Derby’s Sterling Opera House just raised its profile thanks to the wood-working skills of ex-police Chief Andrew Cota.
Cota and the city unveiled two striking new Sterling Opera House signs just before Easter.
Both signs were placed over the building’s entrance on Elizabeth Street.
Cota, a lifelong city resident, said he started the project because too many people pass by the 121-year-old opera house without realizing it’s there.
“It has always bothered me that there’s no sign on the Sterling Opera House,” Cota said. “It’s a wonderful building and they’ve done all this wonderful work. But, unless you have a picture, you’re going to drive right by.”
The upper carving features a emblem and decorative designs. It is 8‑feet long and 32-inches high at its highest peak.
The lower sign reads “Sterling Opera House” and is 11-feet long.
The inspiration for the signs came from a warranty label on a turn-of-the-century Sterling piano on display in Derby City Hall.
“I took a picture of it. Then I drew a big picture of it. Then I modified it by putting in a few muses in the center,” Cota said. “The theme looks pretty much the same.”
Cota, who retired from the police department in 2006, finished a hand-carved sign — then thought it was too small, so he started over.
It took some 100 hours over two months to hand carve the signs. Cota, who works part-time as a Derby code enforcement officer, donated his time and materials.
“If I said 100 hours, that’s probably conservative. I’d work an hour here and there, then I get distracted, walk away, then come back,” Cota said.
Cota has been wood working for years.
“I started out with an X‑acto knife, now I have all kinds of chisels,” he said.
The sign is the latest in a series of steps the city has taken in its effort to restore the old opera house, which, according to a 2006 report, needs some $9.2 million in work.
The opera house restoration project has been a priority of Mayor Anthony Staffieri’s administration.
“I am amazed at (Cota’s) talent and attention to detail. Andy is not alone. There are many Derby residents, including our Save Our Sterling volunteers and Valley Arts Council members who have devoted time and effort into helping restore the Sterling Opera House and it is this dedication and effort that will see us through to its complete restoration.” Staffieri said in a prepared statement.
Cota said he was happy to contribute to a historic landmark.
“The inside of that opera house is phenomenal. I’m just hoping someday that can get something going in there. That would be nice,” Cota said.
The signs aren’t the only positive development regarding the Sterling Opera House this month.
City officials announced that U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro has secured $150,000 in funding to create an interior design plan for the building. The city will award a contract to an architecture firm in the next few weeks.
The design plan will help pinpoint what has to be done to move the renovations along.
