Published: June 24, 2009 09:13 am      

Professor to society: Save Mount Savage’s Majestic

MOUNT SAVAGE — Sherman Silverman wrote to members of the Mount Savage Historical Society about an idea that “borders on the parameters of the absurdity.”

“If at all possible, save the Majestic,” said Silverman, a professor of geography at Prince George’s Community College in Largo.

The Majestic Theatre along Main Street in historic Mount Savage, Silverman said, “could be a venue for telling the story of Mount Savage.”

It’s a story property owner Christy McMillan would love to help tell — if she has enough time. McMillan, 34, purchased the property in July 2008 and took on a second job to help pay for planned restoration and preservation efforts. Ultimately, McMillan said she plans to reopen the building as a theater with a coffee and sandwich shop.

There’s an apparent degree of romanticism McMillan has with the town and the building itself. It started 10 years ago when she came to Mount Savage and “I fell in love with the building. As soon as it came up for sale, I bought it.”

McMillan said it has the original doors, theater curtains, stage, seats and candy stand all in place.

But complaints have been lodged with Allegany County Code Enforcement Officer Jerry Michael. In May, Michael cited McMillan for owning a property that violates the county’s unsafe structure law.

“I have to get it safe” by mid-July, McMillan said. “It’s on the verge of being condemned because it’s a safety hazard.”

After inspecting the building June 8, Michael and housing inspector Steve Stallings said the building is salvageable — but needs a lot of work quickly. Through Stallings, Michael directed McMillan to remove the damaged and deteriorated roof rafters, the wood that covers the rafters and the roofing itself until uncovering the undamaged rafters.

“Once the rafters and the wood and roofing is removed, the side wall studs would have to be removed and replaced, then new rafters and roof boards or plywood and finally roofing (would have to be) installed,” Michael said in a June 11 letter to McMillan.

“Thirty days is given for you to obtain advice and bids for the stabilization project,” Michael wrote.

McMillan said her brother, John McMillan, is able to complete much of the stabilization work and is hopeful her renovation plan to the county is accepted.

“He was not completely shocked,” McMillan said of her brother’s assessment of the deteriorated building. “Most people are, ‘wow, I don’t even want to get into this,’ but he seems to be pretty hopeful.”

Michael, with Allegany County government, said the county has the authority to abate unsafe structures if McMillan fails to stabilize the building in a timely manner.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.