History of the Kiwanis Theatre

Victor Lauriston, in his book “Romantic Kent”, described the building at 75 William as “a building with a history.” This property has seen many changes over the years. It has been everything from a beautiful Victorian home for Chatham’s mayor, William Northwood (1879-1880) to a bath house, a hotel, a vocational school, and today, the Kiwanis Theatre and Thames Art Gallery.

William Northwood was a well-known businessman in Chatham. He ran a malting company, served on the town council in 1876-1877, and was mayor from 1879-1880. He is also remembered for bringing back two ginkgo trees from Asia, one of which still stands at the Kiwanis Theatre. The other tree can be found on Victoria Avenue. Northwood was also involved in turning the old military reserve into a public park, now called Tecumseh Park.

In 1901, the Chatham Mineral Water Company bought the property and built a bath house, which opened in 1902. In 1905, they expanded it into the Hotel Sanita. The hotel was a popular spot for travellers until prohibition in the 1920s led to its decline.

In 1924, the Chatham Board of Education bought the hotel and turned it into a school. Architect John Methven helped design the changes, keeping the rotunda and turning the hotel’s rooms into classrooms for subjects like science, drafting, and woodworking. The building was renovated and reused, with old materials being saved for the new school.

The school, under principal Harry Collins, became well-known for its technical and academic programs. In 1928, new buildings were added, including a shop wing and auditorium, and a gymnasium was built in 1929. The property was used as a school until 1963, when it was sold to a group of citizens who formed the Thames Theatre Association.

The auditorium, gym, and workshops were turned into cultural spaces, including a gallery and studios for art. The gallery became a National Exhibition Centre in 1974, and by 1976, it was renamed the Thames Art Centre. In 1980, the City of Chatham took over the operations, and the name was changed to the Chatham Cultural Centre.

In 1986, Union Gas donated money to build a museum at the Centre, which opened in 1987. The Kiwanis Theatre, which opened in 1963, continues to host a variety of performances and events for the community.

Today, the building and its history are an important part of Chatham-Kent. The structure has always adapted to meet the changing needs of the community while staying true to its surroundings. It remains an important cultural landmark, connecting the past with the present.