Bell, Opera House, Bryant, South Dakota
Posted by: 
NGComets
N 44° 35.423 W 097° 27.963
14T E 621757 N 4938593
Bell retired from the Bryant Opera House.
Waymark Code: WM9N51
Location: South Dakota, United States
Date Posted: 09/07/2010
Views: 1
Information garnered from an interview with Margie T., a local resident.
A committee was formed in 1898 to build an opera house for the community. Fundraising was started and funds were secured so The Opera House was built in 1906. This local community group had the dream of making Bryant a major hub city in the area.
It was used in combination with the local school as a gymnasium. Also people held classes for young people in woodworking and metal working.
Talent shows were held 2-3 times a year to offer local talent the opportunity to perform. Myron Florne, of Lawrence Welk fame, performed several times at the Opera House.
Dances were held weekly and a Chattaugua came to town 3-4 times a year for the locals.
Policical rallies were held in the building and Sen. Karl Mundt was a participant several times.
As the years went by, the building deteriorated and soon became unusable. Margie commented that following basketball games, the players would go to local homes to shower because the showers/lockers were so bad nobody wanted to use them.
The building was torn down by the city and the American Legion in the late 1960s following the abandonment of it in 1959.
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