Grainfield Opera House Window and Door Donors

All of the original 32 windows and doors to the Opera House have been sold. A newly added door to the ground entrance of the new second floor stairs is now available for $500.

Richard & Florence Roemer recently purchased the last available window.

Two new Opera House members have been added as well:
Brian Kaiser
and
Lavina Logan.

Grainfield Opera House 9th Annual Christmas Lighting and Raffle

The 9th Annual Christmas Lighting and Raffle was held at the Grainfield Opera House on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The community choir directed by Alma Golden sang Christmas carols. After the drawings, hot cider, coffee and cookies were served. Approximately 170 guests attended the function.

Donation_______________________Donated By

3 Rolls of 50 stamps (Flag of our Nation) ____Denise Packard
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Harvest Market ___Phil & Pam Garrett
Tote Bag with Rhinestone Décor __________Jacky & Keith Zerr
$10.00 Gift Certificate to GCIA___________Von & Cristy Tuttle
$10.00 Gift Certificate to Gove Café________Von & Cristy Tuttle
$100.00 CASH PRIZE _________________Donna & Delbert Bollig
Beef Jerky__________________________Loretta & Wes Turner
$15.00 Gift Certificate to Dug Out__________Brian & Christy Rathgeberger
Portable Handheld CD Player_____________Janet Ziegler
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Shaw Motor_______Herman & Jan Zerr
Christmas Table Decoration ______________Ellen & Ron Eberle
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Harvest Market ____Dan & Nicole Godek
Basket of Kansas Products _______________Diana & Delmar Kaiser
$10.00 Gift Certificate to GCIA____________Daryl & Cheryl Remington
$10.00 Gift Certificate to Gove Café_________Daryl & Cheryl Remington
$25.00 Gift Certificate Cooksey Appliance_____Kenny & Lela Cooksey
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Harvest Market_____Ron & Karol Katt
2 Coin Sets from 1941 to 2008_____________Steve Golden
$30.00 CASH PRIZE___________________Catherine Morel
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Harvest Market ____M & A Barnett Trucking
1 Bag of Dog Food _____________________Hi-Plains Coop
1 Bag of Cat Food______________________Hi-Plains Coop
$25.00 Gift Certificate to FDIC/Park________Jerry & Amy Gallentine
Basket of Homemade Ornaments___________Jan & Lee McCubbin
$25.00 to Grinnell Locker________________Brian Beckman
$30.00 Gift Certificate to Shaw Motor _______Kathy Heinrich
$25.00 Roll of Gold Dollars _______________Kansas Land Bank/Scott Bird
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Family Market/Quinter_Scott & Cheryl Bird
Basket of Homemade Pins________________Jan & Lee McCubbin
$30.00 Gift Certificate to Harvest Market_____Better Built Trailers/ Mike Bainter
$20.00 Gift Certificate to Dug Out__________Great Plains Backhoe & Trenching
$15.00 Gift Certificate to Dairy Queen/Quinter_Joni & Kurtis Kerns
$10.00 Gift Certificate to Dairy Queen/Quinter_Joni & Kurtis Kerns
Homemade Quilt______________________Laverna Moore
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Grainfield Supply____Terry Cox
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Frontier Ag________Frontier Ag/Grainfield
$25.00 Gift Certificate to Harvest Market_____Herl Ag Spraying
Backpack____________________________Skip Yowell
Backpack____________________________Skip Yowell
Book _______________________________Skip Yowell
Collectors Choice of Duck Decoys____________Skip Yowell
Bag ________________________________Skip Yowell
Bag ________________________________Skip Yowell
Bag ________________________________Skip Yowell
Bag ________________________________Skip Yowell

Fifth Annual "Opera"tunity Arts and Crafts Fair

The "Opera"tunity Arts and Crafts Fair was held in the Grainfield Opera House on Saturday, November 14, 2009. The following vendors were present from 9 AM to 4PM. Lunch was available.

NAME________BUSINESS NAME________ADDRESS

CHARLA MOOS__Rosary Bracelets, Jellies__Grinnell, KS
JUDY TUTTLE__J Tuttle Art and Photography__Grinnell, KS
KATHLEEN BECKMAN__Head to Toe Health Systems__Norton, KS
SANDI PARKER/GERALDINE__Sand Rap’s__Oakley, KS
BONNIE LAGER__Avon__Grinnell, KS
KARA WOLF__Baked Items__Quinter, KS
ROSE MARY GOETZ__Rose Mary's Sewing Gifts__Grainfield, KS
ROCHELLE RODENBECK__Pastimes__Colby, KS
MARY BETH ROSE__The Crafty Nut Hut__Hays, KS
JACKY ZERR__Tupperware__Grinnell, KS
EVERETT WANKER__Wind Chimes__Hill City, KS
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH__Karol Katt__Grainfield, KS
GCMC AUXILIARY__Antonia Waldman__Quinter, KS
KATY HOPSON__Delicate Designs__Hays, KS
JENNIFER STROUP__Discovery Toys__Grainfield, KS
ELSIE RIETCHECK__Roped Designs__Rexford, KS
LISA RIETH__Scentsy__Grainfield, KS
STEPHANIE MIZELL__Opal Ann's - Candles & Beadwork__Hoxie, KS
SHIRLEY POPP__Shirley J Popp__Hoxie, KS
KIM RUMBACK__K & K Candles__Oakley, KS
CONNIE MUSGROVE__Uppercase Living__Quinter, KS
SHARON CHANNELL__Channell's Sales__WaKeeney, KS
JENNA SIMON__Lia Sophia Jewelry__Quinter, KS
JEFFREY HARSH__Eye Glass Cleaner__Oakley, KS
ANGIE BERENS__Jellies, Candles, Homemade Soaps__St Francis, KS
DAVID TIDBALL__Jerky, Sauce, Wood products__WaKeeney, KS
NYLA DOMSCH__Saus Haus Inc__Colby, KS
JOYCE BAALMAN__Tastefully Simple__Grinnell, KS

Grainfield Opera House Scheduled Functions

This is a list of functions that have been held or will occur in the future on the first floor of the Opera House. Some of these events are annual occurrences. With completion of the renovation of the second floor and the addition of a second staircase (fire code requirement), an increase of activities can be expected. The Opera House is functioning as a Civic Center for Grainfield.

July 19, 2008 - 1973 Graduating Class Reunion

August 28, 2008 - Guided tour of Opera House

August 31, 2008 – Harvest Pie Festival

November 1, 2008 – Grainfield "Opera"tunity Arts & Craft Fair

November 7, 2008 – Guided tour of Opera House

November 8, 2008 – Wedding

November 29, 2008 – Christmas Lighting and Drawing

December 20, 2008 – Santa’s Visit

December 27, 2008 – Family Reunion

February 21, 2009 – Town Hall Meeting

March 24, 2009 - Guided tour of Opera House

April 11, 2009 – Family Reunion

April 18, 2009 – High School Prom

June 19, 2009 – Wedding Reception

September 6, 2009 – Harvest Pie Festival

September 9, 2009 - Guided tour of Opera House

November 14, 2009 – Grainfield "Opera"tunity Arts & Craft Fair

November 28, 2009 – Christmas Lighting and Drawing

December 19, 2009 – Santa’s Visit

Latest Grainfield Opera House Window and Door Donors

WINDOW AND DOOR DONORS
_Deloris Ziegler Wasinger
_Jack & Dee Foster Family
_In Memory of Andy & Christina Ziegler

There are only 3 windows left. Please check the schematics below to see which windows are available.

Grainfield Opera House Renovation as of 4-11-09

"Click on each photo to enlarge it." 2nd Floor Front Room

Grainfield Opera House Renovation as of 4-11-09

"Click on each photo to enlarge it." New Steps

Grainfield Opera House Membership and Donors

New information on new donors and new members can be found in the Grainfield Opera House Donors and Membership area of the blog.

More pictures of the Opera House and the windows will follow in the near future.

Also, I will start listing the passing of alumni. I would appreciate any help the alumni can give me on this.

More Grainfield Opera House History

HISTORY

In 1879, the town of Grainfield was established by the Union Pacific along the old Kansas Pacific line that was laid out in the 1860s from Kansas City to Denver. Crop failure in the early 1870s kept farmers from settling the area, but by 1886, Gove County was organized with a population of “3032 bonafide inhabitants.” Within a year the population increased by a third; the agricultural production tripled.

The Grainfield Town Company took over the town site from the Union Pacific in 1887. The seven principal partners in the Company began to build structures to support a community and to impress the passersby that Grainfield was an attractive and permanent town.

On March 25th, the local newspaper announced that “a large brick block will be built on Main Street this season with store rooms below and opera hall above.” In April of 1887, specifications were published in the newspaper for bids to construct the Opera House basement. J.B. Beal, chairman of the building committee, noted that the Town Company would furnish the stone and lime on the site. Dirt from the excavation of the basement was used to raise the town’s streets. The limestone rock for the foundation was shipped from the Bunker Hill area east of Hays, KS. Stone for the foundation was hauled in by the carload by the Union Pacific. Three stone masons from Bunker Hill were engaged. The kiln northwest of town provided the brick for the exterior walls. In November of 1887, the firewalls were constructed and the roof was completed. The ornate cast iron front, manufactured by the Mesker Brothers of St. Louis, MO, was shipped west by railroad and then assemble and attached to the brick by local workmen.

When the building was finished, even the editor of the Grinnell Golden Belt, the newspaper of the Grainfield’s neighbor to the west and rival, had to admit, “The Grainfield Opera House is undoubtedly the finest building between Salina and Denver.”

In January of 1888, the Cap Sheaf office, the local newspaper, was the first business which moved into the north half of the building. Rafferty Brothers moved its mercantile store into the south half the next month. A harness shop was housed behind the printing office on the ground floor. Upstairs were offices and meeting rooms. The auditorium was used for performances, dances and church programs. A private school was once held upstairs and the first high school classes in town were held downstairs on the north side.

As one business would leave the first floor rooms, others moved in, including a doctor’s office and a hardware store. Vaudeville, dancing, traveling hypnotists and comedians, boxing, school classes and commencements were among the many activities held in the Opera Hall upstairs.

Since early day long distance travel was limited to horse and buggy and train, stock companies came to town by rail or wagon and put on plays and concerts. They would stay three to five nights at a time. Those coming to the community dances came before sundown, danced until midnight, then retired to the local hotel for a meal. They returned to the Opera House and danced until daylight so they could see their way as they returned home. The children were bedded down on the stage with lap robes from the wagons.

Enlargement of the north and west entrances probably occurred during the 1920s when Shaw Motor Company used the entire ground floor. The last occupants were Walt’s Home and Auto on the ground floor and the Masonic Lodge the second floor room on the east.

In one way or another, the Grainfield Opera House was at the center of the community activity until its recent acquisition and rehabilitation by the Grainfield Lions Club. The building was certainly associated with the early optimism and subsequent fortunes of Grainfield and the surrounding farming community.

BACKGROUND

The Grainfield Lions Club and local residents recognized the importance and prominence of this unique building on the main street of their town. The Grainfield Opera House, Inc. was formed as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation allowing it to seek grants and receive charitable contributions. In 1980, the Opera House was placed on the National Register for its architectural significance which made it eligible for grants under the Kansas State Historical Society’s Heritage Trust Fund program. In 1996, Grainfield Opera House, Inc. received a grant of $90,000.00 from the Heritage Trust and again in 2001, it received another grant in the same amount to continue work on the building.

With the first grant, structural masonry repairs, re-roofing and necessary window and façade repairs were completed. With the help of the second grant, work is being done on the interior walls, ceilings and floors. Bathroom facilities have been completed. Community members have donated considerable time and equipment in the work that has been completed over the past decade in rehabilitating the Opera House. We estimate approximately 15,000 volunteer hours have been donated.


Note: population circa 2005 in Gove County was 2,763.

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.

Grainfield Opera House Window Donors

WINDOW AND DOOR DONORS

_Richard & Florence Roemer
_Deloris Ziegler Wasinger
_Jack & Dee Foster Family
_In Memory of Andy & Christina Ziegler
_In Memory of Susan Deges by Leon Deges Family
_Leroy & Vera Hartman Family
_In Memory of George & Odella Deges, Eldon, Richard, and Mary & Judy by Bernard, Gene, Leon, Elmer, Lorna & Family and Charlene
_In Memory of Raymond & Isabella Gagnon by Raymond A., Thomas, David & Janice
_Delbert & Donna Bollig
_Delbert & Donna Bollig
_Delbert & Donna Bollig
_In Memory of Louise K. Stubbs Parrish
_Eberle Insurance Agency – Ron & Ellen Eberle
_Joe L & Flitzita Kaiser Family
_Citizens State Bank – Lee & Jan McCubbin
_Citizens State Bank – Lee & Jan McCubbin
_Citizens State Bank – Lee & Jan McCubbin
_Delmar J. Gillespie Trust
_Merle Moore Family
_Gail Blank Family
_Wolf Family Trust
_Ron & Carol Katt
_In Memory of Harold “Spoof” & Marjorie Yowell
_George R & Eva Orten Family
_Pete Ziegler Family
_Gary Evans
_In Memory of Hank & Edith Ziegler Family
_In Memory of Delbert D. Ziegler
_Delmar & Diana Kaiser
_Arlin & Janet Ziegler Family

There were originally a total of 32 windows and doors ranging from $250.00 to $1,500.00. All 32 of them are now sold. There is a newly added door to the bottom of the new stairsteps (first floor entrance - $500) available. Some donors have donated multiple times as noted by the repeat of their names for each donation. The latest donors are at the top of the list.

Grainfield Opera House Window Donors - Front Side

"Click on the drawing or photo to enlarge it."

Grainfield Opera House Window Donors - North Side

"Click on the drawing or photo to enlarge it."

Grainfield Opera House Window Donors - South Side

"Click on the drawing or photo to enlarge it."

Grainfield Opera House Window Donors - West Side

"Click on the drawing or photo to enlarge it."

Grainfield Opera House Membership

Members - Grainfield Opera House Inc.

Newest members @ 7-3-10:

Brian Kaiser

Lavina Logan

Newest members @ 4-16-09:
Eugene Deges
Dan Godek
Nicole Godek
Edward Gagnon
James Gagnon
Martin Gagnon
Kirby Gillespie
Vera Hartman
Roy McBride

Members – Alphabetic Order:
Janice Arnhold
Nick Arnhold
Jeanine Beamgard
Lora Billow
Arlene Bird
Glenn Bird
Fred Bixenman
Delbert Bollig
Donna Bollig
Leona Carter
Tim Cheney
Ruth Cheney (deceased)
Carole Crist
D. A. Crist
Eugene Deges
Leon Deges
Adolph Dinkel
Joann Dinkel
Rudy Dinkel
Janet Downey
Linda Dreher
Jim Dubois (deceased)
Billie Eberle
Ellen Eberle
Ron Eberle
Dee Foster
David Gagnon
Edward Gagnon
James Gagnon
Martin Gagnon
Tom Gagnon (deceased)
Phil Garrett
Pam Garrett
Beulah Gillespie
Carlene Gillespie
Kirby Gillespie
Mitchell Gillespie
Ron Gillespie
Tonda Gillespie
Velma Gillespie
Dan Godek
Nicole Godek
Rosemary Goetz
Dr. Steven L. Golden
Winifred Greenwood (deceased)
Roger Hallenbeck
Kay Hallenbeck
Brenda Hammerton
Kathy Hartman
Vera Hartman
Joseph Heier
Kimberly Heier
Louella Heier
Dixie Heinrich

Brian Kaiser
Delmar Kaiser
Diana Kaiser
Marlene Kaiser
Shirley Kaiser
Ollie Katt (deceased)
Patricia Kennedy
Karen Kerksiek
Carol Kliewer
Norman Kliewer (deceased)
Bob Ladenburger
Jay Ladenburger
Marianne Ladenburger

Lavina Logan
Martha Greenwood Laffel
Doris Manhart
Dean May
Denora May
Karen May
Roy McBride
Lee McCubbin
Laverna Moore
Mark Moore
Catherine Morel
Cynthia Orr
William L Orten
M. Cheryl Patrick
Cynthia Peck
William A Petersen Jr.
Marilyn L Petersen
Margaret Powers
Herbert F. Queen
Edna M Queen
Cheri Remington
Vera Orten Roberts
Eulalia Sanger
Merrill Sanger
Jolene Schuster
Roger Schuster
Elaine Selenke
Florence Orten Smith
Lisa Steerman
Pamela Taylor
Wanda Thummel
Cristy S. Tuttle
Bill Umscheid
Madelene Umscheid
Deloris Wasinger
Allan Weber
Irwin Wolf
Skip H. M. Yowell
Janet Ziegler
Keith Zerr
Kevin Zerr

Grainfield Opera House Membership Application

Instructions To Print Membership Application Form: Please "select" (highlight) all the information in the entire post below, either copy and paste into application (word processor, word pad, etc.) of your choice, then "print" or simply "select" (highlight) all the information in the entire post below, right click on selected text and choose "print" (you may need to choose the "selection" radio button on your printer). Or use any other method of printing that you desire (i.e. File Menu, choose Print after selecting text).

GRAINFIELD OPERA HOUSE, INC.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
LIFE TIME MEMBERSHIP


NAME _______________________________________

MAILING ADDRESS _____________________________

CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE __________________________


TELEPHONE __________________________________

E-MAIL ADDRESS ______________________________

DATE _______________________________________



$25.00 Per Person, Life Time Membership. Please fill out form and send cash or check to Grainfield Opera House, Inc. c/o Janet Ziegler, Treasurer, P.O. Box 158, Grainfield, KS 67737 (if you have questions, e-mail address: ajzig1@ruraltel.net ). You will receive a membership certificate by return mail.

For a donation of $250.00, $500.00, $750.00, $1,000.00 or $1,500.00 you can have your name or the name of a loved one placed on a name plate below a window in the Opera House depending on the size and location of the window. There are only a limited number of windows left. This is a great way to make a lasting memory of family while also helping to rebuild the Opera House.

All donations are tax deductible; we are a 501(c)3 organization.

You are welcome to stop by the Opera House at any time.

Grainfield Opera House

Below is an e-mail received by Janet Ziegler, a board member of the Grainfield Opera House. It demonstrates the uniqueness of our little community. Click on photo to enlarge it.



Wrights Hall of 1888
Ouray, Colorado

----- Original Message -----
From: Bryjka, Darius
To: ajzig@ruraltel.net
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 4:10 PM
Subject: Grainfield Opera House

Dear Ms. Ziegler,

My name is Darius Bryjka and I’m a project designer at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. I am also spearheading the ‘got mesker?’ initiative, which focuses on the identification and increased awareness of the ornamental metal products produced by the Mesker Brothers Iron Works from St. Louis, Missouri, and those made by George L. Mesker & Company of Evansville, Indiana.
I am contacting you in regards to the facade of the Grainfield Opera House, which was manufactured by the Mesker Brothers in 1887. I was aware of the building for a couple of years now but at the time I wasn’t sure of its condition or how it compared to other similar facades in the country. According to your website, the building has been restored or is undergoing restoration, which is wonderful. I also know that there are few other Mesker Brothers facades that are of the same vintage and magnitude, both in scale and importance. I was recently in Ouray, Colorado, to present a program about Mesker products to the local historical society. We held the lecture in Wright’s Hall of 1888, which has a facade very similar to that of the Grainfield Opera House (see attached). To my knowledge, these are the only two facades to share this design in the country.
I am very pleased to see that local volunteers have embraced the building and that lots of work was done to preserve and maintain it. Its facade is important not only to the local community but to the nation. The Mesker companies had a tremendous impact on small town architecture nationwide and the facade of the Grainfield Opera House is in very small company of intact early examples of their work.
We maintain a website, http://www.gotmesker.com/, where you can find more information about our efforts to recognize the three Mesker brothers and their two companies. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. If there’s something that I can do to help with the preservation of this great resource, I will gladly be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Darius Bryjka
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
One Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: 217.782.8221
E-mail: darius.bryjka@illinois.gov
http://www.illinoishistory.gov/
http://www.gotmesker.com/

Grainfield Opera House E-mail

From: Janet Ziegler [mailto:ajzig@ruraltel.net]
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 7:46 PM
To: Bryjka, Darius
Subject: Re: Grainfield Opera House

Hello, Darius

I am so pleased to hear from you about our historic Grainfield Opera House. How is it that you found us on the web site? I never realized that the Mesker Bros. facade had that much significance. Did you know that when you traveled to Ouray , CO you probably passed by our town of Grainfield , KS on your way if you took I-70. We sit right on I-70. Yes, we have the lower floor of the opera house renovated after about 12 years of hard work and few laborers and we are still working on the second floor where the stage and dance hall are. Now we need to decide on what we want to do with the building and we have differing opinions amongst our group. We are always in short supply of funds so we have several fund raisers ongoing.

Do you think we could use this to our advantage somehow, the fact that we are one of the few opera houses to have a facade manufactured by the Mesker Brothers. We would be willing to do what ever you suggest to gain some notoriety because at the present it is just a building sitting here. We have more interest from individuals like you than of our own towns people. What is your purpose in the "got mesker" initiative?

I enjoyed your web site and will share it with other members on our committee. If you ever get out this way again please look us up and we will give you a tour. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Janet Ziegler

Return Grainfield Opera House E-mail

----- Original Message -----
From: Bryjka, Darius
To: Janet Ziegler
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 9:42 AM
Subject: RE: Grainfield Opera House

Hi Janet,

Since I flew to Colorado I did not have a chance to stop by Grainfield, which I would have done if I drove. I think that you can definitely use the rarity of the building’s facade as an advantage. It’s not that there aren’t other opera houses that used Mesker Brothers facades, but the facade of your and Ouray’s are some of the earliest examples of their work still in existence and the facade designs are also unique. In the 1890s, Mesker Brothers changed and standardized their designs so their later buildings don’t look like your opera house. Even in 1887-88, this design with rounded upper story windows was unique among their offerings. This entire discussion about Mesker Brothers depends of course on whether someone cares about them or not. But since they were the largest, or one of the largest, manufacturers and distributors of ornamental sheet-metal building products, and their work can still be found in large numbers in every state, their impact is undeniable.
The Wright Opera House in Ouray is in a similar situation, with a local non-for profit trying to acquire the building and restore it as a performing arts venue. They are going after state and potentially federal grants that would fund a lot of the work. I have promised to help them in proving the significance of the facade in any way I can, and would be happy to do the same for Grainfield. A lot of the reasons for my going there was to increase local awareness of the facade as an important historic resource, since it faces uncertain times. I gave a lecture about the Meskers in the building and we also did a walking tour of downtown Ouray, which has 13 other examples of Mesker facades. This is exactly the intention of the ‘got mesker?’ initiative – to get people interested in the discussion of these buildings, and to ultimately increase their preservation and rehabilitation.
Please let me know how I can be of help. I will definitely let you know if I travel in your area so we can meet and look at the building.

Sincerely,
Darius Bryjka
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
One Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield , Illinois 62701

Phone: 217.782.8221
E-mail: darius.bryjka@illinois.gov
http://www.illinois-history.gov/
http://www.gotmesker.com/