On Dec. 31 the historic Opera House on Main Street will have a Gala, a fundraiser party for the restoration of this space. Local women including Sarah Fischer, Jamie Eberle, Lana Schlecht, Katie Mahler Petersen, angela Sand and Megan Wiebe have been collaborating for months to arrange the second annual New Year’s Eve Gala Fundraiser. The funds will go toward restoration of the Opera House.
Ellendale’s Opera House was built in 1909 and was a huge attraction for events. The auditorium on the second floor has stellar acoustics and was said to host 1000 people. The building was left to the elements with no tenant and no maintenance for years. A committee, O.P.E.R.A, was formed about 26 years ago to try to save the building. Since that time repairs have been made to many areas of this structure; $300,000 has been spent to keep the building structurally sound. Organizers say it’s time to ready the building for retail areas, gallery space and space for larger events. A major fundraising effort, a capital campaign, is underway to bring the building back to its former splendor.
The Gala fundraiser will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 31. Free champagne will be served at midnight to ring in the new year. The evening will feature elegant decorations, food, a bar, music, prizes, contests and a silent auction. Some of the silent items for bid are Broncos football tickets for next year, getaway vacations, Medora activities package, jewelry including a $500 pearl necklace, wine, blankets, spa package and much more. All are welcome. Tickets are $25 per person. Dressing up is fine but so are casual clothes. Tickets can be purchased at the OLS office (formerly Mahler’s Village Variety) and the Legion Club.
Many art classes, lectures, presentations, art shows, graduation gatherings and community events are held at the Opera House. There is no community center in Ellendale other than this building. Sarah Fischer, head organizer, was given a tour of the building a few years ago when she moved to Ellendale. She said she could see the beauty and potential of this historic building and wanted to be a part of saving it.
“The Gala gives us a chance to bring people in and show them the beauty of the building,” Fischer said. “It gives them a chance to participate in saving this grand old building.”.
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Anyone who cannot attend the Gala may send a donation for the restoration to P.O. Box 344, Ellendale, ND 58436.
Sponsors for the event are Dickey Rural Network, the Legion, Ellendale Tourism and AgriMax.
