Ceremony opens Opera House

NORWAY — More than five years after a partial roof collapse threatened its very existence, the Norway Opera House was officially reopened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday.

More than 100 people filled one of the building's five recently renovated storefronts to share in the celebration.

Members of the Norway Opera House Corporation, town officials, representatives from Norway Savings Bank, architects and contractors spoke about their role in the project and its significance.

"It's really a community effort," said NOHC member Bruce Cook.

"It just shows what a community can do when it pulls together."

Since the partial roof collapse in 2007, the town has poured time, effort and money into the historic landmark, first to wrench it away from lax ownership through eminent domain then to stabilize the building's back wall and embark in a $1.1 million restoration of the five first-floor storefronts.

The project faced serious obstacles, but perseverance, dedication and courage brought the building back from the brink, speakers said on Friday.

Town Manager David Holt, lauded by others for his efforts to reclaim the building said the town followed through on its commitment to save the downtown icon.

"The plan might have changed quite a few times along the way but the goal of keeping the building as a centerpiece of Main Street never wavered," Holt told the crowd.

Bea and Bill Damon, Norway residents who donated $200,000 to the project were specifically highlighted by Holt and others for their generous contribution.

"Being a typically frugal Maine town, Bill and Bea wanted to give us $200,000 and we wondered if we should take it," Holt joked.

Brian Shibles, from Norway Savings Bank, said the restoration was "a great accomplishment" and the building could reclaim its role as a hub of downtown commerce.

Professionals who worked on the building expressed how much it meant for them to be involved in the process. 

"This is a tremendous success for the town of Norway," said Jake Keeler, an architect from Lachman Architects and Planners who oversaw the project.

"There are a lot of other towns that have buildings like this and I really hope that they can look to Norway as an inspiration," Keeler said.

John Blanchard, from H.E. Callahan Construction, the company that worked on the restoration, said it was a project his crew would remember.

"We get to do a lot of projects in a year, a lot of box stores and things that probably in a year or two you pretty much forget about," Blanchard said.

"This is not that case. This is a project that should have been built and we were really glad to be part of that."

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

PERSEVERANCE — Norway Opera House Corporation member Bruce Cook speaks to a crowd of 100 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building's first-floor storefronts on March 1.

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

COURAGE — Norway Town Manager David Holt details the town's long, challenging road to renovate the Opera House during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the building. held March 1.

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

HONORED — Bea and Bill Damon embrace after cutting the ribbon at one of the renovated storefronts in the Norway Opera House. The Damons donated $200,000 to help save the building.