Opera Renovation Ongoing

Building To Be Restored To Original Splendor Within A Year

John Mack, building owner, checks out the flooring in the balcony of the former opera house in Rogers. There were no chairs in the balcony, visitors sat on the built-in risers.

John Mack, building owner, checks out the flooring in the balcony of the former opera house in Rogers. There were no chairs in the balcony, visitors sat on the built-in risers.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

— Demolition of the interior of the former opera house in downtown is nearly done, the building owner said Monday.

“It’s been a slow process, but we’re nearly finished,” said John Mack, who purchased the building, at the intersection of Walnut and First streets, in December.

Mack plans to restore the three-story building to its original splendor within a year.

“We should be finished with the demolition in about 30 days, then we’ll have the asbestos removed and the real work will begin,” Mack said.

Mack isn’t a neophyte when it comes to building restoration. His architecture firm is a few doors west of the opera house, in a building where he restored the second story for his office.

All the paneling on the walls and other wall additions have been stripped away to the original plaster walls.

“There are several layers of paint on most of the walls, that will be removed, too,” Mack said.

At A Glance

Building History

Built in 1890 the lower floors were used for retail business with the opera house and office space upstairs.

• For many years, Rogers and other high schools staged senior plays in the building.

• Traveling shows played at the opera house around the turn of the century.

• Opera house attendance fell in the 1930 when talking movies became the rage.

• Part of the stage was torn out and a boxing ring installed in an effort to save the opera house, but failed and the opera house closed in the mid-1930s.

• The opera house has been unused since it closed.

Source: Staff Report

Rick Parker, a nationally known historian and restoration expert, is consulting with Mack on the project.

“I have several paint chips I will analyze under a microscope to determine the original color of the walls so the paint can be matched,” Parker said.

Parker owns Parker Conservation in Gentry. He has lectured at the Smithsonian Institution, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Colonial Williamsburg.

“I fell in love with the building the first time I was inside,” Parker said. “It’s like a treasure hunt uncovering the history of the building. We notice something new we haven’t seen before just about every time we are in the building.”

The project may be fun and exciting for Mack and Parker, but it’s also a long and expensive project.

“It going to take at least another year to restore the interior of the building,” Mack said.

Windows that were bricked in will be replaced, a new metal ceiling that matches the existing ceiling will be installed, wooden door frames will be sanded and varnished, the stage rebuilt and hundreds of other details will be dealt with during the restoration project, Mack said.

“It’s a huge job. I don’t even want to think about the cost at this point. I plan to do whatever is necessary to restore this building,” Mack said.

Some of the material being removed from the building went to the Habitat for Humanity program. Some material went to individuals restoring other properties.

“We’ve tried to be as Earth friendly as possible during the demolition process. We only filled five 30-cubic-yard containers with trash over the past two months,” Mack said.

Built in 1890 and renovated in 1903, the building has been altered many times over the years.

The south wall of the building is the remaining wall of a building that burned and was razed decades ago.

“It looks like the owner of the opera building incorporated the wall of the other building into his building, taking in what once was an 5-foot alley between the buildings,” Mack said.

When the building is restored it will have office space available, and Mack plans to open the opera house for use.

Mark Christ, community outreach director of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, said any time a building is restored it adds to the community.

“The downtown area is a big part of the history of a city. It is part of the fabric that gives the city it’s heart,” Christ said. “When a building is restored it indicates the town has a strong sense of history and pride. It can also add to the economic impact of the town by attracting visitors to the area.”

One neighbor said she hears the hammers and saws working next door, but aren’t bothered by the noise.

“It gets a little loud sometimes but Mr. Mack is very considerate,” said Rachel Marshall, owner of the Red Hairing salon, which shares a common wall with the renovation project. “The workmen usually move to another part of the building when we are open so there is less noise.”

“I look forward to the day the opera house opens, I think it’s going to be very good for downtown,” Marshall said.