Poor Richard's Building Demolished, Despite Last-Minute Pushback

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The former Poor Richard's building has been demolished to make way for the County Theater's expansion, despite a last-minute outcry from opponents who sought to keep it intact.

The building, known as the Smith-Solliday House, dates back to the 1800s, according to a petition by a group who pushed for the building to be saved.

In an online petition, resident Rachel Leach said the loss of the building will "greatly detract from the town's character and the Historic District. It also sets a dangerous precedent for other historic buildings in Doylestown to be torn down."

The petition, which garnered 97 signatures, sought to halt the demolition and appealed to town leaders to seek a project design "that conforms to the Historic District design standards and complements the existing streetscape."

The theater's Founding Director John Toner, in a statement issued Thursday, said he had "mixed feelings" about the situation.

"Yes, we are excited to be closer to making this project a reality. It’s the result of four years of hard work by a lot of people," Toner wrote.

"On the other hand, we do have a sense of sadness about the loss of an old building in Doylestown. After all, the theater is dedicated to historic preservation; we saved and restored the 1938 art deco theater, which the town came close to losing. 98% of the country’s historic theaters have been lost to conversion or removal. Anyone who grew up in the area knows that Lansdale, Willow Grove, Hatboro, Lambertville, and many other towns had classic movie theaters that are now long gone."

Construction on the project, which will include a new auditorium, lobby, and first-floor restrooms, began last week. All adjacent businesses, including the theater itself, will remain open during construction.

According to the current project timeline, the theater expects to open its new addition by the end of the year. Once the new addition debuts, the historic theater will be renovated.

You can watch the construction at the County Theater's live feed.