Years before the Artist Relocation Program enticed artists to fill Lower Town, Fred Vowell took a then 87-year-old Paducah building that had served as a maintenance facility for city-owned vehicles and turned it into Madison Hall.

But after more than a decade, Vowell closed the reception hall at the corner of 9th and Madison streets in late 2005. He wanted to take on less work as he moved toward retirement, and he wanted to dedicate more time to his Painter's Supply business. It was a surprise to many, particularly those who wanted to use the hall for wedding receptions, holiday parties or other gatherings.

It was a tough decision closing his doors. "Even while we've had it closed, we actually had people calling and wanting to do events," Vowell said.

But it wasn't until last week that he finalized a deal with a Paducah couple who have reopened the hall and are again taking reservations -- as well as planning new attractions at the now 100-year-old hall.

Rod and Johnette Worak purchased the building last Thursday, and thanks to a little networking at the Bristol's Bridal Expo at the Julian Carroll Convention Center Saturday, they are already filling their calendar.

A little over a year ago, Johnette Worak decided she was tired of making the daily commute to Paducah from near Marion, Ill.

For 17 years, it was an hour drive each way. Then she and Rod decided to move into Lower Town, where they loved the revitalization and older buildings -- such as Madison Hall.

"I fell in love with it the first time I saw it," Johnette Worak said, calling it a "great, old building" -- too nice to leave closed.

Vowell said he bought the building and built it up from dilapidation on his own. City-backed revitalization in the neighborhood didn't start until 2000; by then, his business was already prosperous.

"That was a long time before the Artist Relocation Program even started," Vowell said, citing the lack of incentives now prevalent to developers who renovate old buildings in the area. "Unfortunately, nothing was given to us.

"We won't take credit and say we helped start it. ... There were a lot of other folks down there. But we were fortunate enough that everything grew up around us."

As for Worak, she saw the large main hall and immediately thought "ballroom dancing," which she said is quietly popular in Paducah. She pointed out that there are other dancing facilities in town, such as the Ruth Johnson School of Dance on Broadway, and the Paducah Dance Academy on Cairo Road. She loves to dance, and she wants to share it with people.

She offered to donate the hall for the March 30 annual Relay for Life Dancing with the Stars fundraiser in hopes that the dancing will take place there. She would like to do the tango.

But first she has to find a dance instructor to teach classes. In the meantime, the hall will rely on large gatherings and group functions as it did for years.