Linda Detroy, Central City.  Central City and Gilpin County governments are looking for ways to work together to save the 140-year old Belvidere Theatre.

Gilpin County commissioners took action this spring to acquire the building by paying back taxes, and met with the Central City Council July 21 to discuss how to proceed.

They will aided by a group of four Central City residents that is considering whether to form a nonprofit organization to raise funds to renovate the theatre,  139 Nevada St. That group attended the joint meeting and followed up with a meeting of their own on July 25 to try to decide if now is the time to file articles of incorporation to create the Save the Belvidere Foundation, the working name for the nonprofit organization.

“We have one goal: to save the Belvidere,” said Kathy Heider, a Central City alderman and one of the four looking to create the foundation. “We want to be helpful in any way we can. We still have some questions about what city and county expectations are.”

The group of four — Heider, Barbara Thielemann, Peter Droege and Jack Hidhal — was scheduled to meet with Central City Manager Daniel Miera Tuesday to start answering those questions.

As decisions are being made about the nonprofit, Miera and County  Manager Roger Baker are putting their heads together to figure out how best to empty the building of both trash and treasures. County commissioners toured the building recently, and Commissioner Linda Isenhart said she has serious concerns about anyone going into the building to do work.

“There are some lovely things and some frightening things,” she said. “We have a better idea of the magnitude of need there. But it is in bad shape. On the south side, on the second floor, the timbers are rotten and broken. You can see daylight through the ceiling.”

During the joint meeting, Baker suggested that county and city crews could work together to remove what is obviously trash, and added that he has contacted at least one auctioneer who would be willing to sell the treasures.

“We could auction those off and that could become seed money for work on the building,” Commissioner Gail Watson said.

In addition, a historic structural assessment grant application is in the works, filed by the county in June. Baker said he would be surprised if the county did not get the grant, which would provide $15,000 toward an assessment of what needs to be down to stabilize the building. Central City has indicated it will provide the $3,750 match for the grant.

Another big question to be answered is who will own the building during and after restoration.

Heider said the nonprofit, which would primarily raise funds for the building,  would not want that responsibility. Watson said the county took possession because it has the ability to apply for the assessment grant, while the city does not. Both Watson and Isenhart said that while the county does not want to ultimately own the building, they are willing to be patient and hold on  to the building while restoration efforts get under way. Commission Buddy Schmalz did not attend the meeting.

“We’re all a little hesitant here because this is going to be a very expensive renovation,” Watson said.

All at the joint meeting agreed they would like to see the theatre used as a community event center. Heider said she remembers when the building was used for community concerts, movie nights and dances.

“It was so wonderful because everyone would come, and everyone would dance,” she said.

The building opened in 1875, sponsored by Central City residents Colorado Senator Henry Teller and Judge Silas B. Hahn. It was first used as a cultural center, and after the Central City Opera opened in 1878, the building went through several iterations. It was used as a stable with a feed and coal store, the home of Central Bottling works, the fire department, Colorado militia, a Central City garage and dealership, and a recreation center. In 1972, the building was used during the filming of “Duchess and the Dirt Water Fox,” starring Goldie Hawn and George Segal.