Lead in Lawrence County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Homestake Opera House & Recreation Building
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
1. The Homestake Opera House & Recreation Building Marker
Built between 1912-1914 by the Homestake Mining Company, this $250,000 facility included not only a beautiful modern opera house with a seating capacity of over 1,000, but also a bowling alley, swimming pool, library, social rooms, and billiard and game rooms. The Opera House itself was, for almost 70 years, the scene of many activities including opera, ballet, vaudeville, concerts, plays, movies, high school commencement exercises, boxing matches and festivals. Originally managed by the Homestake, the facility was given to the city of Lead in 1972. Tragically, on April 2, 1984, the Opera House portion of the building was gutted by a fire which had begun beneath the stage. The undamaged main floor recreation section of the structure has since reopened to house several small businesses.Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 44° 21.11′ N, 103° 46.01′ W. Marker is in Lead, South Dakota, in Lawrence County. Marker is on West Main Street, 0.1 miles west of
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Man Car (within shouting distance of this marker); Man Car / Ambulance (within shouting distance of this marker); Ore Cars (within shouting distance of this marker); Spargo Hoist & Sinking Bucket (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery Locomotive (within shouting distance of this marker); Overshot Mucker (within shouting distance of this marker); Halloran Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Compressed Air Locomotive #9 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lead.
More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on a waist-high post.
Regarding The Homestake Opera House & Recreation Building. Included within the Lead Historic District, National Register of Historic Places (1974)
Also see . . . Historic Homestake Opera House - Interior photos & video. The Lead Opera House and Recreation Center opened in 1914 as a gift from the Homestake Mining company to the people of Lead and the surrounding area. Phoebe Hearst, widow of Homestake co-founder George Hearst, and Thomas J. Grier,
2. Marker detail: Recreation Building as exterior work nears completion, 1913-1914
3. Marker detail: Opera House interior
Plasterwork: Decorator's Supply Co., Chicago; Lighting fixtures: Albert Sechrist Co. Denver, Co ; Artwork: Thomas Olson Decorators, Minneapolis.
4. Marker detail: Billiard Room in the Recreation Building
The doors on the right originally opened into the Opera House foyer.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
5. The Homestake Opera House Marker (wide view; marker in alcove adjacent to building)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
6. Homestake Opera House & Recreation Building (wide view from Main Street; marker behind chair)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
7. The Homestake Opera House (west end of building; facing alcove)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 138 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 12, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on August 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
