Litchfield Opera House facts for kids
The Litchfield Opera House is an important community building in Litchfield, Minnesota. It was built over 120 years ago to be a place where people could gather for meetings, watch plays, and hold special events. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its long history and importance to the community.
Quick facts for kids |
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Litchfield Opera House
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The Litchfield Opera House from the northwest
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| Location | 126 N. Marshall Ave., Litchfield, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1900 |
| Built by | N.P. Franzen |
| Architect | W.T. Towner |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000019 |
| Added to NRHP | October 4, 1984 |
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The Litchfield Opera House
A group of business people in Litchfield decided in 1899 that their town needed a new place. They wanted a building for meetings and theater shows. The old town hall, built in 1871, was too old and small.
The local government, Litchfield Township, Minnesota, paid for the new building. It was designed by an architect named W.T. Towner. N.P. Franzen was the builder. The city of Litchfield bought the building from the township in 1911. In 1983, the opera house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list recognizes important historical places in the United States.
A Special Building Design
The Litchfield Opera House is a great example of a style called Renaissance Revival architecture. This style was popular around the year 1900. It's quite rare to see buildings like this in Litchfield or Meeker County.
The outside of the building is mostly made of yellow clay bricks. These bricks were made right there in Litchfield. Red bricks and red terra cotta (a type of baked clay) patterns add special touches.
From Opera to Offices and Back
The opera house first opened on November 8, 1900. The very first show was a play called "The Marble Heart." Many different events happened there over the years. Besides plays and operas, it hosted town meetings and elections. It was also used for military recruitment and other government activities.
Sometime between 1930 and 1939, the inside of the building changed. It was remodeled to become city offices. By 1983, when it was nominated for the National Register, it housed many groups. City offices, senior citizens' meetings, Girl Scout meetings, and community education classes all used the building. The Litchfield Police Department also had some rooms there.
In 2002, the city offices moved out of the building. They moved into temporary trailers because mold was found inside. The city finished building a new city hall in 2006. For a while, no one knew what would happen to the old opera house.
Restoring History
In 2008, the city sold the building to a group called the Greater Litchfield Opera House Association, Inc. They bought it for $100,000. The city accepted a special payment: a silver dollar from the year 1900! The rest of the money was used to fix up the building for the community.
From 2008 to 2023, the building got a lot of work done. Its roof, brickwork, windows, and inside were all repaired. This was possible thanks to grants from the Minnesota Historical Society. These grants came from the 2008 Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.
Today, the Litchfield Opera House is available for rent. People can use it for parties, weddings, dinners, funerals, and other personal events.
Gallery
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Litchfield Opera House before restoration
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Inspection of brickwork and widows
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Restoration of brickwork
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Cornice before restoration
