The Pemberville Opera House is the oldest operating opera house in the state of Ohio and is a two-floor facility.

The gem of this structure is its theatre, which is located on the second floor. During the height of the Oil Boom in 1891, construction began on a town hall with its' own opera house on the second floor, completed at a cost under $6,000.

When it was built, no one thought about building an elevator to make the theater accessible to the handicapped. The Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society is trying to change that.

Architect Scott J. Heacock came up with three design options to construct an elevator. Construction costs for each option are $228,000, $178,900, and $258,000 (Option 3). Option three would cost $300,000 with an upstairs restroom option, which is what the historical society is really after.

“All of the renderings are wonderful,” Todd Sheets, owner of Beeker’s General Store, continued. “The most expensive rendering does show that we would be able to add restrooms as part of that elevator, and then we would be able to add restrooms on the second story. There is no running water or anything upstairs at the present time.”

The historical society wants the community’s input on which to option choose. The elevator project could take up to a decade or more, says Sheets. 

“The elevator would be placed on the exterior of the opera house, but of course, it would be made to enhance the town hall,” Sheets said. “It wouldn’t take away from the historical value. That’s what we’re all about.”

On October 23, a historic home tour open house brought 150 guests, paying $10 each, to the renovated home of North Branch Nursery owner Tom Oberhouse and wife Laura Landry Meyer. The property on 135 West Front Street was originally built in 1885 and sold for $1,500.

“We were very pleased. We had a beautiful afternoon and it was just nice. The Oberhouses were very gracious and people really seemed to enjoy it and they certainly hung around and drank wine,” Sheets said.

“Of course, we have an elevator fund started, so all the funds from this home tour are earmarked for that. We don’t know if it will be a five-year project, if it will be a 10-year project, but we’re going to continue to raise the funds and people can give us their input as to which rendering they like.

“Because the wish is to make the opera house handicap accessible, which wasn’t thought of originally, but of course, we have so many programs and shows and we have so many shows, and we have so many folks who say they would love to make it an experience but, of course, they cannot endure the grand staircase. We’re trying to preserve the history of the building but then enhance it at the same time.”

The home tour generated over $1,500 in ticket sales, but there is still a long way to go. 

“We didn’t get a lot of extra donations that day, but people took forms so I think you will see more. This project is long term, so I know there will be more forthcoming,” Sheets said, adding that the historical society may begin researching grants.

Upcoming events
On Nov. 5, “Boogie Woogie Pianoman” Mr. B will entertain at the opera house. Other events forthcoming include Maidens IV-Celtic Music and Dance (Dec. 3); Silent movie night with live piano and a special guest (Jan. 7, 2012); Jason Farnham-“A Piano Valentine just for you” (Feb. 4); The Commanders of Harmony-Barbershop Harmony at its finest (Mar. 3); Cesearè Belvano-Elvis is back! (Apr. 14); and The Raison Pickers-Stringband Folk Music (May 5).

On Nov. 5, Blues and boogie-woogie pianist Mark Lincoln Braun has become one of the premiere purveyors of a vanishing art.  Having learned his craft first-hand from the early masters, he is a rare living link to the first generation of blues and boogie pianists. Braun learned directly from blues and boogie legends like Little Brother Montgomery, Boogie Woogie Red, and Blind John Davis.

In demand for both educational programs and concert performances, he has performed coast to coast and throughout Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America. In 2002 he was a guest artist at the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival. He is also the organizer of the annual Mr. B’s Blues and Boogie Piano Celebration that attracts major figures in the blues and jazz piano world to Ann Arbor for collaborative performances.

Live In The House Tickets on sale now. These concerts will be on the first Saturday of each month, September through May.

Season tickets are available for $90 or purchase individual tickets for $12 per show. Visit www.permbervilleoperahouse.org.

Pemberville will also host The Festival of Trees on Nov. 26 and For The Love Of Art Feb. 11, 12, and 18.

Donations to help the elevator along can be sent to the Pemberville Freedom Historical Society, c/o Opera House Elevator Fund, P.O. Box 802, Pemberville, Ohio 43450.

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