Our Past Is Present March 13, 2018

March 13, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            It is Tuesday and that means we will be continuing the historical journey about the C.L. Hoover Opera House.  Again, this information was taken from a document prepared by the Late Rob Stevens.  We pick up the story on “August 5, 1986, when the voters approved a new swimming pool, but turned down the Opera House.  The vote was 1,741 to 1, 256.  The Opera House still sat empty.  After $100,000 of repairs and redecoration, the Junction City Little Theater was still at the 18^th Street Building. 

            Jerry Brecheisen wrote a letter dated April 17, 1987 in which he stated “I believe the entire community suffered with the defeat of the Opera House project.  It would have meant another quality project anchoring another busy area downtown.  Quality theater downtown meant a lot and I believe the construction and remodeling obstacles could have all been overcome.”

            Richard Pinaire stated that “Society suffered because we don’t have a quality cultural center.  Instead we have a cinderblock building with a tin roof.  It is shameful we don’t have a better place.  The Opera House was one more critical link in the chain of recruitment for this city. The election put the city commission in a difficult position.  In four to six weeks the Citizens for the Opera House and Swimming Pool got a reasonably good number of votes with a lot of misinformation.  Government now has to make a decision and lack of JCLT support has put the city commission in a difficult position”, Pinaire said.

            The last of Rob Stevens work will be shared next Tuesday, so please stay tuned….to “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.