Trestle Park is the starting point of the Winnipesaukee Trail. thanks to all the volunteers and the City Council," the mayor said. Trestle Park is nearly done and now the balcony is reopened. "This is part of the comeback of Franklin. Mayor David Palfrey, Judy Palfrey's husband, also called Thursday a great day for the city. It's an example of how the community can pull together and do something for the enjoyment of everyone," Foley said. "I am glad to see that we are at this point. Volunteers built a fire escape from the balcony and spent hundreds of hours doing other work.
Members of the community bought balcony seats. A New Hampshire Cultural Conservation grant and one from Franklin Savings Bank helped to pay for part of the work which includes new lighting and sound systems. Over the years, volunteers with assistance from members of the business community removed the offices from the stage, took down the suspended ceiling which concealed the balcony for about 33 years and worked to convert the building back into a theater.Ĭity offices remain in the building but the auditorium is restored. He was told that Schofield had already formed the appropriately named committee of one. Palfrey said Foley approached then City Manager James Pitts and said he would like to see the city hall where the Opera House is located, restored so it could once again be used for shows. Steve Foley, executive director of the non-profit Opera House group, said the restoration process started when Franklin District Court and the Franklin Police Department moved out of the building and into their own facilities. This week and next Franklin Footlight Theatre is performing "Beauty and the Beast." One hundred-fifty audience members will watch the show from balcony seats. "I'm so excited I could cry," Schofield said. President Judy Palfrey with a plaque for holding steadfast to her vision by forming a committee of one to get the Opera House restored. Schofield, who now lives in Whitehall, N.Y., where she is restoring an old home, was honored by Franklin Opera House Inc. With scissors in hand, Schofield cut the red ribbon which opened balcony seats for the first time in more than 30 years. Her vision came true on Thursday night when history was made. She even dreamed that some of them would have a commanding view of the stage by sitting in the balcony. FRANKLIN - Eight years ago, former resident Norma Schofield had a vision that one day the Opera House would once again be the place where people from around the Lakes Region would gather to watch shows and concerts.
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