This is an interior photo of the Ishpeming Opera House. (Photo courtesy of the Superior View Studio, Marquette, www.viewsofthepast.com)

ISHPEMING — “The local lodge of Elks are determined to have an opera house. Some months ago the matter was discussed, but was dropped, the necessary raw material not being then in sight for the improvement.”

“That Ishpeming needs such a public place is well known. All agree on this point. Several propositions have been presented and the committee expects to have something substantial to report at the next meeting of the lodge. Several societies are anxious to get a meeting place in the proposed building providing one is erected. It would seem that the investment could be made to pay a reasonable interest.” (Iron Ore, February 8, 1902)

Despite the obvious enthusiasm for such a venue, it would be almost a year before the subject was again brought up.

“The opening of the theatrical season of 1903-4, which occurs in August, will find Ishpeming provided with a playhouse that will be second to no theater north of Milwaukee.

The theater question has been before local citizens many times, in many different forms. Suggestions have frequently been offered from time to time by businessmen and others who realize the necessity of a playhouse here, but the present is the first concerted movement.

The men who are putting their shoulders to the wheel with the determination that the opera house shall materialize have made a splendid start. The theater boom has been properly launched and it will not be long before the promoters will have everything in such shape that they can almost name the date of the opening.

The project will be financed by the local lodge of Elks, which is composed of something like 125 of Ishpeming and Negaunee’s leading citizens and businessmen. The Elks started a movement for an opera house about a year ago, but it died aborning.” (Mining Journal, January 22, 1903)

There were two previous opera houses, Austin’s Hall and the Gylling Opera House, but neither was of high quality. Both were on the second floor of their respective establishments and Austin’s Hall was above a meat market, while the Gylling Opera House was above a saloon.

“The progressive citizens of Ishpeming and Negaunee who have signified their intention of erecting a modern theater at the former city are to be congratulated on their enterprise. It has been for some years now a constant wonder that such a likely field as that comprising Ishpeming and Negaunee has been unprovided with a good house. The proposed theater will have a population of over 20,000 people to draw on for support and it should be highly successful from the start. And the gain will not be all Ishpeming and Negaunee’s. Each new theater built in the upper peninsula is a distinct benefit for the cities already in possession of modern opera houses, as it ensures greater ease in procuring the better grade of attractions and makes easy the formation of a circuit which will be able to do much better by the theater going public in the matter of prices. “(Mining Journal, Op Ed, January 23, 1903)

“It looks very much now as if Ishpeming is to have a new playhouse. The need is apparent to everyone. The poor old hall in which we have so long presented our theatrical affairs, and which has been abused by residents for many, many years is really too bad to longer used. Manager Butler has been jibed and reviled for fifteen long years on account of it. His patience must be of a splendid variety to have carried this burden, but he now hopes for something better. A few days since he formed a plan to erect a building and was to ask the city to endorse his scheme and his bonds. He proposed to pay $10,000 cash on the new structure and to liquidate the unpaid balance at the rate of $1,000 a year, bonds to be issued by the city. Many of the aldermen favored this, but it would have entailed considerable trouble. A special election to authorize the loan would have to be held and there might have been taxpayers enough who would oppose the plan to defeat the election. Mr. Braastad has offered a much better thing. He practically donates a site. He will let the committee place a value on it and he will take the value in stock in the building, and besides this he will contribute $1,000. He will also stand behind the remaining balance after the first night’s performance.” (Iron Ore, January 24, 1903)

“The new theater project received a big boost Tuesday evening when the local lodge of Elks discussed its plans for carrying it out. After the theater committee submitted its report a number of the members came forward and voluntarily subscribed for stock. The meeting was only fairly well attended owing to the severe storm, but what it was lacking in attendance was made up in enthusiasm by those present. Before the meeting closed the list of subscriptions had been swelled $3,000, making a total of $5,000 already subscribed.”(Mining Journal, February 5, 1903)

As was usual in construction jobs, the initial completion date was wildly optimistic. The contractor wasn’t even selected until June.

“The announcement in yesterday’s issue of The Mining Journal that members of the theater building committee, who spent Tuesday in Chicago, had closed a contract for the construction of the playhouse, was received with no little satisfaction. There has been so much new theater talk during the past fifteen years that many could not be convinced that the promoters of the enterprise meant business, but the ‘wise ones’ must now grant that the playhouse will soon be a reality.

The members of the board of directors and building committee were so well pleased with the work of Frank P. McClure, who captured the contract and M.E. Bell, his architect, that they did not ask for bids from any other source. The plans and specifications were made to the entire satisfaction of the promoters, and all considered that Mr. McClure has treated them fairly. They are also satisfied that the contractor is one of the best and most reliable theater builders in the United States. His standing is first-class, and he is thoroughly posted in opera house construction work, as he does that business exclusively.

Mr. McClure is a busy man, but he has promised to begin the construction of the Ishpeming house at the earliest possible date. Material will be ordered at once, with a view to starting the work the latter part of this month.

While in Chicago Tuesday the members of the committee selected the opera chairs. They have a mahogany finish. The parquet seats will be fully upholstered. The dress circle seats, also the first two rows I the balcony, will be of the same quality and style as the seats in the parquet, with the exception of the seat, which will be of veneer. The remainder of the balcony seats will be full veneer.” (Mining Journal, June 4, 1903)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story will continue in the coming weeks.