Group launches fundraiser for Fremont's Opera House

By Tracy Buffington/Executive Editor

During its more than 120-year history, Fremont's historic opera house has been the home to live theater, a furniture store, National Guard training, a church and even a grocery store.

Since 1975, though, the dream has been to renovate the building and return it to its original glory.

On Tuesday, Fremont Opera House Inc. launched a $1 million fundraising drive for the building's second act.

"The Opera House was the symbol of the hopes and dreams of the people of Fremont," said Bill Vobejda, president of the Opera House board. "It was a part of the good life of this community over 100 years ago. We now have the opportunity to return this historic building back to a source of pride in the community and a way to help further the good life of Fremont for the next 100 years and beyond."

The campaign is the first phase of several that would work to renovate the Broad Street building. Initially, exterior work that would include limestone repairs, brick tuckpointing, a new roof, renovations to the first floor and removal of a floor that was added in the upper performance area would be completed.

Additional phases would renovate the performance area into a multi-use arts facility. Those phases would recreate the grand balcony and other architectural details that have been removed as well as construction of new stairways and an elevator that would not take away from the existing structure.

Vobejda said a feasibility study showed a community need for more arts programming on a large and small scale. Among other findings, the study found that Fremont has an opportunity to develop a children's theater program; one that would have productions for children and when children would be the main performers.

"The study also concluded something that we on the board already knew so well: This building must be saved," Vobejda said. "This iconic structure is historically significant for its architectural style, its age, its size and the role it played in the formative years of this community. Of the nearly 500 opera houses built in the state of Nebraska, only a handful remain today and none of them are quite like this one."

The Opera House is structurally sound, he added.

"While it might not always look like it to you and me, it's still important to remind everybody - including ourselves at times - that this building is structurally sound and at the core this facility is still in relatively good shape, especially considering that it was in the direct path of the Pathfinder explosion and that it has only had minimal care and maintenance for decades," Vobejda said.

Leading the fundraising drive are Marianne Simmons and Joan Sorenson. Honorary campaign chairpersons are Dale and Fern Olson, Bob and Janet Steenblock and Dick and Marty Wikert.

"Our goal for this campaign is $1 million," Dick Wikert said. "That might seem like a lofty goal in light of the economic times we're dealing with. But I can assure you that many people feel strongly about this project. I'm elated today to announce that on the initial part of our campaign we have already raised in excess of $300,000. We're off to a great start."

The project also earned the support of Gov. Dave Heineman. While he couldn't attend Tuesday's announcement, he sent a letter.

"While this project will help preserve a historic building, it will also insure that the Opera House can serve as a gathering place for Fremont residents and arts patrons for years to come," the governor wrote. "Supporting this campaign will help strengthen and expand fine arts in Fremont and create new opportunities for young people to get involved in their community. Revitalization efforts such as this help strengthen communities across our great state, and I look forward to seeing the results of this and other improvement projects in downtown Fremont."

Fremont Mayor "Skip" Edwards also offer encouragement.

"We're really excited about our historic downtown," Mayor "Skip" Edwards said. "Nothing would anchor it like the Opera House would."

Vobejda added the first phase would give the Opera House a solid foundation for the future.

"This campaign is really about three core things," he said. "First it's saving this important and historic building. The second is the opportunity to develop a stronger arts environment for Fremont. And third, we believe this is a project that adds value to Fremont's quality of life. I think we all can agree that these are three critically important things that everyone in the community must consider and look at with this campaign."