Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2009, Page 137

Description:	a town of many firsts.Bloomington was a town of unforgettable firsts thanks tosome very unforgettable places. First kisses and first loves,first tries and first friendships, first tastes of freedom and firstglances into the future all transpired in some of Bloomingtonsmost unique hangouts. Not only did Bloomington provideincredible firsts for our generation but for our parentsand grandparents generations as well. Throughoutthe years, the Bloomington community has changedconsiderably; however, certain places withstood thetest of time and for decades continued to offer up the samewonderful experiences each and every visit.First GlanceThe downtown district was commonly seen as the heart of Bloomington,housing the character and vibrancythat made the city so unique. Nestiedbetween locally owned eateries andvintage shops, the Buskirk-ChumleyTheater shined as a beacon for the artsand as a crown jewel in Bloomingtonsdowntown. The historic theater hadoperated in several different respectsin Bloomington for nearly 100 years;first opening in 1922 as a silent moviehouse. Generations of Bloomington residents enjoyed movies, music, and liveentertainment housed in this landmark.For sophomore Aubrey Seader,the theater provided many unique firsts.She became involved with her passion,the arts, by working as a stage hand andoccasionally performing in productionsat the Buskirk-Chumley. During hertime at the theater she enjoyed some unusual new experiences. I have dancedon platforms nine feet off the groundand sprinkled snow off a catwalk. Exciting? Debatable. A first? Definitely!Seader said. Her own experience withthe theater gave her a first glimpse intowhat her future may hold as well asstressed the importance of places likethe Buskirk-Chumley to the communityat large. [The Buskirk-Chumley] is agood way to get the arts out into thecommunity and bring people together. Art has always been important toBloomington, and the Buskirk-Chumley is one way the community strivesto get older and younger people intothe arts, said Seader enthusiastically.First Sign of SpringDue to local and national economicwoes in 2008, several beloved localvenues in Bloomington closed. Fansof a familiar landmark, the ChocolateMoose, were concerned when the Herald Times reported the ice cream shopwas closing. Opened in 1949 as The >places \| COMMUNITY \| 137
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8159
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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