Howell in Livingston County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Opera House

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 26, 2017

1. Opera House Marker

Inscription. Built c. 1881

Erected 2006 by Michigan Historical Commission-Michigan Historical Center and Courthouse Square Questers 745. (Marker Number L184.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 42° 36.439′ N, 83° 55.842′ W. Marker is in Howell, Michigan, in Livingston County. It is at the intersection of South Walnut Street and West Grand River Avenue (Business Interstate 96), on the left when traveling south on South Walnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 123 West Grand River Avenue, Howell MI 48843, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Howell Carnegie Library (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Livingston Co. Civil War Memorial (about 400 feet away); National Hotel (about 600 feet away); Livingston County Veterans Honor Roll (about 600 feet away); Livingston County WWI Honor Roll (about 600 feet away); County Courthouse (about 700 feet away); Ann Arbor Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away); George W. Lee House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Howell.

Also see . . .

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1. Howell Opera House: The Story thus far... Venue website entry (Submitted on September 1, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

2. Howell Opera House. Wikipedia article (Submitted on September 1, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

3. Howell Downtown Historic District. The Howell Opera House was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1986 as part of the Howell Downtown Historic District. An excerpt from the Nomination Form:

The Howell Opera House was designed by architect, A. C. Varney and constructed by Hunter and Holmes. Almon C. Varney was a notable Detroit architect and head of the firm, A. C. Varney and Winter in that city. Varney studied architecture in the East and moved to Detroit in 1881. Numerous Detroit buildings were designed by Varney, among them the early buildings of the Park-Davis pharmaceutical firm and three large industrial plants for the Briggs Manufacturing Company. Varney was better known for house design and best known for his house-planning and decorating book Our Homes and Their Adornments (Detroit, 1884). Varney's building in Howell incorporates retail space on the first floor and a theater above which encompasses two full stories and includes a gallery. By 1885, E. D. Stair, owner of the local newspaper
Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 26, 2017

2. Opera House and Marker
Marker is on the side of the building to the right of the lamp post.
managed the theatrical house. Then from 1886-1898, Mrs. Campau of Detroit owned the building. E. D. and Orin Stair managed the theater for a time. However, when they acquired the Detroit Free Press and the Garrick Theater in Detroit, new management took over and once again, small audiences became the norm at the opera house. Mrs. Campau sold the building to Arthur Garland in 1893. He used a portion of the main floor store for the manufacture of custom tailored suits. In 1936, Charles Sutton purchased the building for his hardware business. By the early 1920s, the opera house was in a state of demise. Its significance had waned from earlier days. The building stands today as a symbol of the time when traveling troupes brought opera, musical concerts, and live entertainment to Howell.

(Submitted on July 28, 2025, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Opera House Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 26, 2017

3. Opera House Markers

These plaques are on the front of the Opera House.

Top:
Built 1881
Significant Historic Building
Howell Opera House
Howell Main Street

Bottom:
This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 414 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 1, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.