The concept of economic obsolescence has never made much sense to me. I do understand that some buildings just don’t make sense to repair. I do understand that sometimes newer is better.

During a recent trip to Dallas, I watched as the Reunion Arena was being torn down. No longer was it considered the jewel of downtown Dallas. Now the very same fate awaits the iconic Texas Stadium in Irving. The home of the Cowboys from 1971-2008 has been abandoned in favor of the new stadium in Arlington.  Actual demolition is scheduled for April 11.

The City of Irving is actually selling naming rights to the event and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese was willing to pay $75,000 for the honor. The City of Irving is planning send-off events and parties to celebrate the facility that probably put them on the map for many across the country.

You can even follow the progress of the $5.9 million demolition on a web site www.cityofirving.org. I suppose the leaders of the city are trying to make lemonade out of lemons. They hope to promote that section of their city as a place for new development and new beginnings.

That’s what you have to do when something that is a part of your community changes.

Main Street Smithville would be an example of just how that happens. Thank goodness we don’t tear any of our buildings down – well at least not since we torn down city hall in the 1960s.

What seems to happen here is we reinvent the purpose of buildings. So Trousdale’s Pharmacy became Smith Pharmacy became Bayer Pharmacy and now that building will face another transition.

Did you know that according to the book “Smithville Then and Now” by Valerie Johnson, the building has housed such things as a USO and our city library? The book says the building has been a jewelry store, a furniture store, dry goods store, an appliance store and a grocery store.

Irving will adjust to the loss of Texas Stadium. Smithville will adjust to the transition that will be made at 219 Main St.

It is never easy to loose old friends and to think that it is time to move on.  Main Street Smithville since 1895 has had transitions. The challenge for all businesses and building owners is to make sure that their business is operating with a positive and growth approach and not looking toward economic obsolescence.

Corrected date

Oops! In both the chamber newsletter and my Chamber Chatter calendars, the Lions Club basketball game date was listed incorrectly. The Smithville DunkSTARS will play the Harlem Ambassadors on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the high school Gym.

Please change your calendars to reflect the correct date – it is not Feb. 13.  If you’d like to purchase tickets for this event, please stop by the chamber office. Advance tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students/seniors. Tickets at the door are $9 and $7. Kids 2 and under are admitted free.

Tickets are also available at the chamber office for the annual Chamber Banquet.  Tickets are $17 each. Table sponsorships are $200 and include 10 tickets. This is a special event in the chamber’s calendar and we welcome everyone from the community to attend. It is always a celebration of the best of Smithville.