Ground broken for new movie theater

Ken Johnston
Editor

Last Wednesday morning a dream came one shovel closer to reality as the Baudette Community Foundation held ground breaking ceremonies for a new movie theater on Main Street in Baudette.

In late 1999 a group of citizens in Baudette applied for official Foundation status for the Baudette area. They received it and on January 11, 2000 held a meeting that basically put the wheels in motion to start fund raising for a $400,000 (U.S. funds) theater.

Both Rainy River and Baudette lost their theaters in the past two decades and the closest alternatives are in International Falls and Roseau, some 60-75 miles in the east and west. With so many people making the trip to the far away theaters and the fear of accidents, especially for teenagers, the Baudette Community Foundation elected to try and raise enough money to build a theater in Baudette.

At first they were uncertain of how much support they would receive, but it was not long after they began their efforts that it became clear that the public were giving the project two thumbs up.

With goals of raising $100,000 surpassed the committee decided to push forward with more fund raising in an effort to avoid having to borrow more than they had to.

At present a Pennies for Popcorn campaign is underway to try and raise $4,200 (U.S.) for a commercial popcorn popper. Jars are being circulated throughout Baudette and Rainy River to collect donations for the popper.

Rainy River and District Chamber of Commerce said last Monday they would welcome the jars on their member’s counters.

The new theater will begin to take shape this week as construction gets underway. It is hoped that the first movie will be shown on September 1, 2001.