Stage is set for a renewal of Liberty Theater

WELLSVILLE - The cold and snows of winter have halted renovation work inside the old Liberty Theater on Main Street in Wellsville since December. A great deal of progress has been made toward The Liberty being restored to something near its former glory over the last few years, however, with big plans in store for 2014.

The theater building has been the property of Potter Players Community Theatre since 2003, when it was gifted the deed from the Liberty Theater Association. The LTA, spearheaded by Erin Roberts-Orr's father, Bill Roberts, first began efforts to restore the building in the late 1990s, several years after the final feature was shown on its screen in 1991.

According to Roberts-Orr, who is leading the restoration project, the most important goals of making the theater habitable again have been achieved. The installation of a new roof and new windows mean the Liberty is now weathertight.

This photo, taken last autumn, shows the inside of Wellsvilles Liberty Theater from the projection booth. Rows of seats from the old auditorium at Eastern Gateway Community College will be reupholstered and installed after new flooring, plaster and paintwork are completed. (Photo by Richard Sberna)

During the 1990s when the old building sat empty, heavy deterioration set in. Irreparable damage was done to the original seats, flooring and hardwood stage, all of which had to be torn out and disposed of.

The inside of the theater building is now a shell, stripped of peeling paint and plaster down to the bare walls and a new concrete floor, which was poured several years ago. Removal of that which was ruined and unfit for use has mostly been accomplished, leaving a building that Roberts-Orr says is fundamentally solid and in fine shape.

"The walls are good, the structure is sound," she said.

Progress has been slow because the restoration is dependent on donations for most of its headway. Roberts-Orr says that seeking grants and working on fundraising activities take up most of her time on the project. Since the recession began in 2008, she admits finding money has been difficult.

In addition to a $109,000 grant - most of which was spent on the new roof - Roberts-Orr says they have been very fortunate to receive many generous donations from local residents. All told, she says more than $130,000 has been spent on the theater and estimates a price tag of "probably three-quarters of a million to a million dollars to finish the entire project."

The project has also relied heavily on volunteer labor. Sometimes, it's individuals lending their professional experience or expertise in completing specific tasks. Other times, it's groups from local churches and organizations pitching in with less specialized duties.

Read more:
Stage is set for a renewal of Liberty Theater