Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 29, 1993 TAG: 9309290136
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-16 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The 82-year-old building was donated to the county when it closed in 1991.
The county has already funded enough roof work to temporarily stop leak problems that were causing deterioration to the inside. The county Board of Supervisors also agreed Monday night to continue maintaining the building through the end of next year.
The group's first step will be to seek funds for the first phase of the planned renovation.
It will present a feasibility study to the supervisors by January, according to John E. Sadler Jr., chief spokesman for the organization.
The study will outline the group's plans for long-term funding, the renovation and the operation once the theater is restored.
The main problem so far with the building's physical condition is the leaky roof, which has caused damage to the stage floor and plastic finishes.
The roof will have to be replaced. But the damage problems so far seem to be more cosmetic than functional.
About 450 people visited the theater when the Friends group had it open during a downtown Main Street celebration several months ago. The group envisions making the building a cultural facility for film, music and performances.
The seats will have to be refurbished. "The screen is there and we've got a lot of the seats," Sadler told the supervisors. "We don't have a projector or anything like that."
He said the group hopes to complete the first phase and get the theater into limited operation by the end of next year. The second phase would take another year or so.
"The theater is very, very well constructed. We don't know that there's anything in there that's any problem," he said. "We want you to maintain the building until we get it in operation."
Other members of the Friends board of directors are Pam Chitwood, Roy D'Ardenne, William Elmore, Mike Fleenor Jr., Becki Gunn, James Harman, Robert Henderson, Lydia Hickham, Robert Kilgore, Hiawatha Nicely, Dr. Carole Pratt, Charles Rhett Jr., Betty Sadler, and architect Tom Douthat who has been working on the project free of charge.
by CNB