Rick Davis, executive director of the Fredonia Opera House, sweeps after the removal of seats. The chairs are getting replaced in a project that has closed the opera house for six weeks.

The old seats are out at the Fredonia Opera House, leaving a large open space that won’t be there for long.

Social media photos show the stunning transformation. One striking snap depicts Opera House executive director Rick Davis sweeping up in the middle of the main floor. The floor is bare except for two chairs, as sunlight streams in through an open window.

Workers removed the seats from the main floor first, starting with the orchestra pit. They then moved on to the balcony.

Thousands of screw holes were left when the chairs were gone. Each one had to be filled and sanded down. The Opera House posted that 1,988 screw holes had to be filled in on the main floor. Another 1,260 holes were filled up on the balcony.

Recently, the Opera House posted that Chautauqua Flooring workers have started sanding down the floors. “They’ll be ready to stain this week.”

The work is in preparation for new seating. A new main curtain is also planned for the stage. The wheelchair area will also be brought up to full compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act rules.

The project is expected to be finished by March 1 and the opera house is supposed to reopen that day. The opera house closed for the project on Jan. 15.

The renovations are funded through grants and donations, with no money from Fredonia village government.