There is real drama surrounding the Castle Theatre as New Castle Main Street continues its effort to reopen the downtown landmark.
The history of The Castle dates back to 1935. The theatre sits on land that was the early home to Judge Joshua H. Mellett, a Henry County pioneer. His granddaughter, Nellie Catherine Bundy Bailey, dedicated the property in trust to the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association to serve the Riley Hospital for Children. The trust, which owns the entire block, is now in the hands of JP Morgan Chase Bank and is managed by Cushman & Wakefield. Main Street is working closely with Cushman & Wakefield while they’re trying to dissolve the trust so that the the Castle Theatre, the old Brammer Furniture building and the parking lot behind it can be sold.
The theatre has been empty since the end of August 2018. If Main Street can purchase the building we would clean up the theatre, purchase new seating, a new digital projector and a new sound system. We would also work on cleaning up the outside of the building and fix the marquee.
Main Street hopes that the lights on the marquee will once again be lit and the drama will continue on the screen inside The Castle!
