News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Jackson County Historical Society is selling Roxy Theater Christmas ornaments to celebrate the community’s history.
The Roxy Theater was built in Jackson County in the 1930s, bringing “talkies” to the area for the first time. In the 1960s the Roxy Theater closed and some time later it burned down. Historical Society Member Charles Ness said the Roxy Theater ornament will help everyone remember the theater despite it being an empty lot today.
“Theaters that were earlier than that were both silent movies only,” Ness said. “So, a lot of the people that graduated from high school here and so on in Jackson County still remember going to the theater, so we thought it was a good pick.”
Ness said there were some other contenders for this year’s ornament, but the Roxy stood out. The Roxy Theater ornament is available for purchase at the Jackson County Museum and Jackson Bank and Trust.
“We have a monthly meeting of the historical society and really we just confer among ourselves as to what we think would be a worthy historical landmark,” Ness said. “This year was decided the Roxy Theater would be the one we chose for the ornament.”
The historical society has also done ornaments of the Jackson County High School, Cummins Falls and the Jackson County Courthouse in previous years.
“We even have some of the former Christmas ornaments still available,” Ness said. “There is pretty much a limited quantity of the older ones, but they will be available after Christmas and until the supply runs out.”
The museum is open Thursday and Friday 8am to 4pm, and Saturday 8am to noon. Ness said the museum is operated by volunteers as a tribute to the people of Jackson County. The Jackson County Historical Society meets on the second Monday of each month at 6pm. He said he encourages anyone who is interested in Jackson County History to join.
The ornament is available while supplies last.
