Delaware County was established in 1837 when Dubuque County was divided into a number of smaller counties. Shortly after, Delhi was chosen as the county seat with the first log courthouse constructed in the winter of 1843. After two larger courthouse buildings, and several elections, a vote on November 2, 1880, named Manchester the county seat. Following this election, Manchester citizens quickly constructed a two-story frame courthouse. The temporary structure served the county for a decade before the current facility was constructed in 1894. A clock tower was added the following year, thanks to contributions from 700 county residents.
In 1854, land for a Catholic church in the Delaware County town of Colesburg was purchased by Reverend Mathias Loras. St. Patrick’s Catholic Church was constructed in 1862, with a replacement church constructed fifteen years later. That building burned in 1940, with the present church constructed on the same site shortly after. Since 1991, the Colesburg church has been paired with St. Mark’s Catholic Church in nearby Edgewood.
The Castle Theatre originally opened in the Delaware County seat of Manchester on June 25, 1935. Considered state-of-the-art at the time, the movie house not only featured a well-appointed theatre room with a seating capacity of 500, but also the latest motion picture equipment from Western Electric Company. When the community received word the theatre was planned for closure in 2009, a group of Manchester residents formed a non-profit group to raise money to purchase the theatre and make plans for its long-term operation.
After taking over ownership of the Castle Theatre in September 2009, members and friends of the Friends of Castle Theatre group have spent hundreds of hours cleaning the lobby, concession area, and auditorium. Additional investments were made to repaint the lobby and upgrade the theatre projection equipment. Following the initial round of improvements, the theatre reopened with a fresh look on October 23, 2009, and a formal grand opening celebration was held the following month.
For movies and showtimes, visit the Castle Theatre website or call (563) 927-5726.
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