As a former Butler-ite, I know I am on the outside looking in. However, I was dismayed to read that the downtown historic Penn theater was being torn down. I watched in astonishment as the Butler Prison was installed right in Butler’s downtown (probably with a ton of tax incentives).

I live in Virginia now, and, usually every year, my husband and I travel to Richmond, Va., to visit the Byrd Theatre (built in 1928). I first saw “Gone With the Wind” here; I did not know what the fuss was about with this movie until I saw it on the big screen. The businesses near this theatre thrive with all of the additional tourism. There is a nonprofit foundation that manages this theatre.

If Richmond, Va., can preserve their historic theatre and help their downtown, I do not understand how Butler, Pa., cannot do the same. There are so many skilled craftspeople in Butler who could help out.

A new prison is unlikely to increase tourism like a restored, vintage theatre would.

Darla Rader Colletti, Virginia