The historic Opera House, a center of community life in the Boothbay region for more than a century, is undergoing a major renovation this summer to replace its leaky roof and drafty windows and make other urgently needed repairs.

Because of the exorbitant cost of heating the large, uninsulated building through the winter, the Opera House board has voted to begin the work immediately and to raise the needed $340,000 through donations over the course of the summer while the construction progresses.

Board members emphasized that the work will not change the appearance of the Opera House. However, it will put the building into physically sound shape and help prepare it to serve the community for the next century with music, theater, dance, comedy, talent shows and other performing arts.

"So many great things are happening inside the Opera House these days, but it is time, perhaps past time, that we pay attention to the outside of the building," said Opera House President Steve Malcolm. "The peeling paint, the leaking roof and the drafty windows and walls do this grand old place a disservice. The audience, the volunteers and our performers deserve better."

A variety of fund-raising efforts are planned over the summer, including soliciting donations, putting on benefit events and passing paint cans at concerts.

Major components of the remodeling include:

1. Replacing all 76 Opera House windows with insulated, double-pane windows. The new windows will look exactly like the existing single-pane windows. The aluminum storm windows will be removed, helping to restore the exterior of the Opera House to its original look.

2. Repainting the entire building, using the existing yellow shades.

3. Replacing the roof, which leaks and has received little attention in about 80 years. The work will include new sheathing, waterproofing underlayment and architectural shingles. The Opera House is under consideration for placement on the National Historic Registry and the Maine Historic Commission has approved the roofing materials as "the most appropriate for the building."

4. Insulating the building's side walls, as well as between the second and third floors.

5. Replacing the exterior doors.

Malcolm said that when the work is finished, the building will be protected from the elements and look much the way it did when it opened as a civic center in 1894.

"While it fell into disuse and disrepair for some time, these days the Opera House is again a central part of the downtown community and full of both residents and visitors on countless evenings throughout the year," said Managing Director Cathy Sherrill. "We've brought life back to the stage, and we must now take care of the building to insure that it will be here for another 100 years."

Board members said they appreciate all the community support that rescued the building from an uncertain future in 2000 and paid off the original mortgage in 2006, as well as the volunteer help and donations that keep the Opera House operating year-round. Ticket sales cover only the cost of each evening's entertainment, but not heating, salaries, upkeep and other expenses.

Opera House supporters may name one of the new windows with a gift of $4,000. Donors can select their window, which will be recognized with a plaque underneath.

In 1894, the Boothbay community came together to raise money to build the Opera House and that spirit is once again alive on the peninsula. On July 10, 11 and 12, Divas World Productions is presenting jazz and other musical entertainment at the Opera House and at a private home on Sawyers Island. All ticket sales will be donated to the Opera House Renovation Fund.

Boothbay artists Tony van Hasselt and Cheryl Blaydon have volunteered to donate 20 percent of the purchase price of all paintings sold during July to the Opera House renovation. Boothbay Harbor Framers at the Meadow Mall will also donate 20 percent of their commission on any paintings in their gallery sold during July. At a reception at the gallery on June 26, gallery owner Susan Brackett encouraged "other gallery owners to join me this July in supporting one of the community's great old buildings by considering donating 20 percent of their commissions in the month ahead."

St. Andrews Village is putting on a mid-day community barbeque July 16 with soups and salads and ribs and chicken and all proceeds going to the Opera House. Danny Beal will add his music to this event.

Paint cans decorated by local students, and donated by Poole Brothers, will be placed to receive donations at many Boothbay-area businesses throughout the summer.

"We love the building for what it is, and now is the time for all of us to dig deep and come up with some money and bring back to life one of our few remaining historical buildings in the region," said Opera House board member Sally Barter.

Malcolm noted that while the current work will go far toward securing the building, more improvements will be necessary in the near future, including an upgraded heating system. Also under discussion are plans to restore and renovate the building's interior once the outside is finished.

"It makes no sense to do much interior renovation when we are spending time cleaning up snow that has come in around doors and windows in the winter and moving buckets upstairs to catch leaks," he said.

With donation jars in place throughout the Opera House, patrons at this summer's series of performances are encouraged to be generous in their support of the historic building. Community members and visitors may also contribute to the renovation fund by mailing a contribution to the Opera House at PO Box 800, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538. The Opera House is a 501c3 non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductible.