History of the Firehouse Theatre Renovation Project

The first effort was to make the building structurally sound and weather tight. A new roof, all new windows, re-pointed bricks and two beautiful mahogany doors, replicating the original Firehouse doors, did the job. In order to get a permanent occupancy permit for the planned first floor theatre, MLT installed sprinkler and fire alarm systems throughout the building, bringing it up to the current “Public Assembly” building code. At the same time the facility was completely rewired. A new, highly efficient gas-fired hot-water heating system was installed to serve the second and third floors and the cellar, and a modern, very quiet HVAC system was installed to serve the first floor Theatre. Last but not least, two attractive handicap accessible bathrooms were constructed on the first floor. The first floor occupancy permit was issued in 2005.

In 2006 a new terrace and ramp were constructed to provide proper ADA access to the Theatre and enhance the entrance to the building. That same year a group of volunteers built a storage shed in back of the Theatre, and installed a “Sound Down” floor on the second level to reduce noise transmitted to the first floor.

In 2009 a $260,000 3-stop elevator was installed that gave full ADA access to the upper floors – and the town amended MLT’s occupancy permit to allow use of  the entire building. The second floor contains a rehearsal space equal in size to the Theatre stage area and a dedicated “classroom/studio” for the Children’s Theatre. The third floor stores MLT’s vast costume collection along with stage furniture. It also houses the building’s mechanical systems.

The dream of restoring this landmark building to its full beauty and to create a 92-seat “Black Box” performance space in Marblehead, available to arts organizations throughout the North Shore, was basically completed at the end of 2011 when a new Vestibule Entrance was added to the front of the building. It features a unique interpretation of the “Comedy and Tragedy” theme designed and developed by Marblehead artist Elaine Caliri Daly.  Her clay model was enlarged to a 10’ wide by 2’6” high cold cast bronze installation.

The 12 boarded up hose tower windows were replaced in the fall of 2011. The 11’ high units were replicated in Maine and installed with weatherproof frosted Plexiglas behind the louvers to make the tower weather tight.  A light system was installed and Marblehead boasts another “beacon in the sky”.

In 2012 – 2013 two “wish list” projects were completed. Two second floor bathroom/dressing rooms were installed for cast members and Children’s program participants, and the second floor rehearsal and work rooms were air-conditioned.

The 87-seat “black box” Marblehead Little Theatre is very well equipped with modern theater lighting and sound systems. The Theatre dimming and control system were replaced in 2014-15 with a state-of-the-art system and updated to the latest standards in 2019. A program to augment the Theatre lighting package with color changing and energy efficient LED fixtures is under way.

The building was structurally reinforce in 2016 with the encapsulation repair of the basement lolly columns which will provide new structural support for the building’s next 100 years.

A major repair to the reinforce and support the foundation under the terrace in order to prevent future frost heave was completed in 2019.

Through a donation from Alicia Cohen, a wall of dancer rehearsal mirrors were installed in the second floor rehearsal space 2020.

In 2020, just as Covid 19 arrived, the Mass Cultural Council awarded a matching grant to MLT for re-pointing the aging 130 year old brickwork of the Firehouse. The Charles Gessner Firehouse Preservation Fund was successfully completed and the masonry work was begun while the theater was still closed to audiences in February-April 2021. In conjunction with the Gessner Fund Program, 32 new engraved bricks will be added to the terrace in 2021.

To further reduce our carbon footprint, we have begun the process of replacing fluorescent lighting in the upper floors with more efficient LED lighting.