Monday, March 28, 2016

MONDAY SPECIAL FEATURE

LAST TUESDAY, MARCH 22ND, IF YOU READ MY
DAILY REPORT THAT DAY,  YOU WOULD HAVE READ
ABOUT WAY-BACK UNDERGROUND BUSINESS PLACES IN MAQUOKETA, INCLUDING THE BASEMENT OF MY THREE-STORY BUILDING THAT INCLUDES THE VOY 3 THEATRE IN THE REAR AND THE BEAUTY SHOP "EXPRESSIONS" IN THE FRONT.
IN LAST SATURDAY'S MAQUOKETA SENTINEL PRESS, KELLY GERLACH ALSO DID A GOOD FRONT-PAGE FEATURE ON DOWNTOWN BASEMENTS.   IT INCLUDED A LARGE PHOTO OF ME (MY BACKSIDE) WALKING TOWARD WHERE THE UNDERGROUND, UNDERSIDEWALK  BUSINESS ENTRANCES WERE LOCATED, WITH ACCESS BY A
MAIN STREET STAIRWAY.
WHEN THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN THE 40'S, THE
BUILDING WAS THE HOME OF THE "ORPHEUM" THEATRE.   THE LARGER "PASTIME" THEATRE WAS
OPEN THEN TOO IN THE NEXT BLOCK NORTH.
THE "ORPHEUM" CLOSED AND THEN YEARS LATER, AT SAME LOCATION THE "CHIEF" THEATRE OPENED FOR A COUPLE YEARS.   TODAY, THE "VOY 3" THEATRE IS IN BUILDING,, TO THE REAR.   I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE ARCHWAYS WERE REMOVED.    NOTE, LOWER LEFT CORNER, THE STAIRWAY.    THAT STAIRWAY WENT INTO BASEMENT WHERE THERE WERE TWO UNDERGROUND BASEMENT BUSINESSES.   I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BARBER SHOP DOWN  THERE AND (SEE SIGN AT THE STAIRWAY) LOCATED IN BASEMENT, JOLES BROTHERS PLUMBERS.
THANKS TO KELLY FOR THE GOOD STORY AND BROOKE TAYLOR FOR GOOD PHOTOS ALSO.    
THE PHOTO OF BUILDING IS FROM THE JACKSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
NOW...IF ONLY THE WALLS COULD TALK.

DENNIS VOY
kmaq@kmaq.com

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