Before The Memories Met The Demolition Crew

 

Prior to the demolition of the old English Village, RiverScene Magazine was permitted to go into the buildings that had been abandoned. The structure awaited its demise when the photo shoot took place.

It was pitch dark inside the old movie theater; a flashlight was used to light the way.

It was far from the bright vibrant Village buildings of the 1980s and 1990s.

In addition to the theater, during that time, the Village hosted businesses such as the Golden Unicorn, a T-shirt shop, and a shooting gallery.

View looking towards the front door of the theater. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
View looking towards the front door of the theater. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

After the theater closed, Dallas Finch, of Kokomo’s, opened a teen club called “Trance” from 1999 to 2001. The club had laser tag for the kids. In 1985, “Terror at London Bridge,” starring David Hasselhoff, was filmed in and around that building.

As RiverScene Magazine cameras flashed inside the dark theater, the room was lit up to reveal how it might have looked years ago. An orange light was burning in a chandelier. The light had never been replaced, but strangely it had kept burning through the years.

Jan Kassies was also there and watched the old movie theater and shooting gallery as it demolished. He said there was a small group of people that gathered to watch.

“I would say 90 percent of the people watching said ‘it’s about time — it was such an eyesore.’”

Kassies is Director of Visitor Services of the Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitors Center. He moved to Lake Havasu in 2003.

 

A view inside of the English Village theater two months before it was torn down. Nathan Adler/RiverScene
A view inside of the English Village theater two months before it was torn down. Nathan Adler/RiverScene

“When I moved here, there were trees and grass in the Village, but the Village was already in disrepair,” Kassies said.“In 2004 the irrigation broke and the owner didn’t fix it, so the grass and trees died. The property was sold to another company, and they started charging for parking. The fountain wasn’t working, and in 2010, Rotary and other volunteers went in and cleaned up the area and got part of the fountain working, but the shops were already closed. In 2010, the owners went bankrupt and Virtual Realty Enterprises (VRE) purchased it and immediately began cleaning it up. They fixed the fountain and planted grass.”Kassies said VRE wanted to reopen the English Village buildings, but the buildings were too dilapidated and full of mold. “It looked spooky,” Kassies said.

“To be honest, the buildings taken down are only a small part of the English Village,” Kassies explained. The English Village is also “the Visitor Center, the fountain, and the beautiful gates.

A view of a section of the English Village before it was torn down. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
A view of a section of the English Village before it was torn down. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“Even though the English Village is part of a lot of residents’ memories, it was necessary to take it down. The buildings could not be rehabilitated, and “the fronts were only a façade,” Kassies said.

“I think it’s great that we’ll now have a beautiful hotel and restaurants that will draw people to the Village. I understand that people want it to be like it was in the 1980s, but it’s just not possible.”

Kassies said the hotel will provide at least 60 jobs, and “we’ll have life down here.

“When I go back to the town in Holland that I was born in, it doesn’t look the same as I remember, but it happens everywhere. It’s progress.”

A view of the lobby inside the English Village movie theater two months before it was torn down. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
A view of the lobby inside the English Village movie theater two months before it was torn down. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Kassies said he doesn’t think VRE will ever take down the remaining building that houses the Visitor Center because it’s part of the English Village. He thinks if anything, they may just make small changes.

“Whatever happens, these people (VRE) have an eye for Havasu.”

“Memories won’t fade away,” Kassies believes, “but we move on to something new. And younger people will make different memories.”

Readers are invited to look at the photo gallery by RiverScene Magazine to see what the English Village buildings looked like before they were torn down.

Photo Gallery By Nathan Adler:


Photo Gallery By Jillian Danielson:

The following two photos are images of the chandeliers so the light can be seen with the camera flash on. The second photo is the camera flash turned off so the small orange glow can be seen through the darkness. This one light remained on in the theater until the buildings were torn down.

One single light in a chandelier has remained lit in the theater since the closed down. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
One single light in a chandelier has remained lit in the theater since the closed down. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
A small orange light remains on through the darkness from a chandelier hanging in the English Village theater. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
A small orange light remains on through the darkness from a chandelier hanging in the English Village theater. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

 

 

The post Before The Memories Met The Demolition Crew appeared first on River Scene Magazine.

Topock Fire Update

 

3:30 p.m. Update:

Fire officials report that the fire burning near Topock has consumed 1,200 acres, 50 acres on the California side of the river, and there is zero containment at this time.

Firefighters stage outside of the Topock Fire. Rick Powell/RiverScene
Firefighters stage outside of the Topock Fire. Rick Powell/RiverScene

Firefighters currently working the fire are from the San Bernardino Fire Department, Mohave Valley Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management and Arizona Game and Fish.

The biggest concern at this time, according to fire officials, is embers and wind.

According to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, the winds have turned northwest. These winds will continue until midnight, then decrease. Smoke could still hang around in Lake Havasu City through Thursday morning.

There has been some damage at Pirate’s Cove Resort, but firemen are protecting it from further damage.

Arizona is calling it the Topock Fire and California is calling it the Pirate Fire.

Firefighters work to protect structure at Pirate Cove. photo courtesy San Bernardino County Fire
Firefighters work to protect structure at Pirate Cove. photo courtesy San Bernardino County Fire
The Topock/Pirate Fire burns Wednesday morning. Rick Powell/RiverScene
The Topock/Pirate Fire burns Wednesday morning. Rick Powell/RiverScene
A helicopter drops fire suppression on the Topock/Pirate Fire Wednesday morning. Rick Powell/RiverScene
A helicopter drops fire suppression on the Topock/Pirate Fire Wednesday morning. Rick Powell/RiverScene
Smoke from the Topock/Pirate Fire rises into the air Wednesday morning. Rick Powell/RiverScene
Smoke from the Topock/Pirate Fire rises into the air Wednesday morning. Rick Powell/RiverScene
Submitted photo Jean Kuhn
Submitted photo Jean Kuhn
Submitted photo
Submitted photo
Submitted photo
Submitted photo

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Park Moabi Threatened By Fire

San Bernardino County Fire Department has confirmed a fire started at Park Moabi at 5 a.m. this morning. The fire is near the same area that devastated the Topock area last year.

SBC Fire reported it was a vegetation fire with a medium rate of spread threatening Park Moabi and that units were on scene. An engine and two water trucks are in place.

Submitted photo Wanda Mello-Mcdow
Submitted photo Wanda Mello-Mcdow

A more recent report advised that 20 acres were burning on the Arizona side, and three acres on the California side and strike teams were dispatched. Mohave County Fire Department is working on the Arizona side. At this time, no structures have burned on the California side, but structures are threatened at Park Moabi. Evacuations are in progress. Air rescue, hand crews and a dozer have been dispatched.

The most recent reports state that Park Moabi has been evacuated and an emergency evacuation center has been established at the Park and Recreation Center at 1111 Bailey Ave., in Needles. The fire has consumed 15 acres with 20 mph winds. Pirate’s Cove is also threatened.

A RiverScene Magazine photographer has been sent to the area of the fire. Watch for updates here.

There is a road closure at Park Moabi and I-40 as of 10 a.m. according to the San Bernardino FD.

Submitted photo Susan Stocker
Submitted photo Susan Stocker
Submitted photo Mindy Montoya
Submitted photo Mindy Montoya

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Hospice Hosts 007 Themed Fundraiser

Hospice Happening hosted a 007 Casino Royale themed fundraiser Saturday night. Approximately 190 people showed up in their casino best to enjoy a night of dinner, dancing, and fun.

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Young Marines Hold Recruit Encampment

The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts.

Rick Powell/RiverScene
Rick Powell/RiverScene

 

The Lake Havasu City Young Marines recently held an Encampment for recruits. The Encampment is a requirement for the recruits to graduate to Young Marines and was held at Windsor 4. The recruits were there from Friday after school until Sunday at noon. During the Encampment, the recruits have campfires and sleep in tents. There were 18 recruits and 28 Young Marines that attended the Encampment.

Young Marine Sgt. McIntyre explained that “some of the things we’ve done this weekend are physical fitness training, knife safety, hiking, and basic teamwork and leadership skills.”

“The Young Marines has definitely straightened out my life and put me to the better side of things,” said YM Sgt. McIntyre.

 

 

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Another Orange Ball Comes Down

Another Havasu landmark has been taken down.

The Northside “Orange Ball” was torn down Saturday morning. The building on North Palo Verde was originally built in 1988 and housed one of the three original McCulloch real estate offices. Since 1988 residents have referred to the Orange Balls for giving driving directions to visitors.

Submitted photo Brian Baumkirchner
Submitted photo Brian Baumkirchner

Brian and Juls Baumkirchner are the current owners of the business. They built the first two Human Beans, and customers asked if they could build a third one.

So a third “Human Bean” is being built on the location, which will be identical to the one recently built on the location of the Southside Orange Ball on South McCulloch and Maricopa.

Because the existing building on North Palo Verde was not conducive to a new Human Bean, the building had to be torn down.

“We are excited to turn an old, tired building into another beautiful building like Southside’s,” Brian Baumkirchner said. “First thing you see when you get into town on either side of town will be an attractive building that represents our community well. We employee 19-20 people currently and with the third store we will have 30 baristas. We plan on opening the end of July.”

The Orange Balls are as much a landmark to Havasu residents as the London Bridge, and Brian said by preserving the balls on the property of the Human Beans, “we are keeping the tower and orange ball nostalgia going.”

Submitted photo Brian Baumkirchner
Submitted photo Brian Baumkirchner

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34th Annual Home Show

The Colorado River Building Industry Association sponsored its 34th Annual Home Show this weekend at the Aquatic Center. Vendors for the Home Show included spas, artwork, food, kitchen designing, outdoor patio sets, mortgage companies, and other businesses. The Home Show continues Sunday from 9am-3pm.

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Photo Gallery By Rick Powell:

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Yacht Club Kicks Off 2016 Boating Season

The Lake Havasu City Yacht Club held a parade of ten boats through the Bridgewater Channel Saturday morning in honor of the first day of the 2016 boating season. After circling and saluting Commodore Don Evan on his boat by the Bridge, everyone beached their boats at London Bridge Beach for a picnic and a day in the sunshine.

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Students Team With City Workers For Green Project

 

Thunderbolt Middle School honor students teamed with city workers this week on a water conservation project set to spruce up McCulloch Boulevard near the Island Ball Fields by Friday.

“It’s been a year-long planning with Thunderbolt for this water-conservation project,” said Mary Eidmann, Lake Havasu City’s water conservation specialist. “We’re doing something special here by incorporating green infrastructure. We’re utilizing the natural environment.”

James Nelson digs a trench Thursday morning on the Island. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
James Nelson digs a trench Thursday morning on the Island. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

The design included a series of trenching, and removal of a small section of concrete curbing that would allow for storm and rain water to occasionally flow over the desert plants planted in that section. The soil acts as a filter for that dirty and somewhat oily water as it replenishes underground aquifers.

“It’s plumbed for reclaimed water,” she said. “With the climate changes, there has been less rainfall each year in Havasu. So, we do have to supplement.

The project began Wednesday and ends Friday. So far, about 70 students have participated. Another 35 will be brought in by bus Friday to take their turn on the three-hour morning shifts.

Thursday, students raked gravel to smooth it out, helped to dig trenches to house the planting’s watering system, and plant the native desert plants. The section stretches 650 feet and includes a few hundred fresh, native desert plants.

Jace Taylor digs a trench on the Island Thursday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Jace Taylor digs a trench on the Island Thursday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“I heard of the field trip but didn’t expect to be doing this,” said 13-year-old Kassadie Apa, Thunderbolt eighth-grade science student. “But, it’s better to be doing something and making a change in the town and helping to make it better. I think it’s really cool they are having us help them instead of having us just sit down and have them tell us.”

Dustin Black, Thunderbolt eighth-grade advanced science teacher, said curriculum in the classroom will mirror some of the topics being presented by the project, studies of water and weather systems and the ecosystem.

The project cost totaled about $5,000. It was fully funded by community donations and fundraising efforts of the students. Benefactors include Keep Havasu Beautiful Committee, Lowes Home Improvement in Lake Havasu, and Mudshark Brewery Company.

A tshirt designed by a Thunderbolt student for the project. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
A tshirt designed by a Thunderbolt student for the project. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Students helped to fund the project by selling T-shirts depicted the partnership between the Thunderbolt Thundercats and city workers. The logo was designed by a student, too. The t-shirts were made available to city workers and Thunderbolt students, staff and faculty to celebrate the partnership.

“This is the first-ever project like this,” Eidmann said. “It’s been amazing. It’s been just unbelievable.”

Lori Spradlin, city volunteer, donated the beautification design and schematics work. The program was organized at the hands of Thunderbolt eighth-grade science teacher Kathleen Weber.

Drew Means teaches Thunderbolt student Lauryn Aalgaard Thursday morning about the piping. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
Drew Means teaches Thunderbolt student Lauryn Aalgaard Thursday morning about the piping. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

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