The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-25
ITALIAN Hall Restoration

ITALIAN Hall was condemned prl-
marily because of balcony and gallery
unsoundness but can be restored Tor
about SIC, 900 instead of the 100000
which was the estimate first men
toned. And the restoration can be
50 thoroughly done that no danger to
human life would exist as the hall is
structurally sound.
This is the word of al experienced
construction engineer after literally an
inch-by-inch survey of the building from
sills to rafters, foundation to roof.
The engineer is Mr.. T. L. Hughston,
of the Mcpherson Company, Greenville,
S. c., a commander in the Navy through
out the war who built many theaters
and was in charge of naval construc-
ton during the advance across the Pa
cific on Japan. His entire career has
conferred on building.
His survey, which Vas at the invi-
tation Of Mr.. Thomas H, Wright, Miss
Emma Williamson and one other Will
mingtonian who prefers anonymity, vas
conducted with complete cooperation of
City Manager Benson, Building Inspec-
tor Gilbert Morton and Architect James
B. Lynch, who placed their records
relating to the Hall and particularly to
its condemnation, at his disposal.
Mr.. Hughston turned his attention
to discovering if the building is struc-
turally safe for use now as a theater;
is it's structural condition so unsound as
to constitute a. hazard to the public,
and are existing weaknesses of such a
nature that they cannot readily be
remedied at a reasonable cost? To
answer these questions Mr.. Hughston
crawled between the sill timbers, ex-
aiming each carefully, between the
rafters with the same care, surveyed
the walls finding them bound with lime
mortar and secure, went over the bal
cony and gallery with the same
thoroughness.
He found the building structurally
safe and existing weaknesses remediable
at surprisingly low cost. Cracks have
opened between the front supporting
beams of the balcony and gallery and
the ends of beams and joists framing
into them. But he also found that the
architect designed the balcony and gal
lery so that the "load" was distributed
toward the back, not the front.
Although Mr.. Hughston's report
goes into technical details both as to
present condition and required recon
ditioning, the sum of the matter is
that instead Of slipping forward and
collapsing under the weight Of an audi
ence the weight would be backward
against the sustaining wall. The bal
cony would require repairs but not to
the extent at first believed necessary,
and would be as sound as a dollar when
they were completed.
Mr.. Hughston found that the sur
face Of earth, particularly on the south
side, should be at least one foot above
the footings and be terraced, to pre-
vent erosion which in time could cause
heavy damage.
He declared in private that if for
no other reason the Hall should be pre-
served because if it's magnificent pro-
cenium, which he declared unmatched
in other old theaters, but officially care
fully avoided sentimental reasons for
a repairs program, devoting his report
strictly to technical engineering mat
ters.'
In light of his survey the question is
what are the Thalians and (or) the City
going to do about restoration. The cost
is shown to be small-certainly not be-
yound the City's ability to meet. But
if Wilmington's governing body fails
to see it's way clear to pay for the prof.
ect there must be enough Wilmington
ians of independent means to foot the
bill. Private subscriptions undoubtedly
could be obtained to bring ITALIAN Hall