necessity — the people.

“Volunteers are great and you’re always going to need them,” Hornburg said.

She knows that there are jobs that have to be done that are not exciting nor glamorous. She has been one of those volunteers. “Juliet was a Friends of the Library Theatre member,” McCain said. “Every year, Juliet came to stuff envelopes.”

But this gift is intended to help those who spend so much of their time and energy making the theater a vibrant and successful part of the community. “I am very aware of the people,” Hornburg said. “They really should have decent salaries and benefits. There’s no reason not to.”

In the name of herself and her late husband, Walter, Hornburg made what McCain called a “giant gift” that “helps sustain us for another 138 years.”

The foundational gift will be the core of an endowment, according to Trustees Secretary Bob Crowley.

“She truly believes in the importance of our theater and its ongoing place in our community,” O’Brien said.

The Struthers Library Theater has occupied a special place for Hornburg.

“I was taken with it,” she said. “I was so impressed. A city the size of Warren… I don’t think they know what they’ve got here.”

In addition to providing for better pay and benefits for the theater staff, Hornburg made a suggestion.

When the theater was named the 2018 Outstanding Theater by the League of Historic American Theaters – part of the recognition was a statue.

Hornburg said she would like that statue to have an enduring place of honor in the theater.

The statue was brought to Hornburg’s table moments later.

Theater officials honored Hornburg and her family on Wednesday. Attending were Hornburg’s sons, Nathan and Barry Mason, daughters-in-law Camy and Ann Mason, and granddaughter Britni Brundidge.

In addition to touring the facility and having board members and staff express their thanks, Hornburg, who loves dance, was treated to a surprise performance.

Senior-level students from Molly Dies’ School of Dance performed three pieces.

Hornburg was literally on the edge of her seat throughout most of performance and gave a standing ovation to the dancers.

“At some point in the life of this theater, only a short distance away, a young girl in Olean, New York, fell in love with the arts through dance,” President of the Board of Trustees Susan Stout said. “I saw that young girl tonight, perched on the edge of her seat.”

“Juliet Mason Hornburg, we thank you for choosing the Struthers Library Theatre as a way to connect your passion and your vision to this thread – to the timeless impulse of human expression through the arts,” Stout said. “We thank you for your special recognition that supporting our staff is fundamental to the way we sustain the arts in Warren County and beyond. We thank you for generosity that ensures that Struthers Library Theatre will continue to expose new generations to the arts and the many ways they enrich the human experience.”

“I thank you all very much for tonight,” Hornburg said. “I believe in what you’re doing. I appreciate all of you for carrying on.”