ROCHELLE — What’s old is new again following Friday’s announcement that Vince Carney Community Theater has a new home at the old Lincoln School on South Main Street in Rochelle.

Kennay Farms owned the building, and family members officially handed over keys Friday afternoon.
Amy Frank, VCCT board president, said the plan is to convert the gymnasium into the main theater area and turn some classrooms into the lobby, green room, and clubhouse.
Remodeling and construction of ADA compliant washrooms are set to begin in the near future.

For years the theater group has held its productions at Paddock Hall inside Hickory Grove.
“From our perspective, not only do we finally have a permanent home, but we are excited at the concept of utilizing the building that has mostly been empty for the last couple of years and give it a new purpose,” Frank said. “It’s exciting and it’s something the community can be involved in.”
Aubrey Kennay said her family is happy to be involved in the process. In 2016 the Kennays purchased the old school to use as a possible storage facility for the new distillery at the former Hub Theater, but have since changed plans.
The school has also been the site of training events for several police and fire organizations, which is something the family made available at no charge.
“We are so ecstatic that we could work with Amy and the VCCT to give the old Lincoln School renewed life,” Aubrey said. “They will be able to maintain the historic presence of the building while bringing culture and the arts to the people of Rochelle.”
Frank indicated the theater group is working with the Flagg Township Museum to access the history of the building as well as any pieces that might have been at the old school. The old Lincoln School is known for the many staircases along with the painted wall murals. Frank said although most of the murals are upstairs in the older section and will not be open to the public in the foreseeable future, there are no plans to destroy that piece of history.