Since beginning its project of transforming the old Lincoln Elementary School into the new home of the Vince Carney Community Theater last September, the VCCT has made progress, but is now asking the community for help.
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ROCHELLE – Since beginning its project of transforming the old Lincoln Elementary School into the new home of the Vince Carney Community Theater last September, the VCCT has made progress, but is now asking the community for help.
The VCCT is well into its restoration project and crews recently finished setting up heating and air conditioning in certain rooms. Workers also recently installed plumbing throughout the entire building.
The base of the stage has also been built, as well as many of the wood frames that will be future walls. But, the drywall for those frames cannot be put up until the pipes have been installed inside of them first.
Additional projects that have been completed include fire separation walls with connected doorways and duct work for the heating and air conditioning. The next steps are connecting the outside and inside water lines and installing the sewers. Then, the final portion is restoring the physical look of the building.
“Next it will be all of the aesthetic aspects to the building,” said Amy Frank, VCCT president. “We have to put the drywall up, repaint areas that are beginning to chip or fade, replace windows in the new lobby and just things like that.”
Initially, to fund the project, the VCCT received a $150,000 loan split between Holcomb Bank, Stillman Bank, Central Bank and First State Bank in Rochelle. Once the project is finished and the facility is fully operational, the VCCT has no doubt that it will be capable of repaying the loan in a timely manner.
In the meantime, the VCCT is asking for 100 community members to commit $10 a month for the remainder of 2020. The VCCT currently has 25 committed donors, and anyone who donates will get his or her name put on a list of donors that are honored at every show for the entire year.
“Without being open yet, our only source of income is the fundraisers that we are doing,” said Frank. “So, this money will bridge the gap until we can open the theater.”
Donors will also become a voting member of the VCCT and receive new membership perks that will be announced when the VCCT opens its new location. Anyone who would like to donate can do so through its website at www.vcctrochelle.org.
Donors will have the choice of making monthly reoccurring payments or paying it all at once. the VCCT is accepting donations of any amount through the website as well. The VCCT fully expects to be finished by its original completion date of early spring or late summer this year.