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 Blake's Opera House Posted by:  S5280ft
N 42° 45.237 W 084° 44.693
16T E 684546 N 4735958
Located on the eastern corner of Bridge and River Streets. Parking available on River Street.
Waymark Code: WMZPB
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 11/26/2006
Views: 11
Constructed in 1884 as a roller skating rink, this building was purchased by Peter Blake and opened as Blake's Opera House in 1886. Here, audiences enjoyed talent shows, vaudeville, silent movies and athletic contests. Between 1928 and 1984, the Stephens and Mapes families used the building as a furniture store. The Mapes family donated the building for a community center. It was restored by the Grand Ledge Area Historical Society and the chamber of commerce.
Description:
Here is the Statement of Significace from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office website (much more interesting, don't you agree?):
Seeking to capitalize on the prospering Grand Ledge resort trade, Joel L. McPeek, an area businessman, and Edgar Marvin, a pioneer photographer, hired Russell F. Tinkham to build the Riverside Rink at 121 South Bridge Street in 1884. One of the first roller rinks in the area, the Riverside Rink opened on August 15, 1884. After a year in operation, McPeek sold his interest in the business to Peter Blake, owner of an Eaton County cheese factory. Within months, Blake bought out Marvin's share to become sole proprietor of the rink in 1886. Later that same year on March 12, the Grand Ledge Independent revealed Blake's plans to convert the skating rink into an opera house. Blake commissioned Charles LaFont, a scenic artist from New York City, to construct the portable stage and scenery painted on rolls of canvas suspended from the ceiling, while Tenie Rall, a local craftsman, adorned the walls and ceiling with decorative paperhanging. With the Mackley-Salisbury Comedy Company as its featured act, Blake's Opera House opened on May 12, 1886, and signaled the start of the Golden Age of Grand Ledge. In 1976 the former opera house, dubbed Heritage Hall, was the Bicentennial Committee's headquarters. In 1984 the Mapes family, who had purchased the building and used it as a furniture store, donated the structure to the Grand Ledge Area Historical Society to house its growing historical collection. Shortly thereafter, the building was donated to the Opera House Authority who wanted to restore the structure. Since completion of the restoration, the opera house has been used for class reunions, weddings, senior citizen events, auctions, crafts shows, conferences and seminars, as a visitors information center and as chamber of commerce offices. Architect Fred Dawe, from the firm of Stein, Winkle, Dawe, Wood & Johnson, Ltd., in Lansing, headed the restoration project.
Parking nearby?: yes
D/T ratings: 
website: [Web Link]
Registered Site #: Local Site #1943
Historical Date: Not listed
Historical Name: Not listed
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