Sad and Happy Doors – #ThursdayDoors

Last Sunday, I tried to stop at a bakery we used to like. It’s no longer open. That was sad. I was able to find something at another store (which made me happy), but before heading off to that store, I snapped a few pictures of some other sad doors. The explanations are mostly in the captions, but I’ll give you a little bit of insight into a few of them.

The Strand Theater in Enfield, Connecticut opened in 1937, closed in the late 70s, reopened in the 90s and closed again. There is a group, Save our Strand, that is trying to figure out some way of reopening the building for something. The town was able to secure a $200,000 grant, but judging from the signs on the building, that amount is but a drop in a very large bucket.

On the other hand, a while back, I featured some sad doors from nearby Windsor, CT that also include a theater. There seems to be some activity in this building. I haven’t seen anything official, or anything at all, for that matter, but someone put some scaffolding under the old marquee. For all I know, it’s because the thing is in danger of falling down, but a boy can hope.

The inspiration for focusing on sad doors this week came while our daughter and I were attending a preview of a documentary that a mutual friend had made. The documentary is about RC Airplanes and a particular RC Club in CT. It was very good, and very well attended. We were early for the event, but still had trouble finding a place to park. We ended up blocking a driveway to an abandoned house that had plywood covering all the doors and windows. I commented that it was weird seeing shutters on windows that were covered with plywood.

As for happy doors, well, maybe the old theater in Windsor has reason to be happy. The library in which we watched the documentary sure was a happy place, and I think some of you will find a happy door in the gallery. Last week, I featured a Victorian house in the Windsor Historic District that bears the result of a questionable color choice. There were one or two people who liked it, but most agreed with me, that is was a little blah. I promised to share a happier Victorian and I was able to get a good picture of it for this week.

So, we have a mix of emotion in the gallery.

As always on Thursday, this post is part of Norm Frampton’s very happy blog series called Thursday Doors. Norm brings people together from all over the world – really – to share happy doors, sad doors, missing doors, old doors, new doors and every other kind of door you can imagine. Paraphrasing the legendary Brooklyn department store, Abraham & Straus, Norm’s place – “It’s worth the trip from anywhere.” Check out Norm’s doors and then check in with the blue frog. You’ll see, you won’t be disappointed.

It is sad to see a house boarded-up like this.

Happy place!

There’s a door, but that’s not the important thing. Check out the crowd for the screening – everyone left happy.

Sad and not sad. The congregation of this church sold the building and moved to a bigger church.

The Strand Theater – “In Old Chicago” was released in 1938.

The Strand Theater is just beyond the J C Penny store.

Inside the Strand. From the Save Our Strand website.

The Strand Theater today. The warning signs speak to the danger of breathing the air inside – I’m guessing that means they found asbestos.

The old firehouse.

Fire Department in earlier times.

I remember when this was a little gift shop.

This building is empty today but has been a furniture store numerous times.

This church is still in operation.

The bakery and the firehouse would have been on the right. The gift shop and the Strand would have been on the left.

We used to stop at this bakery on our way home from church. Excellent bread and pastries.

It may not be a sign of life, but I find it encouraging.

Hopefully, you will find this color scheme more acceptable.