Astoria’s Liberty Theatre gets much needed repairs

Astoria's Liberty Theatre will finally fix its leaky roof, thanks in part to its latest grant award from the Oregon Cultural Trust.

Located a couple blocks off the waterfront in the heart of downtown Astoria, the 700-seat theatre is a community fixture, presenting a range of performances and events including concerts, dance, comedy and a low-cost children's theatre program.

But the venue, which will turn a century old next year, is in desperate need of repairs. Astoria gets an average of 70 inches of rain annually, which means the theatre's roof leaks frequently, causing costly maintenance issues. The improvements will go toward fixing the leak problems, while also restoring the theatre's original 1925 facade.

Jennifer Crockett, Liberty Theatre's executive director, says the team is working closely with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office to ensure the materials, colors and methods used in the restoration are appropriate for the building's original Venetian style.

She also says she looks forward to no longer worrying every time it rains.

"Overnight storms often keep me up at night, fretting about what we'll find in the morning," says Crockett. "I am excited to sit back and 'storm watch' without worrying about leaks."

Story by Max Tapogna