Midland Theater Foundation Receives Historic Steinway Parlor Grand Piano Donation from Barndollar Family Estate

Coffeyville, Kansas – The Midland Theater Foundation is honored to announce the donation of a 1920 Steinway Parlor Grand Piano from the Barndollar Family Estate in memory of their beloved parents, Pratt and Lue Barndollar. The donation, made by their four children—Florrie Barndollar Hurlbutt, Becca Barndollar Snook, Pete Barndollar, and Pratt Barndollar III—marks a significant addition to the ongoing restoration of the historic Midland Theater.

On Thursday, August 15, 2024, the piano was moved to the theater’s newly renovated Ballroom on the second floor. The nearly 800-pound instrument required the expertise of several professional piano movers, who carefully disassembled and reassembled the Steinway to ensure its safe transport.

"My siblings and I are so pleased to donate the piano to The Midland in honor of our parents. Both the Midland and especially the piano, are cherished memories from our childhood," said Becca Barndollar Snook. "We hope this donation will help keep the legacy our parents built alive in the community they loved, supported, and called home for almost their entire lives. We are especially proud to add to the important historic restoration of The Midland and Coffeyville."

The Steinway Parlor Grand Piano, renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and enduring quality, represents the pinnacle of musical excellence. As one of the most prestigious names in piano manufacturing, Steinway pianos are highly valued not only for their sound but also as works of art. This particular instrument, which still plays beautifully, now graces the Midland Theater’s Ballroom, adding both historical and cultural value to the space. The Barndollar children, who all learned to play on this piano, fondly recall gathering around it as their mother played during holidays and other special times. Their generous gift will serve as both a tribute to their parents and a key element in the theater’s revival, bringing music and memories to future generations.

About the Midland Theater Foundation: The Midland Theater Foundation is dedicated to the restoration, renovation, and reopening of the historic Midland Theater in Coffeyville, Kansas. Originally opened as a vaudeville theater in the 1920s, the Midland Theater is being revitalized to once again serve as a cultural hub for the community, offering stage performances, movies, and special events.