CORTLAND - Over the summer, exterior and interior improvements were made to the historic Opera House, which now showcases many of the items of the Cortland-Bazetta Historical Society, which were previously located at the Viets Home.
Carol Caronite, president of the society, said two years ago she never thought the society would be able to reside at the Opera House. This summer, the siding project was completed.
The historic building is located off Park Avenue behind the Cortland Methodist Church.
One interesting item is when the siding project was being done, the date ''1958'' was found scrawled under the siding. The meaning of the date has yet to be determined.
Bill Hallett, a historical society member, said the exterior work also included a new roof and gutters.
Caronite said the all-redecorated interior included placing the parlor furniture from the Viets Museum on the stage on the main floor of the Opera House.
Caronite said other projects included making repairs to the driveway, adding new shades for the windows to help control lighting and installing new carpeting on the lower floor.
''We have accomplished many projects we had on our list,'' she said.
The Opera House has been in the city for 171 years and is at its third location.
The society has owned the building since 1987.
Sally Lane, vice president of the society, found historic pictures of Cortland and Bazetta, not only for her new book, but for the calendar and for displays in the Opera House.
The society is selling the 2013 Cortland-Bazetta historical picture calendar as a fundraiser.
In recent years, the interior of the Opera House has been painted, along with new window trimmings and displays of furniture, pictures and historic memorabilia of members and items that were previously at the Viets House.
The Opera House is decorated both on the main floor and the lower floor, both of which are used for programs and gatherings.