Tallassee’s Mount Vernon Theatre Makeover Close to Reality
For almost ten years, people in Tallassee have been raising money to renovate and reopen the historic Mount Vernon Theatre. Now project leaders say they could be just weeks away from starting the restoration, thanks partly to a $20,000 from the city.
The downtown theatre dates back to the early 1900s, but it closed almost 40 years ago. Now it needs big improvements to bring it up to code. Several years ago, the Mt. Vernon Theatre Board set a goal to raise $430,000. The theatre board has a lot of that money in hand now, thanks to local donors, a loan from several local banks, and the money from the city. The Tallassee City Council voted 4 to 3 for the donation, with local leaders saying the theatre could be an economic boost, bringing people to downtown stores and filling empty buildings.
Mayor Bobby Payne says that makes the investment worth it. “It won’t be as much as it will be if you keep on waiting, keep on waiting, when customers are driving through here going to Auburn on Saturday mornings. We need to get them to stop and visit with us,” Payne said.
There are still a few things left to do. The building inspector must sign off on a few key provisions before renovations can begin, but theatre board members hope that will happen before the end of 2014–the year the city dubbed “The Year of the Theatre.”
Mt. Vernon Theatre Operations Board Chairperson Jan Autery has been working on the project since 2011. She says after so many years of hard work, it’s rewarding to see it all pay off. “When I walk into the grocery store, when I walk into the drugstore, I hear, ‘When are you going to get that theatre open?’. So it will be a thrill for me and a thrill for the city,” said Autery.
Board members hope to open the theatre to the public about six months after the renovations are complete. The board will continue raising money even after that, to ensure it can pay back the loan and to pay for the building’s upkeep.
They’re selling wreaths right now to help fundraising efforts. You can keep up with the progress and events on their Facebook page here.
The theatre board is also asking for volunteers to help once construction is underway. You can find out more on Facebook or the website here.
