Our Past Is Present February 6, 2018

February 6, 2018

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

Well, it is Tuesday and time for more on the Opera House.  We are sharing these stories on Tuesdays to honor this pristine building’s 120^th Anniversary of existence.  Last Tuesday, we shared information written by Rob Stevens about the Opera House in which he had written that “even though voters rejected an $840,000 bond request to restore the Opera House, Junction City Little Theater committee members like Jolana Montgomery, Mona Kessinger, Riley Werts, Gretchen Haas, John Triplett and Rob Stevens were committed and determined to the project.”  Some of the next commentary may sound familiar to us as we reflect back on the most recent campaign to seek voter approval in November of 2017 for a new 105 million dollar high school. 

            On March 25 of 1984, the “Daily Union” newspaper printed its only editorial written about the remodeling of the Opera House.  It stated in part: “Where’s the money? Might be an appropriate question to ask…. Furthermore, the estimated cost of more than $800,000 to renovate the old Opera House may be better spent on a new building.  The modern 20,000 square foot Dorothy Bramlage Public Library was completed last year for less than that.”  Others in the city were asking the same question, what was the significance of this old building?  On the other hand, KJCK Radio gave its immediate editorial support to the historic building and never wavered.

            “Both the city and JCLT began active searches for outside money.  In comparing theirs to the Concordia effort to restore the Brown Grand Theatre, fund searchers found grant money was not as readily available as it had been.  “Brick and mortar grants” were more available for restoration and “art grants” for programs.  A number of JCLT representatives attended seminars on fund raising and City Lobbyist, Earl Cocke in Washington was directed to research available grants.  The results were….. negligible.”

            Well don’t despair.  We know there is a happy ending, so bear with us as we travel through the tough times of restoring the Opera House.  Be listening next Tuesday for more about the history of the C.L. Hoover Opera House on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.