DeSoto is required to match the
grant with an additional 40% in
funds from the community.
Past President of the foundation,
David Clonts, is a builder and
he takes an active role on the
construction committee as he
volunteers to help supervise
much of the work happening at
the theater.
Jim Powell, HDTF’s new
President, said Clonts’
construction expertise is
invaluable.
“He helps supervise the projects,
and is always just a phone call
away,” Powell said. “When any
information is needed to, for
example, write a grant about
repointing mortar or adding
insulation to the roof, or when
dropping two 20-ton units on top
of a 90-year old building, Clonts’
availability and knowledge are
unsurpassed.”
When it came to opening
two new holes in the roof of
the 90-year-old building, for
example, and positioning two 20-
ton air conditioning units, Clonts
carefully studied and calculated
with the help of architect Mark
Cochran and Mac Willett, a
structural engineer from Atlanta.
Willett had the DeSoto’s original
1929 plans to help with his
calculations, although that didn’t
keep him from having to crawl
up in the attic to determine
where it was safe to place the
units, Powell said.
Subcontractors that help at
the DeSoto become part of the
HDTF family. In February, Easter
Electric started wiring the rooftop
units and was getting ready to
set the disconnect panels. Terry
Easter was also the one who
rewired large portions of the
building after a 2010 fire, and
replaced much of the original
decaying 1929 cloth wiring three
years ago, a potential fire hazard
that is now gone.
David Perry, from North Georgia
Equipment, joined the DeSoto
family and is proud of the heat
and air project’s progress so far.
“We just have to finish
fabricating and installing the
ductwork and then install the
gas piping and controls and we’ll
have it running,” Perry said.
He coordinated the work of the
crane lifting the massive units up
to the roof. The crane removed
the old unit in the elevated
platforms in the alley behind the
DeSoto, opening the way for a
new backstage entrance with a
loading dock and roll-up door in
the future.
But the old building still has
other areas that need a touchup.
Powell told theater patrons to
expect exciting art deco projects
to continue. Plans have started
to recreate a pleated curtain that
used to be on the curved wall
behind a large bench inside
the theater’s lounge. Interior
One of the massive air conditioning units
is lowered into place above the DeSoto
Theatre’s auditorium. Thanks to generous
grants and donations, the Historic DeSoto
Theatre Foundation has been able to
continue its restoration efforts on the
historic building.
Former HDTF President David Clonts and Caroline Clonts, from Black Bear Land
Development Co, work on the openings for the curbs where the hvac units would be set.
Clonts is donating his and his employee’s labor as part of the monies needed to
help match the Georgia Council for the Arts grant.