ESTEVAN -
The powerful thunderstorm that rumbled through the Estevan area on Wednesday night has resulted in the closure of the 110-year-old Orpheum Theatre.
In a post on its Facebook page, the Orpheum noted that due to the road construction in front of the building, the basement and other parts of the building were flooded.
"We are closed until further notice. Sorry for the inconvenience," the post stated.
A water main replacement project is currently happening in the 1200-block of Fourth Street in Estevan, where the Orpheum is located. Work is also taking place in the 1100-block of Fourth. The work is part of the downtown revitalization project happening on Fourth.
Jocelyn Dougherty, who owns the Orpheum with her husband Alan, said the damage is "very significant". Washrooms, accounting books and other items were damaged.
Flooding also occurred in front of both cinemas, and the basement beneath a screen was full of water.
"I'm very disheartened because I have a lot of posters being stored down there, and some are valuable. I don't know how much damage has been done to them," said Dougherty.
When she arrived at the theatre on Thursday morning, the water was up to her ankles. By that time, the water was already draining from the basement, so she was not sure how deep it was at its highest point.
They aren't sure who will have to clean up the mess. They were told to contact their insurance agent, but the Doughertys believe there should be some insurance associated with the ongoing construction.
The Orpheum is believed to be the only business that was forced to shut down due to the storm, although other businesses sustained flood damage.
At this point, they aren't sure when the theatre will be able to reopen. They believe it will take some time to get the floors, the tiles and the gyprock repaired. The theatre was closed a few years ago due to flooding from a water break.
"It's too bad. We had free matinees and everything planned for the following week, and now we have to close," said Dougherty.
It's the latest setback for the business, which opened in 1914. The Orpheum faced hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood actors' and writers' strikes, and the work downtown.
They had a bump in business with recent blockbusters such as Twisters, Inside-Out 2 and Deadpool 3, but receipts are still down.
"People can't drive by … and see what we're playing and the posters for the upcoming films," said Dougherty.
The Doughertys are thankful for the community support they've received since Thursday morning. Friends Kim and Dave Gallaway brought a big lunch for them. People have offered to volunteer and help out in any way possible.
