Howell Opera House
Encyclopedia
The Howell Opera House is an opera house
located in Howell
, Michigan
. The site is listed as historic by The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
. It is also listed on The National Historic Registerhttp://nrhp.focus.nps.gov United States. Dept. of the Interior. National Register of Historic Places. US Dept. of the Interior, 2010. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. as part of the Howell Downtown Historic District.
As the central part of the town, the edifice served not only for artistic performances but as a venue for several local occasions such as high school commencement. The theater also served, for a short duration, as home to the Livingston County Circuit Court in 1889.
The Howell Opera House was first owned by the Stair Brothers, E.D. and Orin, who assumed ownership in 1884. The theater was later purchased by Arthur Garland in 1893 who utilized a portion of the space to produce custom-tailored suits.
In 1923, the building was closed by the fire marshal. This brought an end to its intended use as quarters for entertainment. For more than 70 years, The Howell Opera House served as storage for a local hardware store.
Renovations were made solely to the first floor. These renovations include refinished flooring and walls as well as new stairways. Plans have also been made for restoration of the second floor which houses the stage and balcony.
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
located in Howell
Howell
-Places in the United States:*Howell, Michigan*Howell, Utah*Howell Township, Michigan*Howell Township, New Jersey*Hugh Howell Road, Georgia*Howell Mountain AVA, an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, part of Napa Valley AVA...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The site is listed as historic by The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is in charge of the listing of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of Michigan, including buildings, lighthouses, bridges, historic districts, and many other properties deemed important to the history of Michigan...
. It is also listed on The National Historic Registerhttp://nrhp.focus.nps.gov United States. Dept. of the Interior. National Register of Historic Places. US Dept. of the Interior, 2010. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. as part of the Howell Downtown Historic District.
History
The Howell Opera House is a Victorian-style building with a seating capacity of 1,000 people. Plans for the theater were drawn and executed by Detroit architect, Almon C. Varney at the cost of $10,000. Construction began in 1880 by Hunter and Holmes Contractors and doors were opened to patrons on December 30, 1881. The building is located at 123 W. Grand River.As the central part of the town, the edifice served not only for artistic performances but as a venue for several local occasions such as high school commencement. The theater also served, for a short duration, as home to the Livingston County Circuit Court in 1889.
The Howell Opera House was first owned by the Stair Brothers, E.D. and Orin, who assumed ownership in 1884. The theater was later purchased by Arthur Garland in 1893 who utilized a portion of the space to produce custom-tailored suits.
In 1923, the building was closed by the fire marshal. This brought an end to its intended use as quarters for entertainment. For more than 70 years, The Howell Opera House served as storage for a local hardware store.
Renovation
In 2000, The Livingston Arts Council purchased The Howell Opera House with plans to restore the patronage to function, once again, as a theater. Renovations began in 2001 with a slow start due to lack of funding. In 2007, the first installment of the development plan had been completed.Renovations were made solely to the first floor. These renovations include refinished flooring and walls as well as new stairways. Plans have also been made for restoration of the second floor which houses the stage and balcony.