Grainfield Opera House History

GRAINFIELD'S 1887 OPERA HOUSE

The Grainfield Town Co. purchased the land where the Opera House was built in 1887. The main architectural feature was the galvanized iron facade, manufactured by Mesker and Brothers, of St. Louis, MO. It is stamped on the ornamental design on the lower portion of the building. To our knowledge, this one and the one in Ouray, CO are the only two facades to share this design in the country. Cast iron facades were popular with builders toward the latter part of the 19th century.

Almost a year after work began on the building, businesses were moving in to the new store fronts. The Cap Sheaf, a local newspaper, was one of the first businesses to move in. There was the dry goods store and grocery downstairs (or middle floor) and a Doctor's office upstairs in the front room overlooking the main street of Grainfield.

The town had a population of 500 people at this time. There were a half dozen general stores, two banks, two hotels, and a high school with no auditorium, so school functions continued at the Opera House.

The early settlers would drive their horses and buggies in before sundown, dance until midnight, then went to the Keystone Hotel to eat an elaborate breakfast. Then they would come back to the Opera House and continue dancing until dawn, so they could drive back home when daylight came.

The Opera House was once said to be the finest between Salina and Denver.

Entertainment in the Opera House began in November 1888. Other uses for the building were magicians performing, wrestling, boxing, concerts, movies, comedians, vaudeville, church carnivals.

In the 30's, wrestling matches and prize fights were popular. Several local people had their wedding dances in the Opera House. Grainfield's church carnivals were still held in the Opera House in the 40's.

In 1944, the community decided that the town needed a recreation hall for its youth to keep them at home. A bowling alley was put in the lower south room of the Opera House. The activities started booming in the Opera House with literary contests, ice cream socials, plays, movies, vaudeville, hypnotists, school commencements, comedians and box suppers.

Then, in the 60's, the last ones to operate in the Opera House were a tire shop, and a heating and air conditioning business with appliances new, used and repaired. The association for retarded citizens operated a used clothing store on the north side. The Masonic Lodge used the second floor room on the east for their meetings. Also, antiques were sold from there for a time on the main floor.

After that, it was vacant until 1996, when some citizens sparked an interest to do something with the Opera House. The building was acquired by the Grainfield Lions Club to preserve and restore around 1997 when they started cleaning it out.

About 1998, a 501(c)3 tax exempt status was applied for so that donations could be given as a tax exempt donation. It was granted in the name of Grainfield Opera House, Inc. A six member governing board was formed with a President, Vice President, Secreatary, and Treasurer. Dues were solicited at $25.00 per person, a one time life membership. To date we have 99 members.

Grants were received from Kansas Heritage Trust Fund and it is listed on the Kansas Historical Register. Lately, a grant from Dane G. Hansen Foundation was granted for heating, air and electrical. Volunteers built the bathrooms to the west end of the main floor two years ago.

We have held 3 annual craft fairs on opening weekend of pheasant season, with up to 37 vendors. Our annual Christmas Open House and drawings are held the Saturday after Thanksgiving with a local choir group singing Christmas carols. Wheatland Hight School rented the lower level room for their 2007 prom, banquet and dance.

The Wheatland Middle School (8th grade) history class received grant money to study the history of the Opera House to promote economic development in small rural towns. They made an i-movie of the project in the various stages of work and it is there at the Opera House for viewing by the public. They also purchased a Television with the grant money and donated it to the Opera House.

In the planning is to have the Great Western Cattle Trail depicted on the main floor and have a large Kansas products store. Some day, an antique store or display of antiques might be displayed in the Opera House, too.

Some focus meetings in Gove County have been on making the Opera House the central hub for Agri-tourism in Gove county tying in a tour to the Pyramids, Castle Rock and Butterfield Trail, Gove Museum and Indian Caves south of Gove, as well as letting people go fossil hunting. There have been tours given of the Opera House to clubs and other groups upon request.

The stage upstairs is being worked on by volunteers now with the dressing rooms sheet rocked, and the stage walls have been replaced. The ballroom upstairs, when completed, would be rented out for weddings, graduations, and receptions. The stage would be used for concerts and plays as in the early days. The Grainfield Opera House sits right off I-70 and can enable us to harvest the traffic from it attracting approximately 12,000 visitors per year.

There have been 15,000 volunteer hours put into the opera house refurbishing by local volunteers.

We will take memberships anytime for $25.00 (a one time fee). They are not yearly. Donations have been taken for the windows upstairs and downstairs of the Opera House and we are putting name plates below the windows with the name of the person donating. There are still some left. They range from $250.00, $500.00, $1000.00 & $1500.00. Families have donated some of these windows in memory of their parents and relatives, or purchased by anyone.

Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated anytime.

We need to purchase tables and chairs for the building. As of now, we have 5 old ones that were donated and if more are needed for a function, they have to bring their own.

This is a very memorable building to have in the community and we welcome any and all monetary support and visitors at anytime.

Contact Diana Kaiser 785-938-4416, Herb Queen 785-673-5585, or Janet Ziegler 785-673-4744.

We'd be happy to hear from all of you.

Note: Population circa 2005 in Grainfield was 298.