Historic photo via Facebook, courtesy of the Beacon Historical Society

BEACON – The former Beacon Theater on Main Street in Beacon has been closed for close to 50 years. But, Fourth Wall Productions of Poughkeepsie has purchased the old building and is in the process of restoring it.

The group is planning a $3 million, three year project to be completed in time to coincide with the city’s 100th birthday in 2013.

Theater group Development Director Patrick Manning, the former state assemblyman, said it won’t be the first time theater was revived at that location.

“The foundation of the Beacon Theater was the Dibble Opera House,” he noted. “Back in the 1800s, it was an opera house, a vaudeville house, then come the time of moving pictures, Beacon Theater was created to address that and stayed open and was a very popular place for movies and for live acts until it closed in 1968.”

Right now, the grand foyer has been remodeled for theatrical performances and beginning in the spring semester, Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh will offer courses in the building.