After a 20-week long closure, Memorial Opera House is officially back. The Porter County Government invited the community for a rededication ceremony to recognize the new state of the building on Friday, September 13.
The program opened with the American Legion presenting the colors, playing taps and doing a multi-gun salute. Everyone was invited inside the renovated opera house following the introduction.
Scot MacDonald, director of Memorial Opera House, has witnessed firsthand many of the challenges the building has experienced. He believes this rededication ceremony has a sentimental place in the hearts of the Porter County Government and the entire community.
“This rededication is a fantastic way to show off this gem of a theater,” MacDonald said. “We've been here since 1893 through so many adversities and this place has stood the test of time. It shows the tenacity of the Porter County Government and our community being behind us and supporting us throughout.”
To some people, Memorial Opera House might seem ordinary. However, there have been a number of exciting performances over the years. The Marx Brothers and William Jennings Bryan are some of the most popular performers who made an appearance at the opera house in its earlier days.
Out of all the acts, MacDonald points to Beulah Bondi as the most impressive. She got her start on Memorial Opera House's stage when she was eight years old.
“She was in ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’ in the early 1900s,” MacDonald said. “It’s pretty cool because she went on to be known as Mrs. Bailey in ‘It’s A Wonderful Life.' There are so many notable events and local performers that have gone on to perform on Broadway. We’re thrilled to start this brand new chapter and see where things go from here.”
Colonel Mike Fish offered his perspective on Memorial Opera House as a war memorial. He incorporated some examples of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address to emphasize what the opera house stands for in regard to the veterans. The opera house was built and designed to honor the first Civil War veterans who died, and the honorarium has been expanded to include all veterans.
“This war memorial is a symbol of compassion for that suffering. It stands as a reminder of the clearest lesson of our Civil War – don't go to war,” Fish said. “Let this opera house be a beacon for those ideals. We must continue to fight as Americans to preserve this representative democracy and this beautifully complex, difficult republic. It is as vital today as it was when President Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg in 1863.”
Kevin Pazour, executive director of the Porter County Museum, has lifelong roots in Memorial Opera House. He believes the history and legacy only continues to grow.
“My first interaction with this building was when I was in elementary school at St. Paul,” Pazour said. “I would see plaster falling from the ceiling and light coming through, thinking to myself this building wasn’t going to make it. To be here today and see how amazing it looks is pretty incredible.”
County Commissioner Jim Biggs of the North District has been a strong supporter of the renovation. He believes this will continue to serve as a beneficiary for not only the Porter County Government but the people of Valparaiso.
“I think this is a huge win for the City of Valparaiso,” Commissioner Biggs said. “At the end of the day, it’s the people who still own this building. Regardless of if we keep it or the City of Valparaiso does, it’s the people who make this building what it truly is.”
Porter County Council Members Sylvia Graham and Greg Simms both have a deep appreciation for this Memorial Opera House and were pleased when they received money to invest into it a few years back.
“A lot of people were probably wondering how that money would best be spent,” Graham said. “Today we are reaping the benefits of what we came up with. We couldn’t have done better than to pay our tribute to those who worked hard in our past history.”
Simms has a lot of raw emotions when it comes to the opera house.
“When you have a facility like this that touches tons of people in the same community, you have something special,” Simms said. “There are many feelings of thankfulness and elation. This place is an icon that everyone can come to and appreciate for many years to come.”
Porter County Commissioner Barb Regnitz closed the program by sharing her gratitude with everyone who contributed in keeping the Memorial Opera House strong for the foreseeable future.
“This renovation would not be done without the people who were in our meetings,” Commissioner Regnitz said. “When you see it on paper as opposed to seeing it in person, it’s so beautiful to see how the place really comes to life. I’m thankful for our contractors who have worked so hard on this project.”
With the Memorial Opera House back and better than ever, there’s a lot to be excited for as the winter season approaches.
For more information on the Porter County Government, you can visit its website.
