Before

After

Hundreds of local music lovers and historic preservation buffs turned out for the Grand Opening of the Corning Opera House Cultural Center (COHCC) on April 5-6 in Corning.

“It could be said that this building has had some hard times over her 110 years but tonight on behalf of the Adams community and our grand lady at 800 Davis Avenue, we welcome you to help us share in the celebration of renewed life for this magnificent National Register building,” said COHCC Board Chair Nancy Carmichael. “Our grand lady is smiling from ear to ear tonight and her heart is mightily beating because of the generous support she has received from so many.”

Following hors d’oeuvres, a wine tasting and self–guided tours of the lobby, offices and conference room, Carmichael welcomed guests to the celebration, a culmination of over a decade’s hard work from numerous community volunteers—over 20,000 volunteer hours with a real value of over $360,000—and outlined the journey to the multi-million dollar restoration.

“The Gauthier family and the Field family come to mind first,” said Carmichael. “They always were a part of her journey, and they wanted to see her return to days of glory. In fact, without the Field family’s donation of the building to the City of Corning, we would not be standing here tonight.”

To commemorate the building’s donation to the City, the COHCC Board named the facility’s conference room the Field Conference Room.

With funding coming from private donors and numerous grants, Carmichael recognized the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Main Street Iowa as the catalyst for the final phase of work. “[The] Main Street I-jobs grant of $1.5 million was the gift we needed to see this project to completion.”

With that August 2010 boost in hand, the Board turned to Alec Turner of Corning to chair a capital campaign committee to make the final push. The group raised over $700,000 in cash and pledges in 10 weeks to solidify the renovation debt free. Turner unveiled a plaque in the lobby recognizing special individuals who helped finance the makeover.

"While the available funding provided for the completion of Phase 3 of the restoration, the creative diligence and hard work of the Opera House board, the design team and the contractors has enabled the community to complete Phase 4 within the Phase 3 budget," said Project Manager Martin Olive of Corning. "It has been a tremendous accomplishment for all involved to meet the budgeting and scheduling goals, but to have done so without a single jobsite injury has been, for me, the most important achievement on this project."

Carmichael recognized several other local key players, including Adams Community Economic Development Corporation Director Beth Waddle, Main Street Corning’s Derek Lumsden and the COHCC Board, which is comprised of Carmichael, Patty Peterson, Judy Antisdel, Lorna Schafer, Dannie Schafer, Shirlee Deahl, De Heaton, Jeff Slotsky, George Hoerman and J. Wilson. Carmichael and her Board introduced the original COHCC Board Chair, Lillian Leonard and invited her to cut the ribbon, re-opening the facility to the public.

The ribbon cutting was followed by the music of The Ron Cooley Trio with Jeff Millhollin. The group played two sets featuring many original compositions by Corning’s own Millhollin. “It’s a beautiful setting, the acoustics were great and the crowds were very receptive,” said Millhollin, who began writing songs “on the dark side of sixty.” Many of the tracks on the setlist appeared on Millhollin’s debut album, “Nothing Else Matters,” which was released in 2009.

Millhollin was joined onstage by Ron Cooley of Manheim Steamroller and accomplished saxophone, clarinet and flute player Dennis Strawn, who has toured as part of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Local talent Adonica Struhar of Spotlight School of Dance joined the musicians onstage, as well.

Looking back

Built on the grounds of the former National Bank, which was destroyed by fire in 1896, the COHCC was an initiative of local businessman Frederick Charles “F.C.” Reese, who opened the venue in 1902. The Opera House boasted elaborate woodworking, electric lights, cushioned chairs a suspended horseshoe balcony, pressed tin ceilings and a raked stage.

Competing with the Palace Rink Opera House, the Opera House seated 735, while modern day fire codes will reduce capacity to 400. In its earliest days the downstairs portion of the building housed Reese’s furniture store and undertaker business.

By 1921, use of the facility focused on motion pictures, charging anywhere from 25 cents to $1.50 for admission, with the final film gracing the screen in 1931. In 1934, the last live show took place, Milo Green’s “Blue Heaven,” and in 1936, Reese sold the building to Albert Gauthier and it became the longtime home of The Adams county Free Press. In 1982, ownership transferred to Dan Field and Kathy Field of J.D. Publishing, and by 1999, the Fields sought to donate the building for restoration.

A committee emerged to address the project, and in January of 2010, the original Opera House Restoration Committee met for the first time with Leonard at the helm. The group organized into a 501c3, and fundraising, cleanup and early elements of deconstruction and restoration took place steadily from that time to present, funded by a series of grants from the Iowa West Foundation, Fred Maytag Foundation, Adams Community Foundation and other state and federal sources.

The Main Street I-Jobs grant pushed the effort into overdrive and the Board has worked overtime to complete the project within the tight timelines outlined by the I-Jobs grant.

The Future

“We hope that this great building will continue to exude a positive grounded influence on our community for at least another hundred years,” said Carmichael.

It’s off to a good start.

The multi-use facility offers a conference room for meetings, luncheons, reunions and receptions of all kinds, in addition to a wide range of performances planned for the auditorium. The COHCC brings singer/songwriter Elizabeth Arynn of Des Moines to the facility on May 26. For more information about the Corning Opera House, visit www.corningoperahouse.com or call (641) 418-8037.