EDITORIAL: Derby's opera house important part of city's revival

Derby’s Sterling Opera House, once a local jewel that attracted thousands to performances on its stage, is coming back to life. The tenacious efforts to save it from the wrecking ball, and then to restore it, are nearing completion.
Vacant since 1965, the possibilities for the opera house’s new life as a performance center and community stage have become tangible with the unveiling of architects’ plans for the design and restoration of its interior.
The interior is the last phase of work needed before the opera house can open its doors again. New windows and doors have been installed. The brick walls have been cleaned and repaired. A large, copper-topped cupola was installed in February on its roof.
The interior work will include installation of an elevator and stairs that comply with the fire code. The restoration is made easier by the auditorium’s fine acoustics, the graceful sweep of its balconies and intimate space.
Estimated to cost between $3 million to $4 million, it will be paid for with grants and fundraising.
The city-owned building will have only 400 seats, although it originally could seat far more. However, increasing the number of seats would have required the costly addition of a sprinkler system.
Derby officials see the restored opera house as a spur to economic development. Certainly, people who attend events there are potential customers for nearby businesses.
The restoration is an important expression of Derby’s civic pride and respect for its past as much as it is a statement of belief in the value the building holds for the city’s future.
Opened in 1889, the Italianate building was the first Connecticut structure placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the best known personalities of the late 19th century and early 20th century — Harry Houdini, Enrico Caruso, Lionel Barrymore, Amelia Earhardt, John Philip Sousa — stood on its stage. Saving the opera house is about saving part of Derby’s history.
As it was once, the Sterling Opera House again will be a focal point of life in Derby when it reopens.