Shea’s Theater is a former movie theater in Downtown Ashtabula, Ohio. The theater was opened in 1949, and was built in an architectural style known as “Streamline Moderne.” Shea’s holds some historical significance with its architecture, being one of the last of its kind. But much more than the unique architecture, Shea’s holds years of history from the days when Downtown Ashtabula was a bustling community full of shops and restaurants. In the 1950s, Ashtabula’s population was rising rapidly with the growth of industry and increased activity to ports in the harbor. Around this time, Ashtabula had become one of the most important port cities of the Great Lakes, and between 1950-1960 had reached its peak population of 24,559. People flocked from all over to visit Ashtabula to shop downtown and enjoy a day near the lake in the harbor, or at Walnut Beach.

The city held many important industries, including a Rockwell International plant, which manufactured brakes for the Space Shuttle program. This plant, coupled with extrusion of depleted and enriched uranium at the Reactive Metals Extrusion plant began to contaminate the environment. Population began to drop with the rise of contamination in the Ashtabula River and harbor. In the late 1900s, the Environmental Protection Agency stepped in and designated the river and harbor as a significant Superfund site. It had taken years of cleanup efforts to remove the toxic wastes and restore much of the soil. After much work over the years, cleanup was completed with river dredging from 2012-2014

In its heyday, Shea’s Theater was the talk of the town. Not only was it popular locally, but people would travel from Pennsylvania and other states to visit Downtown Ashtabula, and enjoy a night out at the theater after dinner on the downtown strip.

Comedy and tragedy masks still face the street from the front on the outside facade of the building, which was closed and abandoned for good in 1982. In the theater’s final 6 years of life, it was operated by a local non-profit group.

After sitting vacant for years, the theater was eventually put to reuse as a senior center, but only for a short period of time until they moved out between 2013-2014. The marquee now sits empty, but used to display a large neon light that read “Shea’s” 

It is said that the theater can seat over 1,500 people, and there are plans to bring the structure back as an entertainment venue, including food, theater, events and more. In a study by Michael Hurwitz, he stated that “based on a physical review of the auditorium portion it is viable and technically worth the effort of saving.” More than just the money required, it will take time, and dedicated groups of skilled workers to bring Shea’s back to the grandeur that it once was.

In the last few years, the harbor has been coming back together, bringing in new businesses, restaurants and more, attracting crowds during summer months to enjoy numerous events and shop. Though population is not on the rise, the area seems to be coming back to life as a travel destination for all age groups. Downtown Ashtabula follows behind, though a bit slower. It’s great to see these amazing efforts from so many in the community.