River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-05-02
THE BALL STARTED


the movement toward the realization
of one of River Falls most cherish
ed dreams-a real entertainment
hall. The proposition has been
cussed and discussed ever since
the city was organized, and every
one has spoken in favor of good hall,
but speaking was as far as it ever
went before Atty. Knowles, assisted
by an able corps of co-workers,
went after the proposition along
lines formulated by himself, which
called for action.
The plan was as follows: The
lander's price for the opera hall, in
Guiding the chairs, piano and stage
fixtures, etc., was $500. In order
to raise this amount a number of
business men-Knowles, Williams,
Wadsworth, Grimm, Vannatta.
went about the city soliciting
among their fellow citizens for do
nations of $50 II was planned to
get half the amount needed in this
way and mortgage the building for
the remainder, but the solicitors re.
turned with the whole $500, and
still there were many who signifed
their willingness to go into the deal.
The hall is to be operated under
the management of a committee
and the profits will be held until
those who subscribed can be paid
back their $50 donations with inter
est at 6 per cent when the hall will
become public property, and the
profits thereafter will go toward
new building.
A meeting of those who had sub
scribed was called Tuesday after
noon and a majority of them assem-
bled at the hall about 4:30 O'Clock,
and, after general inspection of
the building, were called to order
in the auditorium by Atty. w. P.
Knowles. (The Secretary's notice
of this meeting appears elsewhere
in this paper.)
Following the appointment of w.
P Knowles as chairman and C. N.
Wiger as secretary of the organiza-
ton, Knowles proceeded to explain
in detail just what had been done
the raising of funds, the purchase
of property etc., and then left the
matter to open discussion.
Many ideas were volunteered as
to what should be done with the
opera hall in the line of repairs,
and they varied greatly, some
thinking it advisable to reverse the
present system, putting the stage
in the large east end; others men
toned charging the stage as it
now stands and someone suggested
building stage on the south side
almost every idea, in fact, except
turning the building over. Finally
it was decided to appoint a COM
mittee to look into the matter of
theatre construction, also consult
with architects and carpenters in
regard to the stability of the build
ing and costs of repairs, etc. The
chairman appointed Ramer, Lund,
McKinnon, Winter and Spence as
this committee and their report will
be heard at a meeting to be held
next week.
This meeting brought out the
fact that the undertaking will have
enthusiastic support, and this will
insure success. The movement is
now started. throttle wide open,
and the people of River Falls
should all unite to pave its way to
brilliant success. II means a
new opera house for the city, and
that means good plays, a comfort
able place to enjoy them, and a gen.
eral boost for River Falls. Turn
out to the attractions booked and
in this way add to the funds of the
organization and hurry up" the
New Opera House"