Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-02-09
$4,000 OPERA HOUSE
TO BE BUILT IN WEBSTER
THIS SUMMER.
LOCATED ON "FAIR" CORNER
Arrangements Practically Com
p1eted Which Will Give This
City one of the Finest Opera
Houses in the State. Will
he Erected on the Site
of the "Fairv Store.


Probably the very best offer ever
made to city the size of Webster
for an opera house has been under con-
sideration by the commercial club for
the past two weeks.
A few weeks ago Mr.. w. c. Happe
came here and purchased the Fair"
store and building, which is situated
upon two lots upon one of the most
prominent corners on Main street. He
had had hardly taken possession before
he realized that it would be necessary
for him to build new building, the
present old frame building not being
suited at all to his way of doing bust
nefs.
Then came the announcement of
Messrs. Mohs & Karpen that after
June lst, 1911, they would close the
present opera house, as they needed the
room for their increasing furniture
business.
In conversation with the editor of
this paper Mr.. Happe said he contemp-
lated putting brick building upon the
lots, and the editor, knowing of other
cities which had paid a bonus for an
opera house, suggested that Mr.. Happe
build creditable two-story building
and have an opera house, modern in
every way, over the store. The idea
seemed to strike Mr.. Happe very favor
ably and he Immediately consulted l..
G. Ochsenreiter, president of the COM
merclal club, who suggested that the
prospective builder give some idea of
what he intended doing to the next
meeting of the club. President Ochsen-
reiter called the club together and Mr..
Hoppe made his proposition which is to
have Ia thoroughly up-to-date opera
house Of solid brick, covering the two
lots and running clear back back to the
alley-142 feet and have it completed
by the first of September, the opera
house to have seating capacity of
1000 persons. In return he asks the
commercial club to sell 500 tickets at
S.. 90 each, for series Of three shows
which will be given during fair week,
and he promises to put on some excel
lent shows at the time.
The matter was taken up and the
commercial club has entered into it
with an earnestness which is guaran-
tee that it will be successful. Messrs.
Ochsenreiter, Bronson and Halbkat
were appointed committee to consult
with our people and see if the tickets
could be sold, and from the assurances
received that evening it is a cinque that
the tickets will soon be sold.
We are informed that Mr. Happe is
arranging for rooms in the building for
the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. w. C. A.,
and will also provide apartments for the
meeting of the ladies' clubs of the city
if the organizations will make some
arrangements to pay reasonable sum
as rent in advance.
The building when completed is to
cost about $50, 900, and will be one of
the most iInposinR opera HOUSES III the
northwest. Mr.. Happe was formerly
engaged in the business of contracting
and building at Davenport, Iowa, and
will be able to superintend the con-
struction Of his own structure and get
the best value for his money and built
in way that there will be no holes in it.
Here's to the new opera house. If
you are not approached by the commit
tee to buy few $500 tickets, just
know they have been looking for you,
but in some manner you have been
missed. So turn in and look for them
and show your appreciation of good
thing by taking all you can afford.