SPENCER — It was the phoenix-from-the-ashes return of the Tivoli Theatre that first ignited the rebirth of downtown Spencer.
Scheduled for demolition in 2005, the 1928 movie house had a collapsing balcony, crumbling walls and a caved-in roof. Owen County Preservations bought the dilapidated building and a benefactor funded $15,000 in emergency repairs.
Then, for years, the once-lavish theater on North Washington Street sat empty.
Enter the Cook family. Bill, Gayle and Carl Cook from neighboring Monroe County had revitalized and brought alive Bloomington’s downtown and also spent millions restoring the French Lick Resort and West Baden Springs Hotel.
They dispatched construction manager George Ridgway to Spencer, where he oversaw the spending of millions of dollars for the theater transformation. The Tivoli reopened in 2013 and featured classic and first-run movies, theater productions, community events and holiday musicals that brought hundreds of people into town on evenings and weekends.
But when they spilled out into the streets, there was nowhere to go for a cup of coffee, glass of wine or a nice dinner.
That was the old Spencer.
Today, there is evidence of an evolution around the courthouse square.
Downtown Spencer has come alive.
Gwen Tucker heads up the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corp. She grew up in Spencer, and revels in the changes in the downtown streetscape and buildings as, one by one, businesses are opening.
Because of all the activity — and interest from other possible start-ups — her part-time job has gone full time.
“Everyone,” she said, “sees the future possibilities.”
Once the Tivoli reopened, about 30 people — business owners, government officials and other community leaders — started talking about a shared vision: a true revitalization of downtown Spencer, which is anchored by its historic courthouse.