Construction proposal takes Monroe back to the future

Plans would return to the city a theater that was destroyed by fire in 1967

The Troy Theatre occupied the northwest corner of Washington and Broad streets in Monroe for nearly 27 years before it was destroyed by fire in 1967. A proposal for the property on which it once stood could return the theater to the city 60 plus years later.

According to Steve Brown, co-founder and vice president of the board of the Monroe Museum, the Troy Theatre, in its heyday, played host to thousands of “folks who could go downtown to the ‘picture show.’”

The fire destroyed that popular pastime, and after the fire and reconstruction, the property became part of the downtown storefronts that stretch down S. Broad Street between Spring and Washington streets.

That was until this month, when people traveling through downtown were surprised to see the corner store that replaced the once-proud Troy Theatre demolished. In its place is what looks like an asphalt parking lot fronted by a sandy square separated by a concrete pathway. According to city officials, that is what it will be — initially.

“Earlier this year, the property was acquired by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). After several evaluations on the condition of the building versus what was the long-term goal of the property, the decision was made to remove the building and create a front-situated green space, with a few additional parking spaces (handicap), rehabbed lot, along with the removal of the entrance from West Washington Street for safety purposes,” city officials posted. They added that, as with all city-owned spaces and parking lots, the parking spaces on the property will be free to the public.

“Now, what’s the future plan, you ask? The goal for the property is the eventual rebuild of the Troy Theatre that stood from 1940 to 1967, when it unfortunately burned. This process will take several years to secure funding as the city searches for grants that will help with this project, so for now, we’ll take advantage of the additional green space and parking spaces provided.”

Left: Graphics of interim plans and future proposals courtesy of City of Monroe Facebook Page. Right, current situation as work begins following demolition.

Brown is fully supportive of plans to bring the Troy Theatre back to the community.

“I spoke at length with city officials about the Troy and their plans. It would be a great addition to our downtown area to have this beautiful theatre,” he said. “It would provide a place for plays and performances by groups as well as a movie theater.”

In a post on the Monroe Museum Facebook page some time ago, Brown gave some history of the old Troy Theatre location, which goes back some 120 years before the theater began its official place in the city’s history in 1940.

“Elijah Betts, the first person to live on the corner, could be referred to as the father of Monroe. Betts gave the city land on which to build the courthouse and jail. He also provided property that could be resold as city lots to raise much-needed capital for local government. He is also the person who suggested naming our town for then-President James Monroe.

“When Elijah Betts moved on to Gwinnett and later Muscogee County, he sold his property to Nehemiah Johnson, or as the kids called him, ‘Yankee Johnson,’” Brown said, going on to say that Johnson had come to Monroe from far-off Rhode Island with little more than the clothes on his back.

“Hard work soon changed his financial situation, and by the 1860s, he was a wealthy, and unfortunately very ill, gentleman. As death approached, Nehemiah put his business in order. The laws of the Confederacy forbade Johnson from sending his fortune to the North, where his relatives still lived. Instead, Mr. Johnson left his money to provide educational opportunities for children who otherwise would not be able to afford an education. Monroe was home to a school bearing the name Johnson Institute (or Academy) for over a century.

“The next significant structure to occupy the corner was the Hammond house, downtown Monroe’s first brick residence. The Hammond house remained until 1940, when Troy Thomason purchased the property and erected a theater bearing his name, ‘Troy.’

Brown said Thomason had previously purchased the Cherokee Theatre on Court Street, so Monroe had two movie houses in operation for a short period. However, when Johnson passed away, the property changed owners several times, finally being purchased by George Kirkley in 1964. The Cherokee fell to progress at some point about 1955-56. The Troy was destroyed by fire in January 1967, bringing an end to an era when folks could go downtown to the ‘picture show.’

But now, what once was could be again, we just are not quite sure when. It is, however, something exciting to look forward to.

Editor’s Note: Steve Brown, co-founder and vice president of the Monroe Museum, provided copies of historic photographs from the Monroe Museum collection. He credited the historical information in part to Wayfarers in Walton by Anita Sams, as well as to a 1945 speech given by then-Monroe Mayor Ed Almand Jr.