Daren Downs – Preserving the past

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
Service to Newcastle on the City Council combined with efforts to preserve the city’s history have earned Daren Downs a nomination for Newcastle 2022 Person of the Year. 
Downs owns the old Craig Chevrolet on Main Street and recently purchased the Dogie Theatre, but his service to the city stems initially from his past service on the fire department. 
“That was a service,” Downs said, “And since I wasn’t doing that anymore, I was looking at the City Council as another way to serve. There was an opening (on the council), and they advertised the position.”
Downs said he applied for the job to serve Newcastle again because it is something he considers important, but he was shocked when he discovered how much there is to do as a council member.
Another council member, Ann McColley, said that she admires Downs for what he’s done for the city and how he has gone about it, noting that he started out by watching the process and learning. 
“He is quiet,” she said. “He observes and learns.” 
McColley said that in the two years he has been on the council, Downs has started to speak up more, and what he has contributed to the conversations has been significant and very helpful.
“I’ve never done anything like that (serving on the council) before,” Downs said, “I had to learn. But once you get a handle on how things get done and see something you can weigh in on, it’s time to start asking questions and making statements on the issues.”
But he also said that it comes down to common sense, and after getting different views on the issues, a person has to use his mind and understanding of what is right in asking questions and making decisions.
Mayor Pam Gualtieri said that Downs is committed to seeing the city of Newcastle reach its best potential. 
“I admire how much he cares for the city,” Gualtieri said, “What he’s done, buying Craig Chevrolet and the Dogie Theatre, to preserve a part of the history of Newcastle is also great. He loves Newcastle.”
When Downs bought the old Chevrolet dealership, he aimed to have a place where people could come in and see classic cars and artifacts from Newcastle’s past. 
“I think it’s important to preserve these pieces of history,” Downs said, “Things such as the Ironrite from the old cleaners that closed.” 
He bought the old ironing machine from the cleaners, along with the sign that was outside. He said that if he can save anything that has
to do with Newcastle’s past and preserve it,
it’s worth it for the city — and it even promotes tourism.
“Even though I don’t have an official sign in front of the dealer,” Downs said, “tourists see the things and come in.”
He said they’ll ask to look at the cars and the antiques. After they have looked around, he said, they often say they’ll be coming back and that makes it vital that he continues to add to the historical artifacts in the building. 
It’s a long process, but he says another goal for the Craig Chevrolet building is to restore the building itself.
It was for many of the same reasons that he also bought the Dogie Theatre this past July from longtime owner Gerald Bullard’s successors.
“It’s been good.” Downs said, “I just like the place. I worked here in high school.”
Even though the theater, first opened in 1951, had a larger screen installed in 1963, Downs plans on preserving that 1950’s feel of the place. He intends to maintain the ample room each seat has and to keep the atmosphere how it was when he was young and going to the movies. Downs said that people often remark that prices are still lower than other theaters, especially at the snack bar, and he plans to keep those prices down as long as he can.
Downs has begun the renovation of the theatre’s neon sign, and hopes it will be done soon. There is a missing tube out front, but Downs already has the replacement to put in its place and is getting all the transformers and other materials needed to have the sign lit up entirely. He plans to display old pictures in the building to showcase its history, and Downs wants to repaint the facade to the same color scheme the theater initially had. 
He even has one of the grand opening tickets on display at the Craig Chevrolet building.
Downs said that keeping and preserving the past of Newcastle, and serving to help ensure healthy growth and economic development for the city is what he considers a well-rounded and positive outlook for the future of Newcastle.