New tune, maybe, for West Salem opera house

Staff Writer
The Daily Record
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An opera house built in 1898 could become something entirely new in this century.

Armed with a state grant, West Salem council is getting estimates for refurbishing the second-floor stage, auditorium and balcony of its town hall.

After renovations, the council plans to decide how it may best be used. Currently, its potential as a branch of the Wayne County Public Library is high on the list of priorities.

Ted Berry, a legislative aide for Sen. Grace Drake, who assisted the village in obtaining the state capital funding, noted West Salem "is the farthest point in the county that does not have a branch of the library. It's an under served area."

"A couple of years ago we looked at (West Salem Town Hall) as a possible location for a mini-branch, or a smaller services branch based on space constraints," county library director Pam Hickson-Stevenson said.

While other outlying areas also might be candidates for a branch, Hickson-Stevenson said, "West Salem would certainly be (a location) the library would want to consider. We try very hard not to rule anything out."

The proposal "has not been revisited recently, but we are still open to exploring possibilities when (West Salem) plans firm up a little."

Council has additionally considered moving its own cramped quarters into the old theater, or to one of the sections of the existing West Salem Elementary, should the bond levy pass and a new elementary school be constructed by the Northwestern Local School District. By the same token, either West Salem or Chester Elementary could then be considered as a site for a branch library as well.

West Salem Mayor Elmer Toth said West Salem Elementary was built in 1877.

"No one wants to see it torn down. It's a landmark."

The Northwestern District school board is concerned about the fate of the existing elementary school buildings should they be consolidated into a new facility.

Literature distributed by the district stresses it has no plans to demolish either of the buildings and it hopes civic or governmental entities take over the structures and their maintenance.

Superintendent Richard Frame reiterated what the board has said in the past.

"The board would sell, relinquish or donate (the existing buildings) to a civic organization," Frame said. "Village council fits in that parameter, and I've relayed (their interest) to board members."

"We'd be pleased if that's the direction things go if the bond issue passes."

Discussions with the library board could possibly begin when the extent of repairs to the building is known, or with the school board following the election if the bond issue is successful.

"Right now we're trying to put the shell together," Berry said. "The interior ceiling needs to be redone, and the floor needs to be leveled, so that they can actually use (the space)."

State capital funds are always used for construction -- "bricks and mortar" -- never employee expenses, he said.

West Salem Clerk/Treasurer Pat Foradori said windows that were covered from the inside also may be opened up during construction.

"We're just not sure how far the money is going to go," Foradori said. "We're getting estimates to see what we can and cannot do."

A new heating and air-conditioning system will constitute a major portion of the town hall refurbishing.

The elevator for handicap accessibility is being funded separately by a Community Development Block Grant, which Foradori anticipates will cover about $64,000 of the estimated $97,000 total.

Because the elevator will itself require heating and air conditioning, part of the state grant will also be expended on the elevator, she explained. The elevator should go out for bids by early spring.

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