Downtown Development District - Louisiana Main Street
Columbia Theatre - so it was and so now it is one of the most important places to visit for a play and musical night in Hammond.
Families meet, enjoy the activities and each other, young and older folks go on a first date (this might guarantee a second one) and anniversaries celebrate well there. Sometimes, first bouquets are received by very young dancers. As a hat tip to the days gone by, the old projector sits in a prominent place for all to see and looks like it had a wonderful time in this old theater. During the Holiday season, children laugh and are always dressed up when they visit Santa who found this place a long time ago.
Our community is pleased with the Columbia Theatre even if some have never been inside.
There were so many people who came forward to be a part of the Columbia restoration that the story of this project keeps going on way past the obvious construction days. The sidewalk in front of the building has a "star" walk with names of contributors. This was another project by the community to show support for the restoration. The restoration meant that the community's discovery of a worn out, falling down building was worthy of volunteer hours, money out of pocket and for some, conversations with people who may not have thought the project was so great. The Columbia Theatre represents the sweat and tears during the fundraising and the hard work in the building by hundreds of community minded citizens. Today, visitors sightseeing and seeing their reaction to the building when they stroll down Thomas Street in downtown Hammond is thanks enough. Some of us want to tell them that the Columbia is a wonderful and useful building and also sort of a miracle. Who would have thought that rats could still been living among the old curtains and ruins of the building if the citizens of the community hadn't stepped up to make a miracle happen.
Southeastern Louisiana University has done better with the progress of the venues than ever expected. There is something for everyone in the theatre. Funny thing, the lighted marque is considered by some to not be "becoming" of the fine old Columbia building but we know that the younger members of our community see the hip music (an example of the genius of Southeastern University) in red lights on the marque. They will be back with friends and get a little culture while listening to hip hop music. The Columbia has fit into the cultural climate of Louisiana and has been a part of the Downtown Development District Main Street Program of art strolls during downtown events.
Sometimes, we regret that there isn't another Columbia Theatre project on the horizon to bring us all together again for another challenge. Or is there? Maybe, we best take another look. We don't want to get "rusty" like some communities that don't use community power to get things done.
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