THE SHOW GOES ON: ADAPTIVE REUSE AND THE PRESERVATION OF OPERA HOUSES IN NORTH DAKOTA by Typhanie K. Schafer A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in History Middle Tennessee State University May 2019 Thesis Committee: Dr. Kristine McCusker, Chair Dr. Carroll Van West, Member To my family. Love you more. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express great appreciation to the following people and groups, without whom I would not have been able to complete this project. Thank you to: Middle Tennessee State University and the Center for Historic Preservation, for the opportunity and financial support to study this subject and earn my degree. My MTSU advisors, Dr. Kristine McCusker and Dr. Van West, for the time you’ve invested in me and for the direction you’ve given me. The many historical societies and groups who assisted me, including: • The State Historical Society of North Dakota • The University of North Dakota Chester Fritz Library Special Collections and Archives • O.P.E.R.A., Inc. of Ellendale • Wes Anderson and the Barnes County Historical Society in Valley City • Lisbon Opera House Foundation of Lisbon • The Lake Region Heritage Center of Devils Lake • And the Maddock Opera House Association of Maddock. My parents, John and Kimberly, for supporting me through it all and for being interested in my many long discussions about opera houses. My sisters, Stephanie and Brittanie, for providing stress-free conversations and support that only sisters can give. Stephanie Allen, best friend extraordinaire and road trip pro, for coming along on these opera house adventures. Thank you for the wonderful company. Grandma Donna, for believing that her granddaughters could do whatever we put our minds to. You are so missed. iii ABSTRACT This thesis explores the topic of preservation of opera houses in North Dakota, their past and present functions, and will contribute to present historiographies and research of North Dakota history. Chapter One details the history one of these spaces and how they were used, specifically using a case study on the Metropolitan Opera House in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Chapter Two examines opera houses in three different North Dakota towns – Ellendale, Lisbon, and Maddock – through exterior analysis, interior description, and discussion of landscape and provides photographs of each site. Each opera house reflects a different phase in the restoration process. Chapter Three illustrates how opera houses are being used, emphasizing multipurpose functionality, and preserved today through heritage tourism. Following a driving tour format, this chapter takes the reader through nine sites, detailing histories and preservation stories. Finally, the conclusion includes final thoughts on the topic, a summary of the points discussed, and ideas for further research. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ vi INTRODUCTION: HISTORY AND SCHOLARSHIP ..................................................................... 1 HOW TO PRESERVE THE WONDER OF THESE EARLY YEARS ................................... 2 OPERA HOUSE HISTORY .......................................................................................... 4 THEATRE HISTORIOGRAPHY .................................................................................... 6 OPERA HOUSES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ..................................................... 10 NORTH DAKOTA HISTORY ..................................................................................... 12 THIS WORK ........................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER CONCLUSION ......................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER ONE: PUTTING THE “GRAND” IN GRAND FORKS: THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE, GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA, 1880-1930 ...................................................... 24 GRAND FORKS IN 1890 .......................................................................................... 26 OPERA HOUSE BEGINNINGS ................................................................................. 30 OPERA HOUSE ARCHITECTURE ............................................................................. 31 OPENING NIGHT .................................................................................................... 37 THE OPERA HOUSE AS A BUSINESS ....................................................................... 38 THE OPERA HOUSE AS A COMMUNITY SPACE ...................................................... 45 THE OPERA HOUSE AS A PERFORMANCE VENUE ................................................... 48 CHAPTER CONCLUSION ........................................................................................ 53 CHAPTER TWO: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, AND LANDSCAPE OF ELLENDALE, LISBON, AND MADDOCK OPERA HOUSES ........................................................................................ 55 ELLENDALE ........................................................................................................... 57 LISBON .................................................................................................................. 84 v MADDOCK ........................................................................................................... 109 CHAPTER CONCLUSION ....................................................................................... 129 CHAPTER THREE: PRESERVATION ON THE NORTHERN PLAINS: HERITAGE TOURISM AND PRESERVATION OF OPERA HOUSES IN NORTH DAKOTA .................................................. 130 THE COMMUNITIES .............................................................................................. 131 HERITAGE TOURISM RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................... 164 CHAPTER CONCLUSION ...................................................................................... 167 CONCLUSION: HOW WILL THIS SHOW GO ON?: FINAL THOUGHTS AND FURTHER RESEARCH ______.............................................................................................................................169 FUTURE RESEARCH ............................................................................................ 170 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: "Agricultural Regions and lines of settlement in Dakota Territory, 1860-90." Howard Roberts Lamar, Dakota Territory 1861-1889: A Study of Frontier Politics, (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1956), p211................................................................................. 14 Figure 2: "Indices of territorial growth in 1882." Lamar, Dakota Territory 1861-1889, 1956, p179................................................................................................................................................ 16 Figure 3: "Rand McNally And Company's Official railroad map of Dakota issued by the railroad commissioners." 1886. Library of Congress.................................................................................. 20 Figure 4: "Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota." 1892. Library of Congress............................................................................................................. 24 Figure 5: "Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Grand Forks, North Dakota." 1892. Library of Congress ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 Figure 6: "Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Grand Forks, North Dakota Street Closeup." 1892. Library of Congress ...................................................................................................................... 29 Figure 7: "Metropolitan Opera House, Grand Forks, N.D." n.d. Metropolitan Opera House Collection, Elwyn B. Robinson Special Collections, University of North Dakota....................... 34 Figure 8: “Sanborn Insurance Map of Ellendale.” 1910. Library of Congress.............................. 57 Figure 9: “The Ellendale Opera House is situated on Main Street, near the railroad.” 2017. Photograph by author..................................................................................................................... 61 Figure 10: “Plywood Murals at the Ellendale Opera House.” 2017. Photograph by author......... 62 Figure 11: “First Level Façade on the Ellendale Opera House.” 2017. Photograph by author............................................................................................................................................. 63 Figure 12: “Ellendale Opera House Event Space.” 2017. Photograph by author.......................... 64 Figure 13: “Ellendale First Level Business Space.” 2017. Photograph by author......................... 65 Figure 14: “Ellendale First Level Staircase.” 2017. Photograph by author................................... 66 Figure 15: “Ellendale Second Floor Landing.” 2017. Photograph by author................................ 67 Figure 16: ‘Ellendale Theater.” 2017. Photograph by author........................................................ 68 Figure 17: “Makeshift storage space in theater.” 2017. Photograph by author............................. 69 Figure 18: “Water Damage Under Theater Balcony.” 2017. Photograph by author..................... 70 Figure 19: “Missing Ceiling Tiles in Ellendale Theater.” 2017. Photograph by author...............