By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The problem of the downtown theater in Bucyrus has taken a turn right into Doug Godwin’s furniture store.
“I filed an insurance claim with the theater committee,” Godwin said. “I had to do something to protect myself.”
The latest issue with the theater is the south wall that abuts Godwin’s Midwest Furniture-Bedroom store. It has deteriorated over the years with parts of the wall falling down. The deterioration has been exacerbated lately by the excessive wind and rain.
“I’ve been finding it for three of four years,” Godwin said of the rubble from the wall. “It’s gotten worse the last three or four weeks.”
So much worse that not only has the hole in the wall grown into a gaping abyss, the wall and ceiling into Godwin’s store now leaks as a result. Godwin has both photos and videos of the damage and growing problem.
Monday a huge section of the wall fell in. Bucyrus Mayor Roger Moore indicated steps are being taken to ensure public safety. An insurance adjuster is coming in tomorrow (Tuesday).”
The adjuster’s arrival can’t come soon enough for Godwin. The wall in the back room in his building is discolored from the leaking water and buckets and pans line the wall to catch the leaks.
While the problem is difficult to see from the ground or the street, it is real and it is there.
“It’s collapsed up on top,” said Bucyrus Fire Chief Jay Keller. “We’re trying to get people in to look at it. We’re probably going to block the alley. It’s just going to get worse.”
The theater was owned by former county engineer Randy Strauch who now lives in Findlay. A group of local people were able to get the building with the hopes of restoring the theater. But that group has recently conceded it cannot raise the funds needed to save the structure. They are now trying to find money to tear it down.