Sep 10, 2014 3 min read

CHARLEROI – Something as simple as turning a light bulb back on inside the closed, historic Coyle Theater lobby in Charleroi would boost public confidence in efforts to restore the building, a Cleveland architect said.

The architect, Paul Siemborski, also said relighting the Coyle name in the theater’s long-dark marquee would help “foster prosperity” for the project.

“That would be a sign of life, a beating heart,” said Siemborski, a principal at Westlake Reed Leskosky of Cleveland, Ohio. “Just do that. Turn the lights on the sign. Wow.”

A restructured board at Mid Mon Valley Cultural Trust, the theater’s owner, invited Siemborski to speak Monday in Charleroi about the positive economic effects communities experience after reopening a historic theater.

His speech came at a time when the trust, headed by Belle Vernon businesswoman Melanie Patterson, vowed to raise money to get the project back on track.

“I think you’re worth saving,” Siemborski said, referring to the theater founded in 1891 as an opera house and rebuilt in 1927.

The Coyle closed following a 1999 showing of “The Titanic.”

“You have an asset with historic value,” he said.

Siemborski is secretary of the board at the League of Historic American Theaters, and his company has overseen the restoration of many such buildings.

He urged the trust to make cost estimates at each step in the restoration process, because prices change the more workers dig into the building. He also recommended a targeted study on the 1,000-seat Coyle to develop a business plan.

“If you’ve done that, you have credibility,” he said.

He also told the trust it needs to replace the sidewalks outside the theater at 331 McKean Ave.

Patterson said the populations in Charleroi and surrounding communities are large enough to sustain a theater.

“This is a rare opportunity in front of us,” Patterson said.

She also said a local roofing company inspected the theater’s leaking roof and determined the damage is not nearly as bad as the trust expected.

The trust will hold a fundraiser for the roof repairs from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 17 in The Willow Room on Route 51 in Rostraver Township. The event will pay tribute to silent screen star Olive Thomas, who was born in Charleroi. For ticket information, call Patterson at 724-331-3654.