I actually think the best years are ahead for this building.
David Miller, CEO of Hoosier Uplands, spoke recently about their latest community restoration project: The Mitchell Opera House.
For nearly 108 years, the Opera House has been a fixture of the city of Mitchell. It began as a County Hall – a gathering place for the community for civic and theatre productions. It was a teen canteen – a place for kids to hang out after a basketball game. It was City Hall – a place to park fire trucks, speak to a police officer, or pay a water bill.
And in the 1980s, spearheaded by the Hartzell family, the community resurrected the building to become a theatre once again.
But time does have a way of helping buildings deteriorate. The building was in need of a new HVAC system, new stage lights, new sound equipment, and an audio-visual system. The Opera House needed to be accessible to people with disabilities. It needed another bathroom.
And over the years, bats had nested inside the building – endangered bats that needed to find a new home.
With a history of reclaiming spaces such as Stalker Elementary and Paoli High School, Hoosier Uplands was in a unique position to assist in restoring the Opera House to its former glory. A grand opening is scheduled for July 4, 2015. Tickets can be purchased at www.mitchelloperahouse.org/events
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