1 week Ago By Gretchen Teske [email protected]
A makeover is coming soon to the Village Theatre building in Davenport. The yellow building beside the softball fields at 2113 E. 11th Street in Davenport has been sold to a Davenport woman with a plan to turn the building into a community gathering space.
The building's new owner, Michelle Russell, said her intention is to keep all original features of the building and bring it back to its former glory. "I love the history of this area," she said, noting she and her husband, Jim, have renovated multiple homes in the Village of East Davenport. "We will do things that speak to the community and get people out and interacting with one another.
I'm not sure what it look like yet, but I'm really excited." A look at the old East Davenport Turner Hall, most recently known as Village Theatre, from the loft on Wednesday, Dec. 11, in Davenport.
Moving forward, the plan is to turn the building into a mix-used community center where people can gather on a regular basis. Russell said she got the idea from being in the village for events and noticing there was no place for people to gather on a regular basis. She initially toured the building in November with the intention to rent the space for an event but after learning it was for sale, she moved forward with a purchase.
The building was previously owned by nonprofit New Ground Theatre. Former artistic director for New Ground, Chris Jansen, said the troupe moved into the building in 2009 with five other groups after years of renting space in the Quad-Cities. Before long they were the last remaining and regularly showed four plays a year before eventually renting out the space for music and comedy acts.
In 2019, New Ground bought the building, but Jansen, nearing retirement, was looking to move on to new things. She attempted to pass the torch to someone new, but when that didn't work out she went back to work. From left, D'Dree Leibold, Paul Engstrom, 10, and Michelle Russell pose in the old Village Theatre in the Village of East Davenport on Wednesday, Dec.
11, in Davenport. Russell hopes to continue the 125-year-old building's history of being a community hub. "I went back to being the artistic director, but I found myself doing that and running the theatre pretty much every weekend, or every other weekend," she said.
Jansen mentioned to a friend of hers that she was facing burnout, and for the next several years they took the reigns. The theatre battled through COVID where it could not show plays or have people in close spaces, but took a hard blow this summer when general manager Matt Moody died suddenly at the age of 56. After getting together with the board president to discuss the future of the space, Jansen said it was unanimous.
"We thought the thing we should do is sell the building," she said. According to county records, the building was first built in 1899 as the East Davenport Turner Hall. The original wood flooring, hiding under carpet for the last several years, still has the original Turner Hall monogram painted on.
According to previous reporting, Turners derived from the turnvereins — gymnastic clubs — founded in Germany in the early 1800s. With the motto “a sound mind in a sound body,” Turners emphasized physical fitness along with “liberty, enlightenment and prosperity.” From left, owner Michelle Russell, Director of Facilities D'Dree Leibold and Russell's grandchild and business partner Paul Engstrom inspect the old East Davenport Turner emblem on the basketball floor of the Village Theatre building on Wednesday, December 11, in Davenport.
Over the years, the Quad-Cities counted a dozen Turner societies. The East Davenport Turners were organized in 1891. Russell said she plans to keep the history of the building alive and turn back to the roots of a gathering space while honoring the legacy of the Village Theatre in town and the work Jansen and crew have put in over the years.
"I think it's going to be a happy space, literally in the center of the village," she said. "And I hope she feels that we're going to be good stewards of it, too." All items in the building have been cleared out, with most donated to Habitat for Humanity in Davenport.
Construction on the building is set to begin next week with Russell's partner on the project, Paul Engstrom, helping to oversee. A little over four feet tall and only 10 years old, Russell's grandson is no stranger to construction projects. The pair have partnered on a home renovation and he has started to learn the construction trade from his father, who works for a concrete company.
After 19 years of housing the Village Theatre, the 125-year-old Village of East Davenport building was bought by new owners. Engstrom has been to all of the closings and meetings for the theatre, learning the trade from the books to the bones of the building, Russell said. Jansen said the building has been like another child to her for so long that it was bittersweet to let go of.
Knowing the new owner has the means and desire to turn the building back to its former glory was the sweet part, Jansen said. A building that has served many purposes over the years will soon undergo a transition to begin its next chapter with its new owner. “She said later to me, 'It seemed like it was meant to be.
' And I totally agree," Jansen said. "I could not be more thrilled that Michelle has gotten to be the next owner." Iowa women's basketball head coach Jan Jensen discusses the Hawkeyes' win over Iowa State on Wednesday, Dec.
11 in Iowa City. (Ethan Petrik/Quad-City Times) Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec.
5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec.
5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec.
5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec.
5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Denver High School dancers perform their routine in Class VII Pom on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Davenport Assumption High School dancers perform their winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Davenport Assumption High School dancers perform their winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Davenport Assumption High School dancers perform their winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Davenport Assumption performs its winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championships at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Davenport Assumption High School dancers perform their winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Davenport Assumption performs its winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championships at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Davenport Assumption High School dancers perform their winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Davenport Assumption High School dancers perform their winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Davenport Assumption performs its winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championships at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Davenport Assumption High School dancers perform their winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Davenport Assumption performs its winning routine in Class VIII Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championships at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Glenwood High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Wilton High School dancers perform in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championships in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Wilton High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec.
6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.
Bishop Heelan High School dancers perform their routine in Class X Pom on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
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