Our Past Is Present November 27, 2018

November 27, 2018

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

            Today’s program contains some thoughts about the good old days at the Opera House as remembered in 1932.  Remember the Opera House was formally opened in 1882 by the Junction City Dramatic Club, which performed “Miralda”.  A.J. Barnes was the first manager of the Opera House.  He was succeeded by William Lockstone, city clerk, in 1898 and he was followed by A.P. Trott. T.W. Dorn was the manager of the Opera House in 1898 when the Opera House was destroyed by fire, which was said to have burned for a week. 

            All the old timers of Junction City remembered that cold rainy, snowy night and the fire.  The firemen managed to confine the fire to the one building. A portion of the east wall fell as did the west and south walls. 

            S.W. Pierce, J.C. Scott, A.H. Bartell and M.K. Bitterman made the first move toward the rebuilding of the opera house by a private subscription of $700.  These men had their businesses on Seventh Street and wanted to see the street built up. 

            The work on the new building got under way at once and it was hurried along.  It was announced by Mr. Dorn that the house would be open sometime in October with “Milk White Flag”.  And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.