Mt. Horeb Opera Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mt. Horeb Opera Block
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Mt. Horeb Opera Block
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| Location | 109-117 E. Main St. Mount Horeb, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Gordon and Paunack |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne/Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000068 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1989 |
The Mt. Horeb Opera Block is a large, three-story building in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. It was built in 1895. This building has a special design called Queen Anne. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's an important historic place.
Contents
History of the Opera Block
A Town Grows
In 1881, the town of Mount Horeb started to grow. It became a busy place near the railroad tracks. Farmers brought their milk here to be collected and processed. People in town needed places to gather and have fun. Some businesses had halls for social events. For example, Andrew Thompson had a hall with a stage above his furniture store.
Building the Opera Block
In 1894, a group of people formed a company. They called it the Mt. Horeb Opera Block Company. They raised money to build a big new building. Some of the people who invested were T.G. Lingard and William Sommer.
The company bought land at Main and Second Streets. They hired architects J.C. Gordon and Fred W. Paunack to design the building. These architects were from Madison, Wisconsin. Workers started digging the basement in April. The building was ready for its first shows by November of the same year.
What the Building Looked Like
The Mt. Horeb Opera Block is three stories tall. This made it stand out from most other buildings nearby, which were only two stories.
The building's design mixes two styles:
- Queen Anne style can be seen in the round tower on the corner. It also shows in the windows that stick out from the roof. The different patterns of bricks also show this style.
- Romanesque Revival style is seen in the round arches above the windows and doors.
On the ground floor, there were four shops. They had large glass windows and strong metal frames. Most of the space above these shops was the opera hall. This hall was two stories tall. It had a stage on one side. There was also a two-story dressing room for performers. A U-shaped balcony went around the stage. Two offices were located on the other side of the building.
Events and Activities
The Mt. Horeb Opera Block was a very busy place. In 1895, some of the first plays performed there included Strangers of a Great City and Sweet Genevieve. Many of these shows were completely full.
Over the years, the building hosted many different events:
- Theater shows: Traveling groups of actors performed plays.
- Dances: People gathered for social dances.
- Political rallies: Important speeches and meetings took place here.
- Movies: After 1907, the building started showing films.
- School events: High school graduation ceremonies were held here.
- Sports: Basketball games were played in the hall.
- Speeches: Groups like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union gave talks.
In 1917, the local high school burned down. Classes were held at the Mt. Horeb Opera Block while a new school was being built.
Changes Over Time
The opera house closed in 1922. Other places in town, like the new high school and other dance halls, might have offered competition.
T.G. Lingard, one of the original investors, bought the opera house. He changed the large opera space. He divided it into three new floors. These floors became meeting spaces for groups like the Freemasons and the American Legion.
