This virus thing is affecting our community in ways we could not have even dreamed.
An example. Turn to page 6B. Rockdale’s Kay Theatre is hurting from the lack of bookings caused by the virus. We all know, of course, large gatherings are prime breeders of COVID-19. No large gatherings, no bookings for the Kay.
No bookings for the Kay, no income.
If you’re relatively new to Rockdale you might not understand the relationship between our community and a couple of historic buildings on opposite ends of downtown, the Kay to the north and the International & Great Northern Railroad Depot to the south.
Both are historic structures in a place that, until the community got behind restoration efforts to save them, did not have the greatest reputation for historical preservation.
The Kay was a Quonset Hut, a semi-circular pre-fabricated structure that was produced by the hundreds of thousands during World War II.
The Foy Arrington family opened it in 1947. The unique movie house operated until the 1960s at which time history—well, Rockdale’s history—moved away from it.
In the mid 2000s a dedicated group of volunteers had the idea to restore it. The Leon Noack family donated the building and land.
There are photos on page 6B of what the Kay looked like before those volunteers went to work on it. They faced quite a job, perhaps a lot more extensive than they’d imagined at first.
But they persevered and their efforts yielded something truly miraculous. Not many towns our size have a building like that which not only serves a community venue for all kinds of gatherings but it also has such rich historical value.
The Kay has been host to everything from proms, to weddings to town halls to dances to Christmas parties.
And, of course, it has served as a theatre.
Just because there’s a pandemic going around (and around) doesn’t mean the Kay’s monthly expenses stop. There’s still bills, including insurance. The Kay is an old friend who needs help.
Why? So when this virus is over—some day, please!—Rockdale will still have such a unique venue to gather.—M.B.
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