Lake Benton in Lincoln County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Lake Benton Opera House

1896

September 6, 2024

1. Lake Benton Opera House Marker

Inscription.

Lake Benton Opera House. , Placed on National Register of Historic Places 1977, Accompanying markers: , As a memorial to all who have supported the opera house since its inception, the 1979 Centennial Committee has donated $5,000 toward the 1981 Restoration Project on behalf of its citizenry , Dated: 12-81, Lake Benton Opera House , Roof Fund Drive of 1981 , Donors of $100 or more, Ruth Rasmussen · Lawrence Biever · Glenn Krog · Jack Burk · Alvina Burk · Alvina Burk · Ardis N. Petersen · Gertrude Soderlind · Arlowine C. Johnson · Blanche H. Erickson · Ethel E. Lorenzen · Charles G. Hoyt · Phyllis Doehle Lyndgaard · Leona Oerter · Marie Lee · Eugene Helvig · Susan Helvig · Jay M. Kimball · Grace Marti · Frank Fehrman · Nettie Carlisle · Besse Peinert · Fred Peinert · Emily Zimmer · Vivian Reynolds · Rose L. Christensen · Jennette Wray · Ruth Marti · Viola Marti · Leona Mead · James E. Johnson · Michael W. Cable · Walter Soderlind, Jr. · Jane Soderlind Swanson · Darrell Ledger · Keith Lekness · Maxine Nichols, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Enke · Mr. and Mrs. Leon Krog · Mr. and Mrs. Art Redlinger · Mr. and Mrs. Dany Castor · Mr. and Mrs. Dennis V. Johnson · Mr. and Mrs. Selmer Jerpbak · Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Hammond · Mr. and Mrs. Russell Zimmer · Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Balzer · Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lukens · Mr. and Mrs. Ed Brockhouse · Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Danielson · Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Marti · Mr. and Mrs. William Lindemann · Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Marti · Rev. and Mrs. Mark Swanson · Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Carr · Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Gunderson · Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Salzman · Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kelly · Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Gieneart · Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bushman · Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Ahrens · Mr. and Mrs. Virg Veire · Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Huska · Lt. Col. and Mrs. Richard Knapp, Jr. · Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jatko · Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Charter · Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Zenk · Dr. and Mrs. Leroy Mueller · Mr. and Mrs. Ron Nordmeyer · Mr. and Mrs. Doug Derheim · Mr. and Mrs. Donald Reid · Mr. and Mrs. Kendall Lundberg · Mr. and Mrs. Mary Gould · Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Molaird · Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Mulder · Mr. and Mrs. John Redlinger · Mr. and Mrs. Thorvald Trautman, City of Lake Benton · Lake Benton Opera House, Inc. · Minnesota Historical Society · Lake Benton Service Club · Lake Benton Lions Club · Town and Country Study Club · Beta Federated Club · Lake Benton Centennial Celebration Fund of 1979 · Athena Federated Club · Balaton Study Club · Farmers State Bank, Lake Benton · First Bank Ivanhoe · Corn Exchange Bank, Elkton, S. D. · Buffalo Ridge State Bank, Ruthton · First Bank Pipestone · Farmers State Bank, Russell · Citizens State Bank, Tyler · Marti Gas Co. · Al Opland Singers · American Legion Auxiliary · Lake Benton Valley Drifters, – In Memory of – , Mr. and Mrs. August Hammer · Melvin Dwire · Victor Zimmer · Byrl Pittenger · James Zimmer · Charles W. (Charlie) Eddy · Ernest Osbeck · Mr. and Mrs. Otto C. Beyer · Virgil Lyndgaard · W. A. Soderlind

Placed on National Register of Historic Places 1977

Accompanying markers:
As a memorial to all who have supported the opera house since its inception, the 1979 Centennial Committee has donated $5,000 toward the 1981 Restoration Project on behalf of its citizenry
Dated: 12-81

Lake Benton Opera House
Roof Fund Drive of 1981
Donors of $100 or more

Ruth Rasmussen · Lawrence Biever · Glenn Krog · Jack Burk · Alvina Burk · Alvina Burk · Ardis N. Petersen · Gertrude Soderlind · Arlowine C. Johnson · Blanche H. Erickson · Ethel E. Lorenzen · Charles G. Hoyt · Phyllis Doehle Lyndgaard · Leona Oerter · Marie Lee · Eugene Helvig · Susan Helvig · Jay M. Kimball · Grace Marti · Frank Fehrman · Nettie Carlisle · Besse Peinert · Fred Peinert · Emily Zimmer · Vivian Reynolds · Rose L. Christensen · Jennette Wray · Ruth Marti · Viola Marti · Leona Mead · James E. Johnson · Michael W. Cable · Walter Soderlind, Jr. · Jane Soderlind Swanson · Darrell Ledger · Keith Lekness · Maxine Nichols

Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Enke · Mr. & Mrs. Leon Krog · Mr.

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& Mrs. Art Redlinger · Mr. & Mrs. Dany Castor · Mr. & Mrs. Dennis V. Johnson · Mr. & Mrs. Selmer Jerpbak · Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Hammond · Mr. & Mrs. Russell Zimmer · Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Balzer · Mr. & Mrs. Charles Lukens · Mr. & Mrs. Ed Brockhouse · Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Danielson · Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Marti · Mr. & Mrs. William Lindemann · Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Marti · Rev. & Mrs. Mark Swanson · Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Carr · Mr. & Mrs. Wesley Gunderson · Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Salzman · Mr. & Mrs. Tom Kelly · Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Gieneart · Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bushman · Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Ahrens · Mr. & Mrs. Virg Veire · Mr. & Mrs. Weldon Huska · Lt. Col. & Mrs. Richard Knapp, Jr. · Mr. & Mrs. Henry Jatko · Mr. & Mrs. Irvin Charter · Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Zenk · Dr. & Mrs. Leroy Mueller · Mr. & Mrs. Ron Nordmeyer · Mr. & Mrs. Doug Derheim · Mr. & Mrs. Donald Reid · Mr. & Mrs. Kendall Lundberg · Mr. & Mrs. Mary Gould · Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Molaird · Dr. & Mrs. Richard D. Mulder · Mr. & Mrs. John Redlinger · Mr. & Mrs. Thorvald Trautman

City of Lake Benton · Lake Benton Opera House, Inc. ·

Lake Benton Opera House Donation Marker image. Click for full size.

September 6, 2024

2. Lake Benton Opera House Donation Marker

Minnesota Historical Society · Lake Benton Service Club · Lake Benton Lions Club · Town & Country Study Club · Beta Federated Club · Lake Benton Centennial Celebration Fund of 1979 · Athena Federated Club · Balaton Study Club · Farmers State Bank, Lake Benton · First Bank Ivanhoe · Corn Exchange Bank, Elkton, S. D. · Buffalo Ridge State Bank, Ruthton · First Bank Pipestone · Farmers State Bank, Russell · Citizens State Bank, Tyler · Marti Gas Co. · Al Opland Singers · American Legion Auxiliary · Lake Benton Valley Drifters

– In Memory of –
Mr. & Mrs. August Hammer · Melvin Dwire · Victor Zimmer · Byrl Pittenger · James Zimmer · Charles W. (Charlie) Eddy · Ernest Osbeck · Mr. & Mrs. Otto C. Beyer · Virgil Lyndgaard · W. A. Soderlind

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 44° 15.65′ N, 96° 17.169′ W. Marker is in Lake Benton, Minnesota, in Lincoln County. It is on Benton

Lake Benton Opera House Roof Fund Donors Marker image. Click for full size.

September 6, 2024

3. Lake Benton Opera House Roof Fund Donors Marker

Street (County Highway 21) west of Fremont Street (U.S. 75), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 E Benton St, Lake Benton MN 56149, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Great Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Honor Of Those Who Served (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Geology of the Lake Benton Region (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Danish Lutheran Church (approx. 4.8 miles away); Danish Congregation WWI Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); Tyler, Mn. Veterans Memorial (approx. 7.6 miles away); You are now Entering South Dakota (approx. 8.4 miles away in South Dakota); Hole-In-The-Mountain (approx. 8.4 miles away in South Dakota);

Lake Benton Opera House & Markers (left) image. Click for full size.

September 6, 2024

4. Lake Benton Opera House & Markers (left)

The structure to the right of the opera house is the Kimball Building. In 1982, the National Register boundary was increased to include this building.

The Old Firebell (approx. 9.8 miles away in South Dakota). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Benton.

Also see . . .
1. About Us – Lake Benton Opera House. (Submitted on September 13, 2024.)
2. Minnesota SP Lake Benton Opera House - National Archives NextGen Catalog. From the National Register of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form (1977):

Statement of Significance:

"The Lake Benton Opera House is significant as one of extremely few surviving community opera house/theatres to have been preserved and restored through community efforts for the continued service and benefit to area residents.

In 1893 Lake Benton realized the need for a cultural center. A wooden building was constructed to serve the cultural needs of the community, but burned shortly thereafter. Wasting little time, spirited members of the community bought 96 shares at $100 a piece and in 1896 the present brick building was constructed in the heart of town on what was known as the Opera House Block.

The structure was designed to be spacious and its stage and balcony were curved intentially to provide space for dancing parties,
September 6, 2024

5. Lake Benton Opera House & Markers
traveling show troupes and basketball games. The Opera House was always more than just a theatre; it was the host for other, numerous community activities. School plays and concerts, church and lodge meetings, graduation exercises, July 4th and Decoration Day (Memorial Day) celebrations, card parties, old Settlers picnics and even funerals for community leaders were held at the Opera House."

(Submitted on September 13, 2024.)

3. Lake Benton Opera House and Kimball Building (Boundary Increase) - National Archives NextGen Catalog. (Submitted on September 13, 2024.)

Lake Benton Opera House & Kimball Building image. Click for full size.

September 6, 2024

6. Lake Benton Opera House & Kimball Building

Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2024. This page has been viewed 362 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 13, 2024.