A view from the balcony inside the Norway Opera House shows temporary supports holding up the roof until a new one can be installed during an August 2024 tour of the building in Longley Square Park in Norway. Evan W. Houk/Advertiser Democrat file
NORWAY — The town is one step closer to getting the historic Norway Opera House clock tower renovated as the Board of Selectmen authorized interim Town Manager Jeffrey Campbell to sign a contract for architectural design services.
The clock tower on the Norway Opera House. File photo
Norway Downtown president Scott Berk provided the board with a snapshot of the project to rehab the Opera House.
Norway Downtown was awarded a $1.79 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that will be funneled to the Norway Opera House Corporation to fulfill its mission of transforming the 1894 building into a fully functioning opera house.
Under an agreement with the town, the Norway Opera House Corporation is responsible for the majority of the building while the town maintains control of and responsibility for the clock tower, clock and bell.
“We’re planning to do a lot of work on the Opera House and felt like it would be the most cost-efficient way, at that time, to also do any work needed on the clock tower,” Berk said.
“The money that we have gotten is specifically federally earmarked for the Opera House, so we don’t feel like it can be spent on the clock tower,” he added.
The contract is with architect Jake Keeler, who is providing design work for the historic Main Street structure. Board chairman Russell Newcomb said it made sense to have Keeler do the work on the clock tower, instead of hiring a different architect.
According to the contract, “the Norway Opera House is an iconic building of Main Street and is about to undergo a renovation of the roof trusses, roof, back wall, and to construct a new stair tower on the southeast corner for egress. While a contractor will be mobilizing for this work, the timing is perfect to bid out some needed work on the Clock Tower of the building.”
The scope of the work includes replacing the tin roof on the clock tower, replacing the rubber roof beneath the clock tower bell and repair the lighting on the exterior of the tower.
Keeler’s work would include handling the bidding process from contractors. The clock tower project would be bid separately but the work would be done at the same time to minimize costs.
Design and technical work is anticipated to cost the town approximately $5,000 for its portion of the building.
“If the work is going to get done by the town, now would be the time to do it,” Berk said.
Built in 1894 after the Great Fire on Main Street, the opera house hasn’t been used for entertainment or performances since the 1980s, when it housed a movie theater. Since then, it has sat mostly vacant, its interior wearing down because of neglect.
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