McHaffey Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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McHaffey Opera House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 414 Elm St. Eldon, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001317 |
| Added to NRHP | November 22, 1995 |
The McHaffey Opera House is a special old building in Eldon, Iowa, United States. It was built way back in 1891. For many years, it was a busy place for the community.
After the 1940s, the building was mostly empty for a long time. But in 1995, a group of volunteers bought it. They started working hard to fix it up. The McHaffey Opera House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 1995. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Opera House
Building a Community Hub
An Irish immigrant named David McHaffey owned a brickyard in Eldon. In 1891, he used bricks from his own business to build the opera house. Eldon was a busy town because it was on a main train line. This was the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
Because of the train, the McHaffey Opera House became part of the "New York Circuit." This was a network of theaters where traveling groups performed. They brought popular Broadway plays and classic Shakespearean shows. They also had vaudeville acts, which were fun variety shows with different performers.
More Than Just Shows
The opera house was used for many other things too. Local people could show off their talents. There were also political rallies, where people gathered to support leaders. High school graduation ceremonies were held there as well.
In the early 1900s, the McHaffey Opera House even hosted basketball games! It was truly a center for community life.
From Stage to Screen
As movies became popular, the opera house changed. A special room was added for a projectionist. This allowed them to show silent films, which were movies without sound.
Later, when "talkies" (movies with sound) became a huge hit, sound equipment was added. The last high school graduation at the McHaffey Opera House was in 1941. By the 1940s, Eldon had another movie theater. So, the McHaffey was not used for movies anymore.
A Brief Return and Long Sleep
In 1947, floods damaged the newer movie theater. This gave the opera house one last chance to show movies for a short time. After that, the McHaffey Opera House was mostly empty. It was hardly used, except for storage.
Besides entertainment, the building also had other uses. Dr. S.H. Sawyers, a surgeon for the Rock Island train line, had an office there. This was in the 1890s. Other businesses also rented space on the main floor. At first, there were two separate shops. Later, the wall between them was removed to make one big space. It was a grocery store and then an auto parts store.
The Opera House Comes Back to Life
A Community Effort
In 1995, a group of community volunteers formed a non-profit organization. Their goal was to save and restore the McHaffey Opera House. It had been empty for almost 50 years.
The restoration work has been paid for in different ways. Some money came from grants. But a lot of it came from community efforts. These included a thrift shop and selling yearly calendars.
Restoring the Past
Many parts of the building have been fixed up. All of the original wooden floors have been restored. Some of the old seats are still there. Most of the walls have been repaired and repainted.
A new heating and air conditioning system was put in. The roof was also fixed to stop water damage. This damage happened when the building was not used for many years.
Modern Updates and Future Plans
Modern improvements have also been added. For example, a handicap-accessible elevator was installed. This makes the building easier for everyone to use.
A very popular event in southeast Iowa is the Christmas Tree Wonderland. It happens every year on the main floor of the McHaffey. More than 75 beautifully decorated trees are on display during the holiday season.
The next step in the restoration is to paint the walls next to the main stage. The long-term plans are to bring back live theater performances. They also want to create a museum in part of the building.
Music Returns to the Stage
The stage came alive again on May 14, 2013. The Cardinal Community School District had their "Parade of Bands" there. The 5th grade, Middle School, and High School bands all performed. Over 200 people filled the theater to watch the show. This event also helped the McHaffey financially. School employees donated $300 to help with the ongoing restoration work.
