DARLINGTON - Over a decade ago, fundraising began to revitalize the Driver Opera House. After less than a year from receiving a $555,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources, the first visible signs of its restoration were unveiled to the public March 10.
The exterior of the first floor of the Driver Opera House Center for the Arts was revealed to a crowd of more than 30 standing in the middle of the street in downtown Darlington.
Angie Thuli, director of the Darlington Chamber of Commerce and member of the arts center board, was on hand to help Mayor Dave Breunig cut the ribbon to the front entrance after a dark tarp was pulled from the building, revealing restored brick.
"I was almost teary-eyed," Thuli said. "We had only seen it in little glimpses. It brought tears to my eyes because it was so cool. We're so excited it got to this point."
Board President Stan Krahenbuhl said the group worked to find historically accurate components for the building, such as paint colors. With the main floor set to be open by the end of April, Krahenbuhl said the group has plans to move on to the second phase; fixing the opera house theater.
It was built in 1883 and hosted shows and dances in its second-floor auditorium until a St. Patrick's Day dance in 1951. Krahenbuhl said when the fire chief at the time attended the dance, he announced the floors were inadequate to host large groups. It had been in disuse until last summer when work started.
Work began at the basement level, which no longer exists. The first phase filled in the sub-floor and installed walls to make the building sustainable with a 100-year flood foundation for roughly $1.4 million. The matching grant funds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in private donations made the work possible.
"They said you need a lot of big donors to do something like this," Krahenbuhl said. "Through this process, we have a lot of people who gave a little, and that adds up."
While the exterior of the first floor has been completed, Krahenbuhl said the first phase won't be completely done until the end of April. The first-floor space will be rented out to retailers to bring in revenue before the second phase begins. Thuli and Krahenbuhl said they have renters already interested.
While the group continues to fundraise, Krahenbuhl said members are looking to the Jeffris Foundation of Janesville to possibly fund part of the work. He said they are applying to the organization, which was established to develop historical sites throughout the Midwest via restoration.
The unveiling event allowed residents to view the interior of the first floor, hearing speeches from the mayor, Thuli and Senator Howard Marklein. There was live music and food as well.
"Our main streets are so integral to the success of our rural communities," Marklein said, thanking the people who have worked to develop the Driver so far. "This is where Wisconsin began."
Krahenbuhl noted that plans continue to be developed, the group just needs to keep raising funds for the estimated $3 million project.Interest to use the space for entertainment has been high for some time, Krahenbuhl added.
"We've been getting calls since we've had a website," he said.
It would be nice to provide a space to local group "Pop Factory Players" or to have a space with a capacity of 300 bring show-goers to downtown Darlington.
"It's a 'you build it, they will come' sort of thing," Krahenbuhl said. "We've come this far - no one wants to give up now.
For information on the project or to make a donation, visit www.driveroperahouse.org.
The exterior of the first floor of the Driver Opera House Center for the Arts was revealed to a crowd of more than 30 standing in the middle of the street in downtown Darlington.
Angie Thuli, director of the Darlington Chamber of Commerce and member of the arts center board, was on hand to help Mayor Dave Breunig cut the ribbon to the front entrance after a dark tarp was pulled from the building, revealing restored brick.
"I was almost teary-eyed," Thuli said. "We had only seen it in little glimpses. It brought tears to my eyes because it was so cool. We're so excited it got to this point."
Board President Stan Krahenbuhl said the group worked to find historically accurate components for the building, such as paint colors. With the main floor set to be open by the end of April, Krahenbuhl said the group has plans to move on to the second phase; fixing the opera house theater.
It was built in 1883 and hosted shows and dances in its second-floor auditorium until a St. Patrick's Day dance in 1951. Krahenbuhl said when the fire chief at the time attended the dance, he announced the floors were inadequate to host large groups. It had been in disuse until last summer when work started.
Work began at the basement level, which no longer exists. The first phase filled in the sub-floor and installed walls to make the building sustainable with a 100-year flood foundation for roughly $1.4 million. The matching grant funds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in private donations made the work possible.
"They said you need a lot of big donors to do something like this," Krahenbuhl said. "Through this process, we have a lot of people who gave a little, and that adds up."
While the exterior of the first floor has been completed, Krahenbuhl said the first phase won't be completely done until the end of April. The first-floor space will be rented out to retailers to bring in revenue before the second phase begins. Thuli and Krahenbuhl said they have renters already interested.
While the group continues to fundraise, Krahenbuhl said members are looking to the Jeffris Foundation of Janesville to possibly fund part of the work. He said they are applying to the organization, which was established to develop historical sites throughout the Midwest via restoration.
The unveiling event allowed residents to view the interior of the first floor, hearing speeches from the mayor, Thuli and Senator Howard Marklein. There was live music and food as well.
"Our main streets are so integral to the success of our rural communities," Marklein said, thanking the people who have worked to develop the Driver so far. "This is where Wisconsin began."
Krahenbuhl noted that plans continue to be developed, the group just needs to keep raising funds for the estimated $3 million project.Interest to use the space for entertainment has been high for some time, Krahenbuhl added.
"We've been getting calls since we've had a website," he said.
It would be nice to provide a space to local group "Pop Factory Players" or to have a space with a capacity of 300 bring show-goers to downtown Darlington.
"It's a 'you build it, they will come' sort of thing," Krahenbuhl said. "We've come this far - no one wants to give up now.
For information on the project or to make a donation, visit www.driveroperahouse.org.