As part of the renovation plans, which, as of last week, are being headed by R.W. Clark Co., the auditorium is slated to have a new stage floor. Today's work involved tearing apart a venerable 40 year-old stage. Part of the topmost layer was removed today. An additional workforce will arrive tomorrow to remove the rest. Tony Iorillo, as seen in the picture, is the superintendent of the whole renovation project. He was here today to assist in the work.
Wondering about those holes you saw in the last photo? These used to be what were called "Floor Pockets" through which lights were hooked up. Wires used to run underneath the stage to reach these pockets. The wires were removed by an elecrician today, as the Floor Pockets will be replaced with circuits that will run against the wall as opposed to under the floor to prevent water damage.

As wood was removed from the stage floor, it was gathered to a single pile towards the edge of the opening. The dirt-looking mass between the wooden beams in the floor (floor sleepers) is sand that was placed during initial construction, used to dampen sound from noise made on the stage. Fiberglass insulation will replace the sand to improve sound muffling. The layer is two inches, and a layer of concrete resides under it.

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