DEERSVILLE The Deersville Community Theatre is working through a grant-making and crowdfunding program run by the USA Today Network to raise money to make much-needed repairs to the group’s century-old theater.
“The biggest thing we’re trying to do is raise money for our exterior rehab,” said Marsha Dodds, president of the theater group. We’d like to have new vinyl siding.”
Last winter, a large section of the siding at the back of the building fell off due to water damage.
“The building is structurally sound, it’s just that the vinyl siding that has been put on is 25 to 30 years old. It’s starting to fail,” Dodds said.
In addition, the theater needs new gutters.
“We have a residential size gutter. If we were awarded full funding, we would like to put a more commercial grade gutter on the side,” she said. “We have so much water that comes off our steep roof that that would really benefit us to have a better gutter.”
Water coming off the roof is causing damage on the inside as well. A closet in the basement has mold growing in it. The drywall is wet because moisture is accumulating.
Theater leaders would also like to raise enough money to build a parking lot behind the building to make it easier for people in wheelchairs to access the theater. Currently, the only parking available is on Deersville’s main street.
The theater group is one of nearly 700 organizations taking part in the 2021 A Community Thrives program, a $2.3 million initiative sponsored by Gannett, the USA TODAY…
